Rushden Urban District Council

Employees’ Holidays

Health Reports

At a meeting of this Council on Wednesday night there were present :- Messrs. G. H. Skinner (chairman), F. Knight (vice-chairman), J. Claridge, F. Ballard, C. E. Bayes, J. S. Clipson, T. Swindall, G. Miller, J. Paragreen, C. Bates, W. Bazeley, with Mr. W. Beetenson (Acting Clerk), the Surveyor (Mr. W. B. Madin), and the Sanitary Inspector (Mr. W. G. F. Kingston).

Whole Council In Committee

A meeting of the whole Council in Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, the 15th December, 1909, when there were present :- Messrs. G. H. Skinner (chairman), F. Knight, F. Ballard, C. E. Bayes, W,. Bazeley, C. Bates, J. Claridge, G. Miller, A. J. Dobbs, and T. Swindall.

Sewage Disposal Works

The Committee had under consideration the report of the Surveyor for dealing with the sewage of the town, and after discussing the matter at length resolved, before adopting any scheme, to visit several towns in the district where new disposal works had been adopted, and the Sanitary Committee were requested to make arrangements accordingly.

Workmen’s Holidays

It was resolved that in future the regular employees of the Council be given the following holidays with pay :- Christmas-day, Boxing-day, Easter Monday, Whit Monday, and August Bank holiday Monday, on the understanding that on Christmas-day and Boxing-day the men turn out until 10 o’clock and on the other days until 9 o’clock, failing which no pay for the day would be allowed.

Mr. Claridge said he was rather surprised that the Council in committee had gone as far as they had in the matter of holidays. He thought the Council should be model employers, and it would be a good thing if all workmen could have a week’s holiday, but he did not think that the Council was justified in taking the action proposed. If the men were dissatisfied they had only to make a complaint and the matter would be considered. He would not move an amendment, but felt he ought to state his views.

The report was adopted.

Plans, Etc., Committee

A meeting of the Plans, Highways, and Lighting Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday the 22nd December, 1909, when there were present :- Messrs. G. H. Skinner (Chairman), F. Knight, W. Bazeley, C. Bates, G. Miller and T. Swindall.

Plans

were presented by :-

Mr. J. Clark for motor house to his premises on the Wellingborough-road and passed.

Messrs. Cox and Co. for machine shop in Lime-street and passed.

Messrs. Knight and Lawrence for alterations to their factory in Manton-road and no exception taken.

The Northants Union Bank for alterations and additions to factory in Sartoris-road and passed. The consent of the adjoining owner to be obtained to the proposed iron building, the crane as shown not to be allowed, and the drainage to be to the satisfaction of the Surveyor.

Messrs. Knight and Brightwell for alterations to their factory in Victoria-road and passed.

New Buildings

The Surveyor reported that during the past year plans for the following buildings had been passed by the Council :-

Houses	8
Additions to houses	5
Emergency staircase	1
Stables, etc.	2
Factories and workshops	3
Additions to workshops	9
Motor sheds	4
Sanitary blocks	1
House and shops	1
Additions to shops	1
Sundries	16
Total	51

Higham Road

The Surveyor reported that the fence on the Higham-road close to the Higham Ferrers boundary had become damaged. He was instructed to have same repaired.

Pratt Road

The Surveyor was instructed to fix two additional gulleys in this road at an estimated cost of £5.

Trees

Attention was called to the overlapping of the trees in the Hall grounds and the Clerk was instructed to write to Mr. Sartoris calling his attention thereto.

Telephone Wire

Permission was given to Messrs. Jaques and Clark to connect their two factories in Station-road by a telephone wire.

Factory Acts

An application was received from Messrs. Darlow and West for a certificate that their new factory in Gordon-street was provided with sufficient means of escape in case of fire. The Surveyor informed the Committee that the factory was all on the ground floor and that it contained seven exits.

It was resolved to recommend the Council to grant the certificate.

The report was adopted.

Finances and Estates Committee

A meeting of the Finances and Estates Committee was held at the Council Buildings, on Tuesday, the 4th January, 1910, at 10 a.m. when there were present :- Messrs. F. Knight (chairman), G. H. Skinner, F. Ballard, W. Bazeley, and J. Claridge.

Surveyor’s Cash Account

The Committee examined the Surveyor’s cash account with the wages books, the expenditure shown therein being as follows:-

	£	s	d
Week ending 2nd Dec., 1909	29	12	8
Week ending 9th Dec., 1909	28	13	7
Week ending 16th Dec., 1909	29	7	0
Week ending 23rd Dec., 1909	28	3	9
Week ending 30th Dec., 1909	26	7	6

Collector’s District Rate Account

The Collector’s District Rate Account was examined from which it appeared that he had collected the following sum since the last meeting :-

	£	s	d
General District Rate ……	2678	19	9

Collector’s Fittings Account

The Collector’s fittings account was also examined from which it appeared that he had collected the following sums since the last meeting :-

	£	s	d
Other Roads	5	9	3
Sewers		8	3
Farm	1	5	0
Steam Roller	20	14	9
Total	27	17	3

The plate off the last Council Steam Roller

Treasurer’s Accounts

The Treasurer’s accounts were also examined from which it appeared that he had received the following sums since the last meeting :-

	£	s	d
Collector, General district rate	2678	19	9
Collector, Fittings	27	17	3
Free Library, fees, fines, &c.		16	10
County Council, main roads	254	0	0
N.U. Bank, Int. on loan No. 19	4	16	0
Total	2966	9	10

And that the following balances were in hand on the under-mentioned accounts :-

	£	s	d
General Account	3146	1	4
Loan Account No. 16	410	1	10
Loan Account No. 19	387	17	6
Total	3944	0	8

Tradesmen’s and Other Accounts

A number of accounts amounting to £668/7/2 were examined and passed for payment.

Surveyor’s Office Boy

It was resolved to recommend the Council to increase the salary of Leonard Penness, the surveyor’s office boy, from 5/- to 7/6 per week.

Fittings Accounts

The Surveyor submitted a list of outstanding fittings accounts and the Collector was instructed to make personal applications for payment of same, and report the result to the next meeting of the Committee.

Bill Posting Stations

The Collector submitted a report with regard to the advertisement hoardings in the district, from which it appeared that with one exception they were not separately assessed to the district Rate. He was instructed to bring the matter before the overseers with a view to each one being separately assessed and included in the valuation list in force.

Audit

A report from the District Auditor was received, informing the Council that he completed the audit of the accounts for the year ending 31st March, 1909, on the 29th November, and giving particulars of the receipts and expenditure for that year. The Auditor also pointed out the necessity of making adequate provision for the frequent periodical checking of all accounts. The Auditor also stated that during the audit the Clerk had made application to the Local Government Board under the Local Authorities Expenses Act, 1887, for their sanction to a payment made to the Inspector of Nuisances in respect of expenses incurred in attending the Sanitary Congress at Liverpool, sanction was received and he had allowed the payment.

The report was adopted, and on the motion of Mr. Ballard, seconded by Mr. Knight, the suggestion of the Auditor for the periodical checking of accounts was referred to the Finance Committee.

Health and Sanitary Committee

A meeting of the Health and Sanitary Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, the 5th January, 1910, when there were present :- Messrs. F. Knight (chairman), G. H. Skinner, J. S. Clipson, C. E. Bayes, and F. Ballard.

Health and Sanitary Reports

The Medical Officer reported that five cases of infectious disease had been notified since the last meeting, viz., one of scarlet fever, one of diphtheria, and three of erysipelas.

The Sanitary Inspector reported that he had served 29 informal notices since the last meeting calling attention to nuisances, &c., which were receiving attention.

Refuse Receptacles

The Sanitary Inspector submitted a report with regard to a number of houses showing the nature of the accommodation for the deposit of refuse.

It appeared to the Committee by this report that the several houses therein referred to were without a sufficient ashtub, ashpit, or other receptacle for the deposit of refuse and it was resolved to report to the Council accordingly with a recommendation that notices be served upon the owners to provide for each house a sufficient and proper receptacle.

The Inspector reported that Mr. H. H. Hobbs had failed to comply with the notice served upon him by the Council requiring him to provide sufficient receptacles for the houses in Washbrook-road comprised in the Inspector’s report to this Committee on the 3rd November last. The time specified in the notice having expired, it was resolved to recommend the Council to instruct the Inspector to provide the receptacles required and after obtaining the consent of the respective occupiers, place them on the premises.

Slaughter House Licence

An application was received from Mr. E. Hollis for a renewal of his slaughterhouse licence, and granted.

Petroleum Acts

Application for renewals of their licences to deal in petrol were received from the following :- Messrs. G. Miller, H. H. Darby, D. Nicholson, A. Okins, J. P. Cobley, and G. Denton, Jnr.

Applications were also received for renewal of carbide of calcium licences as follows :- Messrs. G. Miller, D. Nicholson, A. Okins, C. Robinson and G. Denton, Jnr.

It was resolved to recommend the Council to accede to the applications.

Dairies, Cowsheds, and Milkshops Order

The quarterly report of Mr. Bainbridge was received, from which it appeared that on the 27th, 29th, and 30th November and the 1st December, 1909, he had visited 27 premises belonging to 25 cowkeepers, and inspected 241 milk cows and heifers, making special examination of their udders and throats. On the whole, the cows were in a satisfactory condition; in one case, however, a cow was found with a tumour on her throat, and the Inspector was requested to see the owner of the cow and obtain from him an undertaking that it would not be used for dairy purposes.

Medical Officer of Health

The Clerk informed the Committee that in accordance with the instructions given him by the Council at their meeting on the 8th December last, he had communicated with the Local Government Board with regard to the appointment of a Medical Officer for the District, expressing the opinion of the Council that there was little probability of the neighbouring authorities joining in the appointment of a whole-time Officer as desired by the Local Government and favoured by the Council, and enquiring if, under these circumstances, the Local Government Board’s sanction might be expected to the re-appointment of Dr. Morris in the event of the Council so resolving. A letter from the Local Government Board in reply was now received, stating that if the Council were satisfied that Dr. Morris is capable of performing the duties of the office efficiently, the Board would be willing to sanction his re-appointment for a year; whereupon it was resolved to recommend the Council to re-appoint Dr. Morris Medical Officer of Health for the District for one year from the 24th instant at a salary of £50.

Elementary Schools

The Inspector reported that the Medical Officer, in view of the prevalence of infectious disease amongst the children of the town, had suggested to him the advisability of periodically fumigating the public elementary schools in the Urban District. The Committee favoured the idea and instructed the Clerk to communicate with the local Managers, enquiring if they would be prepared to thoroughly fumigate the various school buildings at least three times a year during holiday seasons.

Defective Drains

The Sanitary Inspector submitted a complaint in writing from Mr. Enos Smith, of No. 165 Wellingborough-road, Rushden, stating that in his opinion the sewer connecting the house No. 5 Fitzwilliam-street, and other property were defective, causing a very great nuisance. The Inspector informed the Committee that he had visited the premises and found that the sewer referred to was a single private drain connecting houses Nos. 5 and 7 (belonging to different owners) with the sewer in that street.

The Inspector was instructed to see the owners in question and request them to at once put the drain in repair and to report to the Council at their meeting on Wednesday next what steps had been taken. In case the owners take no steps to remedy the defects by Wednesday next, it was further resolved to recommend the Council to empower their Surveyor, after 24 house’ notice to the occupiers, to enter the premises and cause the ground to be opened and examine the drain; and if after such examination, the drain appeared to be in a bad condition, to forthwith give notice in writing to the owners of the premises, requiring them forthwith to do the necessary works; and, further, if such notice be not complied with, to execute the necessary works on behalf of the Council.

The Inspector of Nuisances submitted the following report, dated the 5th January, with regard to a single private drain connecting the drainage of houses Nos. 82, 84, 86, 88, and 90 Cromwell-road and other houses adjoining thereto belonging to different owners, with the public sewer :-

Referring to the complaint of Mr. George Bayes, dated the 25th day of September, 1909, as to the state of the sewer at the rear of his houses Nos. 82, 84, 86, 88, and 90 Cromwell-road indicated by the line ‘BD’ on the plan submitted herewith, I beg to inform you that I have examined this sewer, and, as per your instructions, the Surveyor has carried out certain works at the manhole at the junction with the line of pipes connecting it, and also the drainage of other houses, with the public sewer in Cromwell-road. The sewer ‘BD’ above referred to, now appears in good order, but the line of pipes, marked ‘AB’ on the plan, connecting it and other houses, with the sewer in Cromwell-road is continually blocked and causes a nuisance which should be immediately abated.”

(Signed) Walter G. F. Kingston,
Inspector of Nuisances.

From this report the Committee had reason to suspect that the drain in question was a nuisance, and instructed the Inspector to see the owners of the various properties requesting them to at once put the drain in repair. In case the owners take no steps to remedy the defects by Wednesday next it was further resolved to recommend the Council to empower their Surveyor, after 24 hours’ notice to the occupiers, to enter the premises and cause the ground to be opened and examine the drain; and if, after such examination, the drain appeared to be in a bad condition, to forthwith give notice in writing to the owners of the premises requiring them forthwith to do the necessary works; and, further, if such notice is not complied with, to execute the necessary works on behalf of the Council.

In reply to a question by Mr. Claridge, the Inspector stated that nothing had been done with regard to the defective drains mentioned in the report.

The report was adopted.

click here to return to the Index