Committee reports were received as follows:-

Plans,&c. Committee

A meeting of the Plans, Highways, and Lighting Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, 2nd January, 1924, when there were present:- Messrs. T. Wilmott (chairman) C. Bates, L. Perkins, F. Corby, G. W. Coles, C. W. Horrell, and J. Hornsby.

Plans

were presented for:-

Two houses in Spencer-road, one for Mr. B. Ellis and the other for Mr. H. Leeding, and passed.

Two houses in Carnegie-street, one for Mr. F. Whiting and the other for Mr. S. Barker, and passed.

Bungalow on the Wymington-road for Mr. A. Robinson, and passed.

Two houses on the Hayway (amended plan) for Mr. Golesworthy and Mr. W. Loasby, and passed.

House in Robinson-road for Mr. S. Wright, and passed.

House on the St. Crispin Estate for Mr. J. Lymage, and passed.

Two houses in Spencer-road, one for Mr. W. E. Capon and the other for Mr. Arthur Gray, and passed.

House in Spencer-road for Mr. E. Wilcox, and passed.

Applications for subsidies in respect of the whole of the foregoing houses were received and it was resolved to recommend the Council to instruct the Surveyor to issue certificates in respect of same as coming within the Council’s scheme for the subsidy of £100 each.

Tool house in the garden of Mr. W. B. Madin’s house on the Wellingborough-road, and passed.

Miscellaneous Buildings

Applications for the erection of small wooden buildings near their premises were received as follows:-

Mr. Hopper, 147, Newton-road;

Mr. S. Watson, 11, Winchester-road;

Mr. A. E. Clark, 15, Carnegie-street;

and it was resolved to recommend the Council to take no exception thereto.

Factory Acts

The application from Messrs. Knight and Lawrence, Ltd., for a certificate that their factory in Manton-road was provided with proper means of escape in case of fire, adjourned from the last meeting, was considered. It now appeared that a certificate in respect of the same factory was issued in 1902, which, however, could not now be found. The Clerk was instructed to issue a duplicate, on Messrs. Knight and Lawrence carrying out the alteration suggested in their letter read at the last meeting.

Applications for similar certificates were also received from Messrs. Green and Coe, Ltd., and Messrs. G. Warner, Ltd., in respect of their factories, and a sub-committee, consisting of Mr. Perkins, Mr. Wilmott, and the Surveyor, was appointed to inspect the factories and report to the next meeting.

An application was also received from the Tecnic Boot Co., Ltd., for a like certificate in respect of their new factory on the Bedford-road, and upon the report of the Surveyor the Committee were satisfied that proper means of escape in case of fire did exist, and accordingly resolved to recommend the Council to accede to the application.

Newton Road

Attention was called to the state of the hedge to a field occupied by Mr. King on the Newton-road.

The Surveyor was instructed to serve a notice on Mr. King requiring him to have the hedge cut forthwith.

Building Bye-Laws

A letter was received from the Ministry of Health adverting to their circular of the 1st September, 1922, and enquiring if anything had yet been done towards adopting new Bye-Laws in accordance with that circular. The letter also pointed out that under the Housing (No. 2) Act 1923, S. 13, the Minister had power to revoke, with or without the holding of a local enquiry, Bye-Laws which appeared to him likely to impede unreasonably the erection of any class of building.

The Committee were reminded that new Bye-Laws had already been adopted by the Council and were waiting to be completed in particulars before submission to the Ministry. The Surveyor was requested to proceed with the completion thereof with as little delay as possible.

The report was adopted.

In reply to Mr. Spencer, the Clerk said that the number of houses for which the subsidy had been promised, was 28, including those just recommended.

Mr. Perkins said that in regard to the time-limit for the grant of the subsidy it appeared to have caused some misunderstanding. People seemed to think that unless their applications were presented before the end of March they would be too late. The first 50 had to be started on before March 31 and completed before Sept. 30, 1924, but in reality another twelve months would be allowed for the grant, if a resolution were passed by the Council.

Finance and Estates Committee

A meeting of the Finance and Estates Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, 9th January, 1924, at 10 a.m., when there were present:- Messrs. L. Perkins (chairman), C. Bates, F. Corby, F. Knight, and T. Wilmott.

Surveyors Cash Account

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

Collector’s Accounts

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

Treasurer’s Accounts

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

A number of accounts amounting to £2,230/10/4 were examined and passed for payment.

Park Road

An application was received from Mr. Harry Rice, of No. 23, Co-op. Row, Rushden, for compensation in respect of an accident suffered by him through an alleged faulty footpath in Park-road.

The Clerk was instructed to reply that the Committee could not see their way to recommend the Council to accept any liability in the matter.

The report was adopted.

Referring to the application for compensation on account of the alleged faulty state of Park-road, Mr. Claridge asked who was responsible for the condition of the ground where the Electric Light Co. had opened it. In Washbrook-road the rough ground was inches above the path level.

The Clerk: The Electric Light Company is responsible.

The Surveyor said he would call the attention of the company to the state of Washbrook-road.

Mr. Spencer said that the work had been left very rough indeed.

Mr. Horrell: It is in a shocking condition. We ought not to sit here and do nothing.

Mr. Perkins said the Surveyor liked to leave the paths for a little time to allow the earth to settle, but in the present case the company had left the surface very rough.

Mr. Claridge moved that the Electric Light Company be instructed to put the roads in a better condition forthwith.

Mr. Bates seconded and it was carried.

Health and Sanitary Committee

A meeting of the Health and Sanitary Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, 9th January, 1924, when there were present:- Messrs. C. Bates (chairman), L. Perkins, C. E. Bayes, C. Claridge, F. Knight, J. Spencer, and T. Swindall.

Health and Sanitary Reports

The report of the Medical Officer for the month of December was received.

The Sanitary Inspector reported that since the last meeting 22 nuisances had been dealt with, and of that number five had been abated. Of the outstanding nuisances eleven had been abated.

During the past month a quantity of beef offal and also a portion of pork, all voluntarily surrendered, had been examined and found to be unfit for human consumption and destroyed in the usual way. Total weight, 1qr. 19lb.

Thirteen rooms had been disinfected after cases of infectious disease; a class-room at each of two of the Council schools had also been disinfected.

At the Depot a quantity of bedding, eight books, and seven other articles had been disinfected after cases of infectious disease, and a quantity of bedding destroyed at the Sewage farm.

The Inspector gave a detailed statement of his work and inspections during the past month.

Slaughter-House Licences

Applications were received from the following for renewals of their slaughter-house licences and it was resolved to recommend the Council to accede thereto:- Mr. E. Hollis, 44, Duck-street; Messrs. E. Warren and Son, Blinco-road; Mr. F. W. Swindall, Washbrook-road; The Industrial Co-op. Society, Park-road.

Knacker’s Yard

An application was also received from Messrs. G. Chettle and Son for a renewal of their Knacker’s Yard Licence and it was resolved to recommend the Council to accede thereto.

Petroleum Acts

Applications were also received for renewals of their petrol licences from the following:- Messrs. C. A. Hedley, Wadsworth Bros., J. Austin & Son, Bob Jarvis, Lightstrung Cycle Co., England Smith & Co., D. Nicholson, Lawrence and Richardson, Tailby & Putnam, Chas. Chamberlain, the Wargate Motor Engineering Co., W. Elstow, and Lack Bros., and it was resolved to recommend the Council to accede thereto subject to the stores being to the satisfaction of the Inspector.

Licences to deal in carbide of calcium were also recommended to be granted on the applications of Messrs. Bob Jarvis, Lightstrung Cycle Co., Lawrence and Richardson, Chas. Chamberlain, and the Wargate Motor Engineering Co.

Dairies, Cowsheds, and Milkshops Order

The quarterly report of the Veterinary Inspector was received, from which it appeared that on the 10th and 11th of December last he made an inspection of the dairy cows in milk in this district, visiting 27 premises and inspecting 188 cows, making an individual examination of each udder.

The Committee considered the report very satisfactory.

Cemetery

The Cemetery Registrar submitted his half-yearly report from which it appeared that during the past six months there had been 65 interments of which nine were non-parishioners.

Fourteen grave spaces had been purchased, three reserved; and four reserved for a second period of 14 years on payment of the prescribed fee.

Five headstones had been erected, 13 kerbs laid, and three additional inscriptions cut on existing memorials.

Fees amounting to £76/5/9 had been received and no fees were outstanding.

Cemetery Chapel

The Cemetery Sub-Committee reported that certain minor repairs were required in the Cemetery Chapel.

The Surveyor was instructed to obtain estimates for the work and, if considered satisfactory, to accept the lowest.

The report was adopted.

Mr. Bates asked whether replies had been received from the owners of property in Allen-road in respect of the Council’s suggestion that they undertake to put the footpath in order and improve the road.

The Clerk said that he had written to all the owners and he had received replies from one or two. It appeared that there had been a meeting of the owners but they could not come to any conclusion.

Mr. Wilmott said that the owners had come to that same conclusion before. (Laughter). A few stones had been put down. It was an awful place to have to walk along; and there were employees at three factories who were forced to use it. The road was like a quagmire. The owners should have come to the decision to supply a public footpath.

The Chairman said he hoped the owners who were standing out would take a warning from their position. He had seen the road. It was in a very bad condition. The right hand side should be paved, and a little higher up a crossing should be made. That would save the owners money, otherwise the work would have to be done by the Council and the cost would be considerable.

Mr. Knight said that the Council had used compulsory powers over paths and roads less public than Allen-road, which was certainly a public thoroughfare. The land adjoining Allen-road had probably been bought very cheaply. If the owners of the property in Allen-road would not do the work the Council should do it. There was another road leading off Allen-road.

Mr. Madin said that twice in his own time the Council had decided to enforce the Public Streets Act in the case in question, and had later on withdrawn their resolution.

The Clerk, supplementing Mr. Wilmott, said that if the owners undertook the work voluntarily they could just make the footpath; if the Council did the work under the Public Streets Act they would have to make both paths.

The Chairman said he did not think there was anyone on the Council now who would drop the resolution if passed.

Mr. Bates said that 120 workpeople had to use the road.

The matter was then dropped.

Building Sites

The Chairman asked the Clerk whether the Council was compelled to charge a high price (4s. a yard) for their building plots on the Newton-road estate. He wondered whether it would prevent people buying.

The Clerk replied that the Council was not compelled to sell at a lower price, but if they did do so they would lose money. The ground had to be taken over from the Assisted Housing Scheme at 1s. a yard, and the making of the road, with the laying of water and sewer cost an additional 3s. a yard. But why make roads at that cost when there were so many plots all over the town where roads, sewer, water, and gas were all complete. To keep laying water mains was a charge on the Water Board and consequently on the rates/

Mr. Wilmott said he believed that there were enough roads made now for such houses as were likely to be wanted. He would rather sell the land at a loss than have it idle. The Ministry of Health had set the price of the land, and the Council knew what the roads had cost. The rate-payers would be affected if the land were sold below cost. He was glad the Government were allowing them to fill up other than newly-laid-out spaces.

Mr. Knight said there were plots for sale on the Wellingborough-road and they had never been applied for. He believed some people wanted land given to them.

Mr. Spencer: No, I don’t think that is the reason.

Members said there were also plots for sale in Washbrook-road and Irchester-road.

The Council then went into committee on housing.