Ratepayers’ Association Letter Resented
No Railway Extension To Raunds
Wooden Buildings And The Bye-Laws

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

Plans, Etc., Committee

  A meeting of the Plans, Highways, and Lighting Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday the 24^th June, 1908, when there were present:- Messrs. W. Bazeley (chairman), G. H. Skinner, A. J. Dobbs, J. Claridge, F. Knight, and T. Swindall.

Plans

were presented by :-

  Mr. C. E. Young for house on the Court Estate and passed subject to the cesspit being placed at least 60 feet from the source of water supply and the E.C. either being fitted up in compliance with Bye-Laws 70 and 71 or detached from the house.

  Mr. C. E. Young for house on the Court Estate and passed subject to proper ventilation being provided to bedroom without fireplace and the cesspit being placed at least 60 feet from the source of water supply.

  Mr. C. E. Young for house on the Court Estate and passed subject to the cesspit being placed at least 60 feet from the source of the water supply.

  Mr. William Packwood for house on the Wellingborough-road and passed subject to evidence as to party wall being produced.

  Mr. A. M. Picken for motor shed at the rear of No. 253, Wellingborough-road, and no exception taken.

  Mrs. F. Noble for porch to house in Montague-street and passed.

Messrs. Knight and Brightwell’s Proposed New Factory, York Road.

  The Committee having visited the site and inspected the existing walls resolved now to recommend the passing of the plans with a modification of some of the stipulations previously made as shown on the amended plan produced.

Wooden Buildings

  The Surveyor reported that the tenants of Nos. 136, 138, and 140, Wellingborough-road, had erected wooden sheds at the rear of their respective houses without submitting plans and contravening the bye-laws as to air space; he had given notice to the tenants who had since submitted a plan showing the buildings in question.

  It was resolved that the tenants referred to, viz., Mr. F. Glen, Mr. Charles Mole, and Mr. A. Betson, be summoned to attend the next meeting of the Council in order to show cause why the buildings should not be removed.

  The Surveyor also reported the erection of several wooden buildings not exempted from the bye-laws, without plans having been submitted.

  It was resolved that the Surveyor be instructed to write to the parties concerned requesting them to remove the buildings within one month, failing which the necessary proceedings would be taken for their removal by the Council.

High Street South Storm Water Drain

  The Surveyor reported that the storm drain in High-street South having become blocked he had opened the road there and found it necessary to re-lay the drain.  He had communicated with the County Surveyor who had visited and inspected the work and entirely approved of what was being done.  The cost had amounted to £22/14/11 and it was expected the County Council would bear this.

  The Surveyor also reported that the culvert crossing the road near the Hall gates was not safe and he had suggested to the County Surveyor that pipes should be substituted.  The cost of this he estimated at £4, but the work would not be undertaken until authorised by the County Surveyor.

High Street South Improvement

  The Surveyor submitted a plan dealing with the spare land and showing the method proposed to be adopted in laying the same out.  The Committee approved.

  Mr. Ballard, referring to the paragraph relating to wooden buildings, took it that no similar buildings were permitted at present.

  The Chairman:  These were the only cases reported by the Surveyor.

  Mr. Ballard:  I only wanted to know that we are treating all alike.

  The Chairman said the Surveyor had been finding a number of similar wooden buildings about.

  The report was adopted.

  After dealing with the other committee reports, the Council had before them Mr. Betson, Mr. Mole, and Mrs. Glen, with Mr. J. Northern, landlord of the property.

  Mr. Northern explained that the buildings were put up as the result of a misunderstanding.  It had been understood that a structure without walls was not a “building” under the bye-laws.  He undertook to submit plans of buildings to take the place of those which contravene the bye-laws.

Finance and Estates Committee

  A meeting of the Finance and Estates Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, the 1^st July, 1908, at 10 a.m., when there were present:- Messrs. W. Bazeley (chairman), G. H. Skinner, F. Ballard, 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:-

Collector’s Accounts

  The Committee examined the Collector’s accounts 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 the following sums had been paid to him on the following accounts since the last meeting:-

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

Tradesmen’s and Other Accounts

  A number of accounts were examined and passed for payment.

The Ratepayers’ Association

  The Chairman said that since the last meeting the Clerk had received a letter from the Secretary of the Ratepayers’ Association, asking for an explanation of certain items in last year’s published accounts.  The Clerk reported that he had acknowledged receipt of this letter.  The Finance Committee discussed the letter and it was agreed that it would be unjustifiable to ask the Clerk to reply by letter any further to the questions asked.  It was agreed, however, that the Chairman should make a reply at the next Council meeting, drawing the attention of the Ratepayers’ Association to the fact that the total receipts last year were more than the estimated receipts, that the total expenditure was less than the estimated expenditure, and that although some of the items were in excess of the estimates as stated by the Association, it was very gratifying to the whole of the Council that the receipts and expenditure came out so well.  The committee felt that criticism of a helpful nature was always welcome to the Council, but they resented mere fault-finding, such as they took the letter under consideration to be.  There was nothing in the letter of a helpful nature and the committee wished to draw attention to the fact that nay ratepayer could receive a copy of the accounts on applying to the Clerk.  In those accounts everything was clearly set out for the ratepayers to see for themselves.  The Committee thought that the explanation he had made was as much as could be expected.

Health and Sanitary Committee

  A meeting of the Health and Sanitary Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, the 1^st July, 1908, at 7 p.m., when there were present:- Messrs. G. H. Skinner (chairman), W. Bazeley, F. Ballard, C. E. Bayes, Geo. Miller, and J. Paragreen.

Health and Sanitary Reports

  The Medical Officer reported that two cases of infectious disease had been notified since the last meeting, viz., one of typhoid fever and one of scarlet fever.  He had visited the surroundings where the typhoid case had occurred but could find nothing likely to cause the disease.

  Four cases of consumption had been notified, three of pulmonary and one of meningeal, the latter being fatal.

  The Sanitary Inspector reported that he had visited the cases of consumption notified and supplied disinfectants.  The house where the death had occurred had since been thoroughly fumigated.

  The Inspector also reported a nuisance at No. 4, Dell-place, caused by the keeping of an excessive number of rabbits there, and it was resolved to serve the occupier with a notice requiring him to abate the nuisance forthwith.

  The Inspector also reported that tests had been made of the drains in Sartoris-road and it was discovered that the drain of Nos. 15 and 17 was connected to the storm water drain.  He was in communication with the owner thereon and would report to the next meeting.

  The Inspector also reported a further nuisance caused by the effluent from the Gas Works being allowed to pollute the water-course discharging into the Washbrook.  He had seen the Manager with regard to this, who had promised to take steps to abate the nuisance.

  The Inspector submitted a statement of work done, complaints investigated, and notices served during the past month.

Consumption

  The Inspector was authorised to have printed 500 handbills setting out simple rules for the guidance of persons suffering from this disease.

Dairies, Cowsheds, and Milkshops Order

  Mr. Bainbridge’s quarterly report was received from which it appeared that on May 27^th, 28^th, 29^th, and 30^th he had visited 28 premises belonging to 26 cowkeepers and had inspected 266 milk cows and heifers.  The report was considered very satisfactory and was referred to the Sanitary Inspector to keep certain of the cows mentioned therein under his observation.

Footpath Obstruction

  The question of allowing Messrs. Wooding Bros. to place a board outside their shop on Saturdays, referred back from the Council at their last meeting, was again considered at length.  The Committee were satisfied that the board if allowed would cause an obstruction to the traffic constituting a serious nuisance and resolved to adhere to their previous decision not to permit the same to be used.

  The Inspector was instructed to bring any other cases of a similar nature before the Committee.

Sanitary Inspector’s Association

  It was resolved to recommend the Council to authorise the Sanitary Inspector, as their representative, to attend the annual conference of the Sanitary Inspector’s Association to be held in Liverpool on September 7^th to 12^th next.

Sale of Crops

  The Surveyor reported that the sale of crops at the Sewage farm and Hospital took place on the 22^nd June and realised as follows:-

this being an increase of £8/5/0 and 9/0 respectively on the previous year.

  The report was adopted.

Free Library Committee

  A meeting of the Free Library Committee was held at the Library on Friday, the 3^rd July, 1908, when there were present:-  Messrs. J. Claridge (chairman), Rev. W. F. Harris, F. Ballard, W. H. Brown, W. Clarke, J. H. Derbyshire, J. T. Colson, L. Perkins, S. Saddler, and Tom Swindall.

Minutes

  The minutes of the previous meeting of the Committee having been printed and circulated amongst the members it was resolved that the same be confirmed under the hand of the Chairman.

Absent Members

  The Rector wrote expressing regret at not being able to attend the meeting on account of another engagement in London.  The Chairman also expressed the regret of Mr. Skinner and Mr. Bayes at not being able to attend.

Gift of Books, Etc.

  The Secretary reported that a parcel of books had been received from Sir F. A. Channing, M.P., since the last meeting, a book from Mr. F. Clarke, and a History of Northamptonshire from Mr. Charles Clayton.  These gifts had been acknowledged with thanks and it was resolved that an expression of the thanks of the Committee to the donors be recorded on the minutes.

Mr. Carnegie’s Libraries

  The Secretary reported that he had in response to an application received from the Librarian of the University of Michigan sent to him photographs of the Library for inclusion amongst the illustrations for the second edition of their portfolio of Carnegie libraries.

Books

  The Secretary reported that the number of books issued from the 1^st January to the 30^th June was 12,857.

  It was resolved to recommend the Council to expend a further sum of £15 in the purchase of new books.

  It was also resolved to re-bind a number of the books, the covers of which had been worn out.

Repairs

  It was resolved that the lantern outside the Library be painted.

  The report was adopted on the motion of Mr. Claridge, who expressed the opinion that the figures given in it showed that the library was proving very useful.

Railway Extension

  A letter was received from the General Manager of the Midland Railway stating that the directors had had under consideration the Council’s letter asking the Company to extend their line from Higham Ferrers and they regretted that they could not see their way to proceed with the work.

  Mr. Miller hoped that when the Company was in a better financial position they would be prepared to accede to the request.

  The Chairman said it was another instance in favour of the nationalisation of the railways.  It showed what monopolies meant to the public.

Pawnbroker’s Licence

  Mr. Beaverstock, pawnbroker, applied for the renewal of his licence and the application was acceded to.