Plans, &c., Committee

A meeting of the Plans, Water, Highways, and Lighting Committee was held at the Vestry Hall on Wednesday, the 18th day of May, 1904, when there were present:- Messrs. J. S. Clipson (chairman), T. Swindall, J. Claridge, Geo. Denton, F. Ballard, W. Bazeley, A. Mantle, C. Bates, Fred Knight, G. H. Skinner, and J. Hornsby.

Plans

were presented by:-

The Rushden Conservative Club Co., Ltd., for additions to their Club premises in High-street South and passed.

The Rushden Industrial Co-operative Society for lock-up shop and store room in Park-road and passed subject to the drainage arrangements being amended to the satisfaction of the Surveyor.

Team Labour

The Surveyor was instructed to advertise for tenders for carting road materials.

Main Roads Improvements

The Sub-committee reported that they had visited the South end of the town and also the Higham-road footpath, but were not yet able to make any definite recommendation as to what works should be undertaken.

Steam Roller

The Surveyor reported that the wheel re-plated last year by the Oxford Steam Ploughing Company had proved satisfactory and suggested that the other wheel should now be re-plated in a like manner.

The Committee agreed to this, and instructed the Surveyor accordingly.

Messrs. B. Denton & Son’s Gas Plant

The Surveyor reported that he had, as instructed, inspected the wood and iron buildings in Rectory-road and found it impossible to make any suggestions which would make the buildings in question comply with the bye-laws. The best solution he could suggest was that Messrs. Denton and Son should be required to substitute a cast iron column in place of the two storey wooden posts and provide an iron girder to carry a 9 inch wall, or a wrought iron frame with corrugated iron plates bolted thereon, above the level of the floor and not projecting in front of the adjoining main buildings.

The Committee approved of the suggestion and instructed the Surveyor to communicate with Messrs. Denton and Son requiring the necessary works to be carried out.

Main Roads

A draft of the annual agreement with the County Council was submitted by the Clerk and approved.

Fire Brigade

The Lighting and fire Brigade Sub-committee reported that they had conferred with the Fire Brigade as to their present outfit and requirements and had unanimously agreed to recommend the purchase of the following requisites at a cost of £70:-

The Committee approved of the sub-Committee’s recommendation.

The report was adopted.

Finance, Etc., Committee

A meeting of the Finance, Estates, Cemetery, and Sanitary Committee was held at the Vestry Hall, on Wednesday, the 1st day of June, 1904, when there were present:- Messrs. J. S. Clipson (chairman), T. Swindall, G. H. Skinner, J. Claridge, F. Ballard, A. Mantle, W. Bazeley, C. Bates, J. Hornsby, Geo. Denton, and F. Knight.

Surveyor’s Cash Account

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

Treasurer’s Balances

The Treasurer’s account was examined, from which it appeared that the following balances were in hand on the under-mentioned accounts:-

Cemetery

The Surveyor submitted a plan of the proposed extension at the Cemetery. The plan was approved and the surveyor instructed to carry out the upper portion of the work.

It was agreed to purchase plants for use in the cemetery to the value of £4/10/-.

Health and Sanitary Reports

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

The Inspector reported that the case of erysipelas was in Moor-road and that of scarlet fever in Cromwell-road; both cases were very slight and had now recovered.

Sanitary Institute

The Committee resolved to recommend the Council to authorise the Surveyor to attend the annual congress at Glasgow in July.

Sewage Farm

The Estates Committee reported that they had visited the farm and found everything in order; they recommended the sale of the grass by public auction.

The Committee also recommended the sale of the grass on the Cemetery and Hospital land together with the grazing to 29th September, subject to the restriction that horses be not allowed on the land.

Team Labour

Road Metal. – Tenders for team labour were received from Messrs. Packwood and Sharp, and it was resolved to divide the work into sections and to accept each tender in respect of a distinct section at the respective rates per ton quoted.

The report was adopted.

The Proposed New Council Offices

The Clerk reported that he had received a notice of the Local Government Board inquiry to be held on Tuesday next at 10.30 a.m., with regard to the application of the Council to borrow £1,750 for the erection of Council offices. It was advisable that as many members of the Council who could should attend the inquiry.

Mr. Claridge understood there was to be opposition to the proposal. Was it necessary for them to take steps to meet the opposition?

Mr. Denton thought it would be quite sufficient to leave the statement of the Council’s case to the Clerk.

No action was taken.

The Water Works

Sanction was given to the Surveyor ordering specimens of new water-meters, the old stock having run out.

Mr. Hornsby asked what the present condition of the water supply was.

The surveyor said the condition of the supply was more satisfactory than at any similar time of the year since he had been at Rushden. There was a greater head of water than in any previous year. He had been very pleased with the way the supply had kept up.

Satisfaction was expressed by several members with the Surveyor’s statement.

The Council Meetings

Mr. Knight, calling attention to the fact that the meeting had lasted only a few minutes, said it was almost a farce, seeing that all the members of the Council were members of the sub-committees, that the officers and members should come there just to pass what had already been decided. It seemed a sheer waste of time. Some means might be devised to obviate the waste, he thought.

Mr. Denton did not think any member wanted to spend more time in the Council-room than was necessary, and he suggested that one of the committee meetings might be held on the same night as the Council meetings. The officers and members would then have one Wednesday night off.

Mr. Knight thought Mr. Denton’s suggestion was well worth consideration.

Mr. Ballard thought it would be better to revert to the old system of having separate committees, specially appointed, as in the past few years.

Mr. Bazeley did not see how they could go back to the old system this year.

The subject was allowed to stand over until the next meeting.