Wednesday, present Messrs. J. Hornsby, J.P. (chairman), F. Corby (vice-chairman), T. Wilmott, T. F. B. Newberry, J. Roe, A. Allebone, D. G. Greenfield, M.D., C. Claridge, F. Knight, J.P., J. Allen, T. Swindall, C. W. Horrell, C.A., J. Spencer, J.P., G. W. Coles, J.P., W. Bazeley, J.P., and C. Bates, with the Clerk (Mr. G. S. Mason), the Acting Surveyor (Mr. J. W. Lloyd), and the Sanitary Inspector (Mr. F. S. F. Piper).

Plans, Etc., Committee

  A meeting of the Plans, Highways, and Lighting Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Oct. 26^th, 1927, when there were present: Messrs. J. Hornsby (chairman), A. Allebone, C. Claridge, G. W. Coles, C. W. Horrell, F. Knight, T. F. B. Newberry, T. Swindall, and T. Wilmott.

Plans

were presented for :

  House in Purvis-road for Mr. A. E. Warden, and passed.

  Bungalow on the St. Crispin Estate for Mr. A. S. Larkin, and passed.

  Applications for subsidies in respect of the foregoing houses were received, together with estimates of the cost thereof, which did not exceed, including the cost of the land, £620, and it was resolved to recommend the Council to issue certificates in respect of same as coming within the Council’s scheme for the subsidy of £70 each.

  House on the Wellingborough road for Mr. Eric Clark, and passed.

  Transformer sub-station at Messrs. F. Corby, Ltd.’s factory in John-street for the Electric Supply Co., Ltd., and passed.

  W. C. at the rear of No. 34, High-street, for Mr. George Denton, and passed.

  Entrance lobby to The Cottage Salon off the High-street for the Misses Tall, and passed.

  Bay window to No. 39, Church-street, for Mr. W. Campion, and no exception taken.

Parking Of Motor-Cars

  The letter received by the Council at their last meeting from the Rushden Chamber of Trade and referred to this committee was considered.

  In December last the assistance of the Police was asked for to deal with the matter and a number of places were suggested as suitable for parking.

  The committee were satisfied that the Police were dealing with the question satisfactorily.

Outside Electric Sign

  An application was received from the Misses Tall asking for permission to erect an electric sign outside their premises in High-street and was acceded to subject to the sign being at least 9ft. clear of the pavement.

Station-Approach

  A letter was received from the L.M.S. Railway Company stating that it was proposed to erect buildings at the High-street corner and along the remaining frontage to the Station-approach road and asking for a building line.

  The Surveyor was instructed to inform them that the building line in High-street was fixed by the front main wall of the stationmaster’s house and that in Station-approach by the front main wall of Messrs. Ellis and Everard’s offices.

Queen-Street And Portland-Road Footpath

  With reference to the asphalted path recently made, Mr. Arthur Wilmott asked that it might be understood that in the event of his wishing to build on the Queen-street frontage the footpath should be deviated so as to run in a straight line from Portland-road.

  The committee agreed and ordered that a note thereof be made in their minutes.

Salvation Army Barracks

  A letter was received from the Property Department of the Salvation Army stating that they were quite agreeable to sell the portion of land containing 9¾ square yards at the corner of Queen-street for £10 and that they were instructing their solicitors to communicate with the Council on the subject.

  The Surveyor was instructed to proceed with the work, including the necessary fencing and paving.

  The report was adopted.

  On the presentation of the report on the outward electric sign, Dr. Greenfield asked whether the Council could exercise any censorship regarding shop signs.  He said he did not think they wanted to have signs that went round and round; they were a nuisance to everybody.

  The Clerk said that the Council had such power, but they had not exercised it at present.  Any signs such as the doctor had mentioned were put up without the consent of the Council.

  Dr. Greenfield asked that the committee take the point into consideration.

  The Chairman said that if a similar application was made the committee would decide whether it was suitable.

  Mr. Allen asked whether there had been a communication from the residents of the Court Estate and Newton-road with respect to the footpaths by the roadside.

  The Chairman: Not that I am aware of.

  Mr. Allen said that there were some deep “grips” in the grass by Mr. Collins’s farm.  If pipes were put in, the surface could be levelled.  He asked that the committee also deal with that matter.

  The Chairman said it might open up a big question, but if anything could be done to avoid accidents it would be considered, and he promised that the committee would deal with it.

  Mr. Bates said the same thing applied to Bedford-road.

  The Chairman: And all over the town.

Health And Sanitary Committee

  A meeting of the Health and Sanitary Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, November 2^nd, 1927, when there were present: Messrs. F. Corby (chairman), J. Hornsby, J. Allen, C. Bates, W. Bazeley, D. G. Greenfield, T. F. B. Newberry, and W. C. Tarry.

Health And Sanitary Reports

  The Medical Officer informed the committee that he had been requested by the Ministry of Health to furnish them with a report on the outbreak of diphtheria which had occurred at the Newton-road Infants’ School, and submitted a draft of the report which he preposed to furnish, which was approved.

  The Sanitary Inspector reported that during the month ten additional nuisances had been dealt with.

  The schools in connection with the recent outbreak of diphtheria had been thoroughly disinfected; two rooms had also been disinfected after cases of infectious disease.

  At the Depot a quantity of bedding and other articles had been disinfected, and at the Sewage Farm various bedding had been destroyed, also after cases of infectious disease.

  Applications for compensation in respect of destroyed bedding were received from, Mrs. E. W. A. Smith, 24, Albion-place, Mrs. D. Sharpe, 44, Washbrook-road, Miss M. E. Hanger, 8, Bedford-road, and Mrs. Dickenson, 97, Cromwell-road, and it was resolved to recommend the Council to replace part of the bedding destroyed at a cost not exceeding £1 7s. 6d. in each case.

  Thirty-three visits had been made to premises where food was prepared or sold, during which inspections a quantity of pork and pork offal, beef offal, and 16 tins of canned meat, fruit, etc., had been found to be unfit for human consumption and destroyed in the usual way.

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

Petroleum Acts

  An application was received from Messrs. Wallis Bros., of Bedford-road, for a licence to store 100 gallons of petrol in 40-gallon casks and two-gallon tins.  It was resolved to recommend the Council to accede to the application subject to the store being constructed to the satisfaction of the Inspector.

Public Health And Clean Milk

  The Sanitary Inspector reported that a lecture on milk would be given at the British Women’s Temperance Hall on November 14^th, 1927, to which the members of the Council were cordially invited to be present.

New Refuse Tip, Bedford-Road

  The Chairman reported that the work on this tip on Bedford-road had now commenced, under the direction of an instructor from Bradford, and was proceeding very satisfactorily.

  Several members of the committee had visited the site, and all agreed that this was so.

  Tenders were received for the erection of a shed near the tip, and that of Mr. Robert Marriott for £15 15s., the lowest, was accepted.

Wellingborough-Road Tip

  The Chairman of the Council informed the committee that sometime previous to the late Surveyor’s death he, with him, had interviewed Mr. Richardson as to the use of part of the claypit near Wellingborough-road as a refuse tip for the north end of the town.  This would involve some expenditure in road-making, and it was resolved to ask Mr. Richardson to allow the proposal to remain in abeyance until the spring to enable the committee to further consider the matter.

High-Street Convenience

  The Surveyor was instructed to make up the ground round the building with a covering of Bedford gravel.

Inquests

  A letter was received from the Rushden, Higham Ferrers, and District Free Church Council calling attention to the fact that the District Coroner still used licensed premises for the holding of inquests.

  The committee agreed that if all inquests could be held at the Council Chamber a considerable improvement would be effected, and with this end in view suggested that a small mortuary of an inexpensive nature be provided in the yard at the Town Depot, and a committee consisting of the Chairman and Dr. Greenfield was appointed to visit that site and report.

Gas Works

  The Chairman reported that he, with the Inspector, had visited the works, but on the occasion of the visit they were unable to detect any nuisance.

  The report was adopted.

  Mr. Roe said the committee had been asked to have the conveniences kept open later at night.  He asked what was their decision, and said that he saw no reason why they should not be open all night.

  The Chairman said the question had been overlooked at the death of Mr. Madin, but the committee would deal with the request.

  On the subject of the visit to the gasworks, Mr. Coles asked whether it was a wet day or a dry day when the visit was paid.

  Mr. Corby said he had gone both in dry weather and in wet and had not noticed a bad smell.

A Convertible Bath

  Dr. Greenfield presented a report from the Parks and Baths Committee.  He announced the result of the visit of the deputation to the Water Board.  In regard to the construction of the bath, he said that the architects offered several alternative schemes.  The committee had already decided to add something to the cost of the bath in the way of strengthening the wall foundations, so that if someone thought it necessary at some future time the bath could be covered in.  There were really three schemes, largely depending on how far the work was to be carried out in ferro-concrete.  They had decided on the one which would allow of a wall, if needed.  All under ground  – and the wall, if necessary – was to be in ferro-concrete.  Then the committee proposed to ask the Council for permission to invite tenders for the carpentering, plumbing, etc. above ground.  From what the Ministry said, it appeared necessary to have filtration plant.  The original sum suggested to be raised by loan was £4,750.  The committee now felt that it would be necessary to sanction the extra work.  Dr. Greenfield formally moved that the sum be raised and that the work be sanctioned.

  Mr. Coles seconded.

  Mr. Wilmott said he was pleased to hear the doctor report that provision would be made for erecting walls and cover, if necessary.  He (Mr. Wilmott) had asked for that in the first place.  Now perhaps those who had wanted a covered-in bath would feel that there was more chance of getting it.

  Mr. Allebone:  I take it that the £5,500 includes payment for the filtration plant?

  Dr. Greenfield:  It includes land, bath, filtration plant, and everything else.

  The motion was carried with no dissentients.

  The doctor finally reported that the Parks Committee were hoping to get a price for a privet hedge to replace the one alongside Spencer Park.

Housing Contracts

  Mr. Spencer presented the Housing Committee’s report on tenders which had been received for part of the 51 houses to be erected on the Irchester-road estate.  Mr. R. Marriott’s contract price for contract No. 11 (14 houses) was £5,950, and for contract No. 12 (twelve houses) £4,869, subject to a reduction of 2 per cent if he obtained both contracts.  Messrs. Thompson and sons, of Irthlingborough, tendered £4,523 for contract No. 13 (eleven houses).  He moved the acceptance of the tenders.

  Mr. Coles seconded.

  In reply to questions it was further stated that only 37 of the 51 houses would be erected at present and that none of the 37 would be parlour-type.  Ten would be houses with two rooms up and two down.

  The motion was carried.