Food Control
Three-Town Scheme Has Been Dropped

Ald. H. R. Patenall asked the chairman of the Food Control Committee (Ald. F. Walker) if he had received any further news regarding the proposed amalgamation of the Food Control Committees of Higham, Irthlingborough and Raunds.

Ald. Walker replied that since the last meeting he had received news that the original scheme for Higham, Irthlingborough and Raunds had been dropped. A better scheme was under contemplation and would be put into force.

Ald. Patenall commented that this was very satisfactory so far.

New Housing Sites
Rushden Council Decides to Investigate

Dissatisfied by the Housing Committee’s admission that no new sites for post-war building had been obtained, the Rushden Urban Council went into committee on Wednesday to find out exactly what schemes are in hand.

Coun. George began the discussion by recalling that the Ministry of Health last week appealed to urban districts to purchase sites now for building houses after the war when materials were released.

“If we have a few plots,” he said, “well and good. If not, I should like to know if the committee have sites in mind for future development, because it will be a serious matter later.”

Coun. Sugars replied that the Clerk, the Surveyor and himself had an interview some time ago with the Regional Officer. The Council certainly had land in Newton-road and near Knuston Spinney and had permission to fill this vacant land during the first 12 months after the war, but they had no authority to go any further. It was true the committee had a little more information, but this was not to be divulged.

Coun. Allen: Is the land referred to actually Council land, or has other land been purchased?

Coun. Sugars: It is the two remaining plots of those already purchased by the Council. So far as we know, we have no opportunity to make further purchases. I believe there is room for about 60 houses.

Planning Necessary

Coun. Allebone said he raised the question of post-war housing some time ago when the Town and County Planning Officer was in a position to advise the Council. They were now very confined; they were getting almost to the limit of their boundary except in the case of Bedford-road, where they had a big area.

It was generally understood that there could be no building except under a properly planned scheme, and he was definitely of opinion that they ought to get some sort of lay-out of the houses they were going to build.

Dr. Davies: I suggest that we have a private meeting after this one.

Coun. Sugars: The Inspector did say we could look round for ourselves, but no lead has been given in the least. I believe there has got to be another Housing Act altogether, but we don’t know.

Mrs. Muxlow: Am I to understand that in spite of what the Ministry said we have no statutory power of purchase?

The Chairman (Coun. W. J. Sawford): For the time being.

“Well In Hand”

The Clerk (Mr. W. L. Beetenson) said the first year’s programme was already prepared. The committee had a scheme in mind for the second year, and this had to some extent been approved by the Planning Officer, but they could not at the present time say what it was. The committee had it well in hand.

Coun. Allen: As it is of such urgent importance, and as it appears that only the Housing Committee are to have the facts, I move that the Council goes into committee after this meeting so that the councillors can have the full facts before them.

Dr. Davies seconded.

Coun. Sugars said he did not object, but there would be little information to give them.

The Chairman said the committee were doing all they possibly could, and he strongly advised the members to leave it for the time being.

Coun. Capon: What would be the position of the Council if during the coming year the whole of the personnel of the Housing Committee is changed?

The Chairman: Well, if it is your wish I will put the resolution.

He did so, and it was carried.

“Oakley” Barrier

The Clerk (Mr. W. L. Beetenson) reported that the police supported the Council in pressing for a ‘bus barrier at the “Oakley,” and in reply to his strong representations the Ministry of War Transport had written on March 4th authorising the erection of the barrier.

This announcement caused a stir of pleasure, and the Chairman said they would all be pleased that the Ministry had given way.

There was another hum of satisfaction when the Clerk stated that the Rushden office of the Wellingborough and District Food Control Committee was about to be moved from the Public Library to the Congregational Schools.

New Officer

The Finance Committee announced that Mr. B. W. Williams (38), Accountant to the City of Ely Urban Council, had been appointed Chief Financial and Rating and Valuation Officer at a salary, inclusive of that of Accountant to the Higham Ferrers and Rushden Water Board, of £435 per annum, rising by three annual increments to a maximum of £500. Mr. Williams will begin duty at Rushden not later than April 1st. There were 29 applicants for the post, and six were interviewed.

In reference to a suggestion made last month the Finance Committee reported that the Council had no authority to provide houses for its staff.

A short list of revised rating valuations showed a net decrease of £33.

Building plans were as follows:- Garage, Carnegie-street, Messrs. B. Denton and Son, Ltd.; office at 36, Park-road, Mr. A. R. Warner; store at 135, St. Margaret’s-avenue, Mr. V. R. de Chastelain; shed at Duck-street sports ground, Messrs. John Cave and Sons Ltd.

Safety First

On the application of the head-mistress of the Alfred-street Infants’ School it was agreed to mark out a pedestrian crossing in College-street at the Duck-street end of the school. The headmistress wrote that she was teaching “Safety First” methods and would train the children on this new crossing.

Coun. Capon said the lines had already been marked, and on Tuesday afternoon the headmistress began training the children.

Sites submitted by the Divisional N.F.S. Officer for new static water basins at the south end of Duck-street and the junction of Portland-road and King’s-road were approved, but the Council did not favour a third proposed site at the junction of High-street and Duck-street.

The Surveyor (Mr. J. W. Lloyd) stated that the owners of Hall-avenue were quite prepared to repair the paths and complete the road so that it could be taken over by the Council, but were handicapped by the lack of labour and materials. They would do all in their power to complete the work as soon as possible.

Health Report

The Medical Officer (Dr. D. A. McCracken) reported one case of pulmonary tuberculosis, 17 of whooping cough, 13 of pneumonia and one of measles during February. Seven males and eight females were born, and there were eight deaths, including six of persons over 65 years of age.

February salvage was valued at £117 10s. and included 13 tons 4 cwt. paper, nearly 13 tons of tins, 5 tons 17 cwt. scrap iron, 1 ton 7 cwt. motor tyres and 3 tons 8½ cwt. kitchen waste.

Mr. J. E. Dilks, who had already attended some committee meetings, was welcomed as a new member by the Chairman, who said he hoped Mr. Dilks’s time would be well-spent and happy, and his work of benefit to the town.

Coun. Dilks thanked the members for their warm reception and, remarking that he was filling the vacancy caused by the death of Mr. John Spencer, said he knew what a high standard had been set and that it was going to be a difficult position to fill.

Members in attendance were Couns. W. J. Sawford, J.P. (Chairman), A. F. Weale (Vice-Chairman), A. H. Bailey, J. Roe, A. Allebone, J.P., C.C., T. W. Cox, F. Green, J.P., Dr. R. W. Davies, Mrs. O. A. H. Muxlow, W. E. Capon, J. Allen, J. George, T. J. Swindall, J. E. Dilks, J. H. J. Paragreen, H. Waring, E. A. Sugars, and J. T. Richardson, J.P.

Sixpence Off Rates
Rushden to Benefit From County Council Cut

After a “budget” speech in which Coun. Arthur Allebone declared that the water board should cease to have independent powers the Rushden Urban Council on Wednesday adopted a rate of 12s. in the £ - a reduction of sixpence, which was accounted for by the sixpenny cut in the County Council precepts.

Mr. Allebone remarked that it was now difficult for any authority to forecast with accuracy. Many problems would face the Council when they began to build the Rushden which was desired, but as the future was obscure he realised that a later date would be more opportune for laying plans before the public.

The Finance Committee had allowed generously for meeting the coming year without having to resort to a supplementary rate.

Twelve months ago it was estimated that the surplus at the end of 1942-3 would be £5,642. It was now proposed to budget for a balance of £6,490 in March, 1944. This would represent about £2,000 in cash and £4,490 in book debts for services which the Council had to finance; the total balance, therefore, did not mean that the Council had a lot of surplus cash in hand.

Need For Balance

“I would like,” said Mr. Allebone, “to emphasise the remarks of the chairman of the Finance Committee when presenting his estimates last year, as to the desirability of an adequate working balance – not a paper balance, but an actual cash balance. It was estimated last year that although the estimated balance was £5,642, the actual cash would be under £1,000. Although we have improved somewhat on last year in available cash, the committee are of opinion that this amount is not enough.”

Mr. Allebone recalled that in 1933-4, when he first presented the estimates, the Council had a balance of nearly £10,000 – and that at a time when the future looked settled and they were meeting their social obligations as they went along.

To-day they were getting deeper in debt with these social obligations, such as lighting, decoration, housing, sanitation, sewerage, water and repair of footpaths.

Any figure estimated to meet the immediate demands if circumstances allowed a return to normal could be too high or too low. If £10,000 was reasonable in 1933-4, what figure could be termed reasonable now?

Loans Cleared

They could not look to an increase in the product of the rate, which remained at £344 from the 1d. rate. However, the falling-in of loans in connection with the sewage works and public baths would help to the extent of more than 2d. in the £.

Congratulating the committees on keeping within their estimates, Mr. Allebone said the Plans and Highways Committee had estimated for a slight increase in its requirements, this being due to the wages increase. The demand of the Parks and Baths Committee was reduced by .8 of a penny, this being accounted for by the falling-in of a loan and the cropping of Jubilee Park, the park now showing a profit.

Other committees’ estimates were practically unchanged. The Finance Committee might possibly have reduced certain items, but had refrained from doing so because the new officers might want to make some changes.

Calculations

The amount required by the committees was equal to a rate of 5s. 2.1d. in the £. Last year the total rate was increased by 2d. in the £, making 12s. 6d., and this was only made possible by taking £417 from the balance. This year it was proposed to take £400 from the balance. The Exchequer grant of £9,995 would then reduce the Council’s requirement to 2s. 7.5d. in the £. Adding the discount allowance, the County Council precept of 8s. 6.3d., the Joint Hospital Board precept of 2.4d., the Wellingborough Assessment Committee’s demand of 2d. and the Water Board precept of 5.1d., they got a total of 12s.

The Water Board precept had been increased by 1,1d, the result of the installation of a duplicate pump.

Mr. Allebone observed that, with a saving of 2d. on loans and of 6d. on the County Council precept, it looked as if the rate might reasonably be reduced to 11s. 10d. Against these items, however, were the Water Board increase and the £417 taken from the balance last year.

Debts and Assets

The town’s outstanding debts totalled £365,668, or £22 3s. 8d. per head of the population. He estimated that the assets were at least £450,000, making a surplus of nearly £5 per head of the population.

Year by year the Council were gradually paying off their liabilities and becoming better off. In his opinion the Council should try and finance all amounts up to £500 out of current rate, and not resort to loans, because loans for small amounts were very expensive. A case in point was the payment of £17,430 in 30 years to meet a loan of £10,584 for sewage disposal works.

After referring to Water Board expenditure Mr. Allebone said:-

“When this Council selects its representatives on the Water Board, they should be instructed to report to the Council before schemes are put into operation which involve large expenditure. The Council should have the opportunity of discussing the merits or demerits of the proposed expenditure, and the representatives should be, not as an autonomous body, but purely as representatives of this Council.”

Ratepaying Record

The rate collected up to the last day for discount was 81.5 per cent. of the amount levied – a record in the history of the Council.

The town’s financial position was very sound. The loan debt, exclusive of housing loans, was only £18,017, and if it was put by the side of the properties owned and the amenities enjoyed by the people, the Council could congratulate themselves on a sound and business-like undertaking.

Mr. Allebone moved the adoption of a 12s. rate and the levying of a first instalment of 6s. in the £.

Coun. W. J. Sawford, who presided, described the speech as “a splendid report giving plenty of room for thought.”

Seconding the adoption of the report, Coun. Roe said he thought it was the best he had ever heard. The Council should congratulate Mr. Allebone on preparing it. They were naturally pleased to see the rate reduced by sixpence. This was not due to any saving on their part; it was due to the County Council. Nevertheless, the ratepayers would be very pleased indeed.

Mr. Roe agreed with Mr. Allebone’s remarks about the Water Board and said it was a matter that the Board might look into.

Quick Work

When Mr. Roe had finished speaking the Chairman immediately put the resolution, which was carried, leaving the councillors looking rather surprised to find the “budget meeting” over in about 23 minutes.

Members present were Couns. W. J. Sawford, J.P. (Chairman), A. F. Weale (Vice-Chairman), A. H. Bailey, J. Roe, A. Allebone, J.P., C.C., F. Green, J.P., T. W. Cox, Dr. R. W. Davies, Mrs. O. A. H. Muxlow, W. E. Capon, J. Allen, J. George, T. J. Swindall, H. Waring, E. A. Sugars, J. E. Dilks, J. T. Richardson, J.P., and J. H. J. Paragreen.