Renovating The Council Houses
Suggestion That Too Much Is Spent
“Moral Obligation”
Later Street Lighting This Winter

  One or two members of the Rushden Urban District Council, whose meeting on Wednesday was completed in 21 minutes, wanted information about the money that is spent on the upkeep of houses belonging to the Council.

  It was suggested that the Council is a generous landlord, but the answer to these comments was that a proportion of the rent paid by the tenants is set aside for upkeep and cannot be used for any other purpose.

  The Council decided to commence street lighting to-morrow (Saturday) and to keep the streets lighted until 11.30 p.m.

  When some contracts for house renovations came up for sealing, Mr. Coles asked how many houses were concerned.

  The Clerk said the details were set out in a report at the July meeting.

  Mr. Coles:  It seems rather a large amount, and I wondered what was the number of houses.

Is It Necessary?

  Mr. Hornsby:  Does this amount cover what will be spent on the houses for the whole of the year?  If my memory serves me aright there were very large sums spent last year on renovations and repairs, and seeing that the property is practically new, is it necessary to spend as much as we are spending?

  “I have no doubt that the committee has gone carefully into this, and I agree that we as a Council want to keep our property quite creditable, but I am under the impression that if others spent on their property the same as we do on ours, the painters and decorators would be very busy.”

  The Chairman:  I take it that this will cover the full twelve months.  There may be minor repairs, but no sum comparable to this will be spent during the year.

  Mr. Spencer said it was essential that the work should be done.  Some of the houses had not had the bedrooms papered before.

  Mr. Allebone:  I take it that in the compilation of the rents of the Council’s property there is an amount that is allowed on purpose for repairs and renovations, and I think it is our moral obligation to spend that amount on the proper upkeep of these houses.  I don’t think we are allowed to receive as rent an amount for repairs and renovations unless we spend in on the purpose it is allowed for.

Paid By Tenants

  Mr. Perkins:  I don’t think we are extravagant.  The amount we spend has been earmarked and paid by the tenants during the time they have been in occupation.  If in time we become niggardly and spend less and less, then the amount paid in rents will have to come down.

  Mr. Coles said the point was quite clear, but at the back of his mind he wondered whether they had been neglectful last year in not doing more renovations than they did.

  The Clerk:  We spent more last summer.

  The Chairman:  We spent over £1,000 last summer.

  Dealing with Mr. Coles’s original question, the Chairman said he could not give the exact figure, but there was quite a large number of houses included in the present work.

  The Highways Committee recommended that full winter street lighting be commenced on Sunday next and continued until May 24, 1935.  The committee also recommended that the all-night lamps be continued as last year, and that ordinary street lighting be provided until 11.30 at night instead of to 11 p.m. as hitherto.

  The total cost would be £914, an increase of £11 compared with the previous year.

  The committee were preparing a scheme for the better and more up-to-date lighting of the County road A6, from Higham boundary to Mannings-lane.

  When the report was presented, Mr. Coles asked to amend the date for the resumption of lighting to Saturday, August 18.  “I think it would be an advantage,” he said.  “I have spoken to several members of the committee, and they have agreed.”

  The amended report was approved, and in reference to the all-night lamps Mr. Coles explained:  “We propose to continue them just the same as before.”

Street Improvement

  A letter was received from the County Surveyor stating that his Council were effecting a road improvement in High-street South on the north side of the South End Schools, and enquiring if the Council would give up a small strip of their land, in accordance with the plan which accompanied the letter, in order that the improvement might be at once completed.

  The Highways Committee agreed that it was a very desirable improvement and recommended the Council to surrender the land required.

  Mr. Coles said this widening of the road was a much-needed improvement.

Driver’s Good Deed
Mr. Perkins Admires Man Who Damaged Triangle

  “I notice,” observed Mr. Perkins, “that some kind lorry driver has tried to do some good work on the Triangle at the bottom of Washbrook-road.  He did not quite succeed in pushing the railings down, but I wondered if the Highways Committee would consider either the removal of the railings or the setting of them back.  The lorry driver did not succeed in wrecking the lot; I wish he had done.  It is a matter of danger, and has been considered by this Council before.

  The Chairman:  The committee will no doubt consider that.

  Mr. Coles:  It was a small car, not a lorry, and of course the driver should have seen where he was going.  However, I can assure Mr. Perkins that the committee will consider it.

  A letter was received from the Local Authorities Non-trading Services (Manual Workers) Provincial Council stating that that Council had adopted a recommendation from its Executive Committee that all local authorities who put into force the reduction of ½d. per hour in 1932 and have not since restored it, should restore it as and from July 3.

  The Highways Committee agreed and recommended the Council to give instructions for the deductions made in 1932 to be restored as from the suggested date.

  “As you know,” explained Mr. Coles, “in 1932 they had a reduction of ½d. an hour according to the agreement of the National bodies.  We fell into line.  Now we propose to put that halfpenny back again.”

  The report was confirmed.

Librarian Report

  The Finance Committee had under consideration the report of the Library Committee with regard to the appointment of a librarian, referred to them by the Council at their last meeting.  It was resolved to recommend that the report be approved and confirmed subject to the post being advertised at a salary of £135 per annum and the suggested temporary help on Friday and Saturday evenings being dispensed with.  It was understood that the position would be open to persons of either sex, and that any form of canvassing would cause disqualification.

  The report was adopted without comment.

  The Housing Manager reported that the work in connection with the 1934-5 programme of decorations had commenced.  He added that as instructed he had visited the Northampton Housing Department and obtained much useful information.  He proposed to visit Bedford in the near future.

  A letter was received from one of the tenants in Westfield-avenue complaining of the annoyance caused to him by his neighbour.  The Clerk was instructed to write to the tenant concerned informing him that the conduct complained of must cease, otherwise the Housing Committee would take steps to determine his tenancy.

Another New Road

  Building plans were as follows:  Four houses, Bedford-road, Rushden Industrial Co-operative Society; house, Higham-road, Mrs. Meyers; additions to “Roseneath,” Wellingborough-road, Mr. R. Tarry; new road off the Wellingborough-road, opposite the Lightstrung Works, for the Millfield Estate Co., Ltd.; wooden garage, Bedford-road, Mr. H. Partridge.

  It was agreed to install electric light at the house of the Fire Station caretaker.

  Eleven applications were received for the position of articled pupil in the Surveyor’s department.

  The Clerk reported the receipt from the Ministry of Health of formal sanction to the borrowing by the Council of £19,425 for a term of 60 years, for the construction of 66 houses for persons of the working classes under the Housing Act, 1925.

  Six offers were submitted for the negotiation of the loan, ranging from 3 per cent. per annum, with the mortgage deed providing for the usual six months redemption clause, to 3¾ per cent. per annum, with the interest definitely fixed for the whole period of the loan.

  The Finance Committee gave very careful consideration to the question of the advisability of borrowing the money with the rate of interest definitely fixed and ultimately resolved to recommend that the loan be raised on the latter terms, and that the offer of the Insurance Consultants, Ltd., of Canon-street, London, the most favourable, be accepted at 3½ per cent, per annum with costs at £75, such amount to cover stamp duties, all legal charges and disbursements, and the Company’s brokerage.

  The Council agreed to this.

Milk Inspections

  The Sanitary Inspector (Mr. F. S. F. Piper) reported that under the County Council Clean Milk Production Scheme six samples of milk had been submitted for bacteriological examination.  Five results were satisfactory, and in the other case the purveyor concerned was informed that a great improvement would be looked for.

  A nuisance in Duck-street, caused by the keeping of pigs, was reported by the Sanitary Inspector, but Mr. Richardson now announced that the pigs had been removed this week.

  The Inspector also reported that a firm of registered purveyors in the town were milking cows in other than registered premises, contrary to the Milk and Dairies Regulations, 1926.  It was resolved that unless steps were taken to conform with the regulations within 14 days proceedings would be instituted.

  Dr. Greenfield and the Clerk (Mr. W. L. Beetenson) were appointed to represent the Council at county conferences to consider certain provisions of the Local Government Acts of 1929 and 1933.

Useful Conference

  The Chairman mentioned that with the Vice-Chairman and Clerk he had attended the annual conference of the Urban District Councils Association at Whitby.

  “You have all received a report of the conference,” he added, “and I don’t think there is any need for me to enlarge on it, but it was very instructive, most informative, and very interesting at times.”

  Members in attendance were Messrs. J. Allen J.P. (Chairman), A. Allebone, C.C. (Vice-Chairman), F. Green, L. Perkins, M.B.E., W. E. Capon, A. Wilmott, J. Spencer, J.P., J. E. Dilks, G. W. Coles, J.P., W. J. Sawford, J. Hornsby, E. A. Sugars and J. T. Richardson.  Apologies were sent by Mr. J. S. Denton, Mr. J. Roe, Mr. T. W. Cox and Dr. D. G. Greenfield, who were all on holiday.