Delay In Municipal Housing Scheme
Demobilised Soldiers And Profiteering
Additions To Factories
Workmen’s Wages

  Wednesday.  Present:-  Councillors F. Knight, J.P. (chairman), J. Claridge, J.P., C.C., (vice-chairman), W. Bazeley, J.P., J. Spencer, J.P., J. Hornsby, T. Swindall, L. Perkins, B.Sc., C. E. Bayes, T. Wilmott, and J. Tomlin, with the Clerk (Mr. G. S. Mason), the Surveyor (Mr. W. B. Madin), and the Acting Sanitary Inspector (Mr. A. E. Lloyd).

  The Chairman and the Surveyor were asked to attend a conference at Bedford on December 11^th on housing.

Plans, &c., Committee

  A meeting of the Plans, Highways, and Lighting Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, the 26^th November 1919, when there were present:- Messrs. F. Knight (chairman), J. Claridge, W. Bazeley, L. Perkins, J. Spencer, T. Swindall, and T. Wilmott.

Plans

were presented for:

  A potting house in Mr. W. T. Hobbs’s garden off the Kimbolton-road and passed, subject to compliance with Bye-law 68.

  Additions to factory in Gravely-street for Messrs. West Bros. and Co., and passed subject to satisfactory means of ventilation being provided.

  Garage in High-street South for the Rushden Machine Co., and passed subject to steel stanchions being provided on north side as on south side and the air space at the rear of house not being encroached upon.

  Additions to factory in Sartoris-road for Mr. W. W. Chamberlain, and passed conditionally upon further information satisfactory to the Surveyor being supplied.

  Storeroom at the rear of No. 25, Alfred-street for Messrs. P. Phipps and Co. Ltd., and passed.

  Club premises (amended plan) for the West End Club off the High-street, and passed.

  A box shed off the Station-road for Messrs. J. Jaques and Son, Ltd., and no exception taken.

  Alterations to factory in Moor-road for Messrs. C. W. Horrell, Ltd., and passed.

  Engine house, heating chamber, and leather store in Victoria-road for Messrs. Howes and George, and passed subject to the consent of the adjoining owner being obtained.

Public Lighting

  The Lighting Sub-Committee reported that they had visited York-road and Orchard-place and now recommended that a lamp be fixed at a convenient spot in York-road.

  The Committee agreed and resolved to recommend the Council accordingly.

  The report was adopted.

Finance and Estates Committee

  A meeting of the Finance and Estates Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, the 3^rd December, 1919, at 10 a.m., when there were present:  Messrs. F. Knight (chairman), C. Bates, J. Claridge, and T. Wilmott.

Surveyor’s Cash Account

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

Collector’s Accounts

  The Collector’s accounts were also examined, 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 he had received the following sums since the last meeting:-

And that the following balances were in his hands:-

Tradesmen’s and Other Accounts

  A number of accounts amounting to £1293  2s.  3d. were examined and passed for payment.

  The report was adopted.

Council in Committee

  A meeting of the Council in Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, the 3^rd December, 1919, when there were present:- Messrs. F. Knight (chairman), J. Claridge, C. E. Bayes, C. Bates, W. Bazeley, J. Hornsby, L. Perkins, T. Swindall, J. Tomlin, and T. Wilmott.

Knacker’s Yard and Slaughterhouse

  The Committee had under consideration the proposals of Messrs. George Chettle and Sons for the erection of a Knacker’s Yard and Slaughterhouse on the Shirley Park Estate and agreed to raise no objection to the grant of a licence provided that satisfactory plans are submitted and approved by the Council.

  The report was adopted.

Health and Sanitary Committee

  A meeting of the Health and Sanitary Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, the 3^rd December, 1919, when there were present:- Messrs. J. Claridge (chairman), F. Knight, C. E. Bayes, C. Bates, J. Hornsby, and J. Tomlin.

Health and Sanitary Reports

  The report of the Medical Officer of Health for the month of November was received.

  The Clerk submitted an order made by the Ministry of Health rescinding the former order, making Measles and German Measles notifiable, as from the 31^st December next.

  The Sanitary Inspector reported that since the last meeting he had served 27 preliminary notices calling attention to nuisances, etc., all of which were receiving attention.

  One lot of infected bedding had been destroyed and the room cleansed upon the advice of the medical practitioner in attendance.

  During the month a quantity of unsound tins of fish, fruit, etc., also one cheese weighting 34lbs. all of which had been voluntarily surrendered, had been destroyed as being unfit for human consumption.

  One book belonging to the Free Library found in an infected house had been destroyed.  It was resolved to recommend the Council to replace the book.

  Yard paving in various parts of the town had been repaired and renewed during the month.

  A sample of water taken from a well in Queen-street had been analysed by the Medical Officer and found to be unfit for domestic purposes.  The well was being closed and instructions had been given for town water to be laid on.

  Various applications were received for renewals of licenses to store petroleum and carbide of calcium and it was resolved to recommend the Council to accede thereto.

  Applications were also received from Messrs. E. Hollis and E. Warren for renewals of their slaughter-house licenses, and it was resolved to recommend the Council to agree thereto.

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

Dairies, Cowsheds and Milkshops Order

  A letter was received from the Clerk to the Joint Committee appointed under the above order by the Councils of the Wellingborough Urban District and Wellingborough Rural District stating that it had been reported to his Committee that the cowsheds at Knuston Lodge and Astwell Lodge, within the Rural District had been inspected by the Inspector acting under this authority and asking if this Council .had any objection to the Inspector of the Joint Committee undertaking this work in the future.

  The report was adopted.

  The Vice-chairman said that Mr. Lloyd was doing most satisfactory work as Sanitary Inspector.

Profiteering

  A letter was read from the Rushden branch of the Demobilised Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Federation, viewing with regret the action of the Urban Council in not appointing a committee under the Profiteering Act, and asking the Council to reconsider their action.

  Mr. Hornsby said the Act only lasted six months, three of which had already past, and it would be another three months before the committee could be in working order.

  No action was taken on the letter.

Rats

  The County Council wrote urging that the two additional rat-destruction weeks should be observed.

  Mr. Spencer said there was a regular rat run in Spencer Park.  He thought that in public places steps should be taken to stop the nuisance.

  Mr. Hornsby said that the damage done by rats was very great, and if anything could be done to destroy them it would save a great deal of valuable corn and other produce.

  Mr. Spencer moved that the matter be referred to the Health and Sanitary Committee.  He said that a number of cats had lately been poisoned, and probably it was by poison thrown down to kill rats.

Workmen’s Wages

  A letter was received from the Council Municipal Employees’ Association asking for an advance of 10s. a week on the present war bonus of the whole of the employees.

  Mr. Bazeley urged that the Council should receive a deputation from the Association.

  In reply to Mr. Swindall, the Surveyor said the wages were revised last July.

  The Chairman moved that the letter be referred to the Highways Committee, which was seconded by Mr. Wilmott and carried.

Gas

  Mr. Spencer referred to the foul smell and poor quality of the gas at Rushden, and asked what powers the Urban Council possessed to insist on an improvement.

  The Clerk said the local authorities had power, but the Government asked them not to exercise it for the present, as they were getting valuable by-products.  It was a question of the shortage of coal.

  Mr. Spencer:  We cannot tie the Gas Company’s hands but I hope the gas will be improved as soon as possible.

Housing

  The Chairman, in reply to Mr. Hornsby, said that not as much progress was being made in the building of the municipal houses as the Council desired.

  Mr. Bayes:  At the present rate of progress the houses will not be ready until 1921.

  Mr. Spencer said that unless there was much better progress in the near future he should move that the work be done by the Council with direct labour.  He added that a house in Rushden had been empty for two months, but the owner would not let it; he wished to sell it.  Could the Council do anything in the matter?

  Mr. Hornsby said the shortage of houses was very acute, yet motor houses were being built in various parts of the country.

  The Clerk said it would be a good thing if the Government scrapped all their housing regulations and let the Council do as they thought best.