Plans Passed for Electric Light Works
The Year’s Building Operations
Scarlet Fever and Consumption
Government Inquiry on The Housing Question

Wednesday, present Messrs. George Miller, J.P., C.C. (chairman), C. Bates (vice-chairman), John Claridge, J.P., C.C., F. Knight, J.P., J. S. Clipson, T. Swindall, G. H. Skinner, W. Bazeley, J. Spencer, and the Ven. A. Kitchin, with Messrs. G. S. Mason (Clerk), W. B. Madin (Surveyor), and F. J. Allen (Sanitary Inspector).

Plans Etc Committee

A meeting of the Plans, Highways, and Lighting Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, the 18th Dec. 1912, when there were present:- Messrs. G. Miller (chairman), C. Bates, C. E. Bayes, J. Claridge, J. S. Clipson, F. Knight, and J. Spencer.

Plans

were presented by:-

Messrs. James Hyde, Limited, for leather store at rear of 65, Glassbrook-road, and passed subject to the drains being cut off.

Messrs. Radburne and Bennett for roof over yard in Rectory-road and passed.

The Rushden and District Electric Supply Co., Ltd., for electric supply works in Shirley-road and passed.

Washbrook-Road Bridge

A letter was received from Mr. Charles Wright requesting the Council to widen this bridge and make good the path there. The Clerk was instructed to reply that the Council had this matter under consideration and would give attention thereto directly the funds would admit.

Milton Place

A letter was also received from Mr. Wright asking the Council to co-operate with the owners in the repair of this road. It was pointed out that this being private property the Council had no power to expend public money thereon and the Clerk was instructed to reply accordingly.

Lawton Road

A letter was received from the Coxton Shoe Company asking the Council to put the Private Street Works Act into force and make good this street.

The Committee could not see their way to make any recommendation to the Council thereon, and the Clerk was instructed to so inform the Coxton Shoe Company.

Boy Scouts

A letter was also received from Mr. F. E. Preston requesting the Council on behalf of the Boy Scouts to grant, at a nominal rent, the use of sufficient ground for the erection of suitable premises for their use and suggesting that the ground at the rear of the Ambulance Depot might be considered as suitable.

The Clerk was instructed to reply that the Committee did not consider the position named as at all suitable for the purpose and that they had no other property available.

New Buildings

The Surveyor reported that during the past year plans for the following buildings had been passed:-

The report was adopted.

Housing

Mr. Bazeley: With respect to the new buildings, I see there were plans for eight houses. Could you tell me, Mr. Chairman, how many of the houses have been filled?

The Chairman: Five.

Mr. Bazeley: And how many have been condemned?

The Chairman: Five.

Mr. Bazeley: So we are “as you were!”

Mr. Claridge: Only it is better accommodation.

Finance and Estates Committee

A meeting of the Finance and Estates Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Tuesday, the 31st December, 1902, at 10a.m., when there were present:- Messrs. G. Miller (chairman), C. Bates, J. Claridge, and T. Swindall.

Surveyor’s Cash Account

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

Collector’s Accounts

The Committee examined the Collector’s accounts, from which it appeared that the following sums had been collected since the last meeting:-

Treasurer’s Accounts

The Treasurer’s accounts were also examined from which it appeared that he had received the following sums since the last meeting:-

And that the balances on the under mentioned accounts were as follows:-

Tradesmen’s and Other Accounts

A number of accounts, amounting to £415 10s 11d were examined and passed for payment.

Typewriter

The Surveyor reported that as instructed he had obtained specimens of typewriters from various makers, and it was resolved to recommend the Council to purchase an Underwood at the price of £20 1s 4d.

Sewage Loans, £928 And £773

The Clerk read a letter from the Secretary to the Boot and Shoe Operatives’ Union, regretting that his Union were unable to make the further loans required, and the Clerk was instructed to negotiate the loans elsewhere.

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 1st January, 1913, when there were present:- Messrs. C. Bates (Chairman), G. Miller, W. Bazeley, J. Claridge, T. Swindall, G. H. Skinner, and the Ven. A. Kitchin.

Health and Sanitary Reports

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

With regard to the six cases of pulmonary tuberculosis the Committee considered that in view of the recent regulations of the Local Government Board relating to the duties of the Medical Officer of Health on receiving such notifications, that the report should contain some information as to the action taken by him; it was accordingly resolved to ask the Medical Officer to supplement his report with an account of any investigations made by him.

The Sanitary Inspector reported that 33 preliminary notices calling attention to nuisances, etc., had been served during the past month, all of which were receiving attention.

The Inspector submitted particulars of defects found on his inspection of Nos. 1 to 10. Dell-place, and it was resolved that a copy of these particulars be furnished the owner, with a request that the defects may be remedied forthwith.

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

Dell-Place

With regard to the approach road to the property in Dell-place, the Inspector was instructed to require the owners of the property abutting thereon to place it in repair forthwith, and, in default it was resolved to recommend the Council to proceed under the Private Street Works Act.

Medical Officer of Health

The Clerk reported that he had written to the Local Government Board asking to be supplied with certain information arising out of their letter of the 6th December last, and it was resolved to defer further consideration of the letter until a reply had been received.

Notification and Treatment of Tuberculosis

The Clerk submitted a circular letter from the Local Government Board dated 20th December 1912, with a general order making new regulations with regard to the notification and treatment of tuberculosis, and was instructed to obtain copies thereof and supply to the members of the Council and also to the Medical Practitioners of the town.

Housing and Town Planning, Etc., Act

A letter was received from the Local Government Board stating that they would direct a local inquiry to be held on this subject by one of their Inspectors as soon as their other engagements would permit.

Duck-Street

A complaint was received from Mr. H. T. Wesley as to the flooding of his premises on Sunday morning, December 29th, and asking for compensation. The Committee were satisfied that the flooding was entirely owing to the extraordinary heavy rains which fell during Saturday night and were unable to recommend the Council to accept any responsibility.

The Surveyor also reported the flooding of houses in various other parts of the town.

Dairies, Cowsheds, and Milkshops Order

The Veterinary Inspector, Mr. Bainbridge, reported that on the 9th, 10th, and 12th December last he visited 30 premises belonging to 27 cowkeepers, and had examined 289 cows and heifers, making special examination of their udders and throats. The Sanitary Inspector was instructed to see the owner with regard to one of the cows mentioned therein.

The report was adopted.

The Seal

of the Council was affixed to the loan of £10,500 from the Boot Operatives’ Union for the sewage disposal extension works.

A Humorous Complaint

The following letter was received from the Central Machinery Co., Rushden:-

“Mr. Madin, Dear Sir, -- Re the rotten road that runs in front of our works, and of which we have spoken to you before (expressing our desire for a good respectable road), we should esteem it a great favour if you would kindly do something for us in this matter at once. You will appreciate our request when we tell you that this morning we again broke down a trolley (entirely due to trying to pull it over the alps, which is the fitting name given to Rectory-road at our unfortunate end), smashing the front table, the cost of which will be considerable, apart from immediate cost of transhipping load from one trolley to another (within sight of our works) at a cost of 15s. Such constant occurrences are very expensive and annoying, and we do hope that you will be able to help us. We only wish that the matter lay between us and your good self, then we should have hopes of a speedy rectification, but as this cannot be, we can only leave this serious matter with you, and trust that you will do whatever lies in your power to oblige.”

The letter was referred to the Plans and Highways Committee.

The Technical Institute

Mr. Swindall asked if there was any report from the Kettering meeting with regard to the proposed technical institute.

It was decided to deal with the question in committee.

Irchester-Road

The Chairman called the attention of the Surveyor to the track on the Irchester-road, where the water pipes had been laid down. There were complaints regarding the state of the road at that point.

The Surveyor said he would call the attention of the contractor to the road.

Loans

At a special meeting of the Council the Clerk produced engrossment of the conveyance from Messrs. Lilley, Skinner, and Sykes of 14¾ acres of land on the Spencer Park Estate at £1,447 16s 3d, from Mr. T. Wilmott of 2,330 yards at £291 5s 0d, and from Mr. G. Botterill of 1,830 yards at £231 5s 0d, and the seal of the Council was affixed thereto. It was resolved that the sums of £2,050 and £450 be borrowed from the trustees of the Liverpool Victoria Legal Friendly Society at £3 17s 6d per annum, the £2,050 to be repaid in 60 years and the £450 in 19 years.

The clerk produced engrossment of the conveyance from Mr. John Clark of 7¼ acres of land at £928 2s 6d for sewage disposal works, and the seal of the Council was affixed thereto.

Fire Brigade

The following report was received from Mr. G. R. Turner on the work of the Rushden Volunteer Fire Brigade during the past year:-

The brigade is in excellent condition. Although during the year the fires have been small they have been most promptly attended to. The fires were:- June 19, small fire in roof, caused by defective chimney; Dec.2, thatched cottage in High-street, caused by boys playing with fire; Dec. 18, Co-operative Stores outfitting window, supposed cause short circuit. The attendances at drill and cleaning of gear have been good with one exception. The police have as usual, rendered every help when required. It speaks well for the town to show such a small loss during the year, which must be due to the care and thoughtfulness of the inhabitants.

Mr. Bazeley said the attendance on the whole had been very good, but there was one exception. If there were one or two defaulters it was apt to make the other members more lax in their attendance at the drills.

On the proposition of Mr. Knight, the report was referred to the Highways Committee.