“No Public Baths This Season”

Police Not “Backed Up”?

Extra Cost of Modern House Drainage

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

Baths and Parks Committee

  A meeting of the Baths and Parks Committee was held at Spencer Park on Tuesday, April 24^th, 1928, when there were present: Messrs. T. Swindall, D. G. Greenfield, A. Allebone, J. Allen, G. W. Coles, C. W. Horrell, L. Perkins, J. T. Richardson, J. Roe, and A. Wilmott.

Chairman

  It was resolved that Dr. Greenfield be appointed Chairman of this committee for the ensuing year.

Emergency Sub-Committee

  Messrs. Greenfield, Coles, and Allebone were appointed as the Emergency Sub-Committee for the ensuing year.

Bowling Greens and Tennis Courts

  The committee inspected the greens and courts and resolved that they be opened for the season on Thursday next, the 26^th inst.

  It was resolved to provide a notice-board for use at the bowling pavilion.

Bandstand

  Representatives of the local Bands attended the meeting, and arrangements were made for the use of the stand during the ensuing season.

Seats

  It was resoled to recommend the Council to provide four seats for use in Spencer Park, at an estimated cost of £10.

Schools

  It was resolved to recommend the Council to give permission to the local schools to use the grass tennis courts at half-fees during the week-days other than on Thursday and Saturday afternoons.

Putting Green

  The committee inspected this green and gave instructions for the layout.

  The report was adopted.

  Mr. Spencer asked when the baths would be ready.  He said the progress was exceedingly slow.  It looked more like Christmas than Whitsuntide when they would be open.  It was certainly very disappointing.

  Dr. Greenfield said he agreed that it was very disappointing, but it would be absolutely out of the question to have the baths open by Whitsuntide.  The contractor had had hopes of finishing by the beginning of August.

  The Surveyor:  I am afraid they will not be in use this year, certainly not this season.  There has been very great difficulty with the foundations owing to the finding of sand and running water.  That has caused delay.

  Dr. Greenfield:  I am sorry to have to give this information, Mr. Spencer.  It is very disappointing.

  Mr. Newberry asked whether there would be any extra cost to the Council.

  The Surveyor said it would mean another £100 or more.  The trouble was quite unforeseen.

Plans, Etc., Committee

  A meeting of the Plans, Highways, and Lighting Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, April 25^th, 1928, when there were present:  Messrs. T. Swindall, D. G. Greenfield, A. Allebone, G. W. Coles, F. Knight, T. F. B. Newberry, J. T. Richardson, A. Wilmott, T. Wilmott, and C. W. Horrell.

Chairman

  It was resolved that Mr. G. W. Coles be appointed Chairman of this committee for the ensuing year.

Sub-Committee

  The following sub-committee was appointed.

  Lighting and Fire Brigade, Messrs. A. Allebone, T. F. B. Newberry and T. Wilmott.

Plans

were presented for:

  House in Palm-road for Mr. J. A. Laughton, and passed.

  House in Prospect-avenue for Mrs. Mary Austin, and passed.

  House in Bedford-road for Mr. John Willmott, and passed.

  House in Palm-road for Mr. H. E. Silburn, and passed. 

 Two houses in Carnegie-street for Messrs. F. Whittington and M. O’Connor, and passed subject to the drains being separately connected with the sewer.

  House in Wellingborough-road for Mr. F. S. F. Piper, and passed.

  Applications for subsidies in respect of the foregoing houses were received, together with estimates of the cost thereof, which did not in any case exceed, including the cost of the land, £620.

  With regard to the granting of subsidies, the Clerk submitted a circular from the Ministry of Health as to the gross cost of each house, the subject of the subsidy, pointing out that care should be taken to insure that the maximum gross cost of £620 was not exceeded and that it would be necessary after the completion of each house for the Council to satisfy themselves on this point, and for this purpose it would not be sufficient to rely on an undertaking from the applicant without obtaining reliable evidence at a later stage to show that the condition had in fact been observed.

  It was also resolved to recommend the Council to issue certificates in respect of the foregoing houses as coming within the Council’s scheme for the subsidy of £70 each, on the understanding that on completion of such houses satisfactory evidence would be submitted to the Surveyor as to the gross cost.

  The Clerk was instructed to prepare a small leaflet setting out the before-mentioned conditions, to be supplied to each applicant for a subsidy house.

  House in Wellingborough-road for Mrs. A. Bedell, and passed.

  Motor garage in Alfred-street for National Provincial Bank, and passed.

  Greenhouse at the rear of No. 281, Wellingborough-road, for Miss Packer, and no exception taken.

  Storage shed at the rear of No. 39, Irchester-road, for Mr. F. H. Abbott, and no exception taken.

  Addition to garage on the Washbrook-road allotments for Mr. W. Campion, and no exception taken.

  An application was received from Mr. Elias Packwood for permission to erect a garage at the rear of No. 33, Queen-street, but, as this encroached on the air-space of that house, the application was not allowed.

  An application was also received from Mr. G. E. Smith, on behalf of Mr. Sweeney, to put up a wooden building to be used as an auction mart in Station-road, but, not complying with the by-laws, was not allowed.

Hackney Carriages

  The Clerk reported that 158 licences had been issued by him during the year ended March 31^st last and that the Council had received fees from the Ministry of Transport amounting to £39 in respect thereof.  It was resolved to make an allowance of £20 out of this sum towards the cost of the Clerk’s staff.

Surveyor

  The Clerk reported correspondence between himself and the Ministry of Transport with regard to their contribution towards the salary of the Surveyor in connection with his duties as Highways Surveyor.  The Ministry had agreed that out of Mr. Lloyd’s total salary of £350 per annum £150 per annum should be deemed chargeable to Roads and bridges Account, half of which sum the Ministry would contribute towards the salary.  It was understood that no variation in the terms of Mr. Lloyd’s appointment would be made without the consent of the Ministry.

  The Surveyor informed the committee that it would very much expedite his work if he could have the use of a motor-bicycle, and he was prepared to purchase one if the Council would make him a contribution towards the cost.  The committee agreed to recommend the Council to make him a grant of £20 per annum towards the cost of providing and maintaining a motor-bicycle.

Carnegie-Street

  An application was received from the occupiers of houses abutting on this road requesting the Council to put into force the Private Street Works Act, 1892, and construct the road forthwith.

  It was accordingly resolved to recommend the Council that Carnegie-street be levelled, paved, metalled, channelled, and made good under and in accordance with the provisions of the Private Street Works Act, 1892, and that the expenses incurred in executing such works be apportioned amongst the premises fronting, adjoining, or abutting on the said street according to the respective frontages, and, further, that the surveyor be instructed to prepare and submit to the Council (a) specification of the above-mentioned works, with plans and sections, (b) an estimate of the probable expenses of the works, and (c) a provisional apportionment of the estimated expenses among the premises liable to be charged therewith under the Act.

Prospect-Avenue

  The Surveyor submitted a specification, plan, sections, estimate, and provisional apportionment with reference to the works proposed to be carried out in this street under the Private Street Works Act, 1892, whereupon it was resolved to recommend the Council to pass a resolution approving the said works and provisional apportionments.

  The Surveyor estimated the total expense of constructing this road to be £1,363  2s.  4d.

Irchester Road

  The Surveyor was instructed to place himself in communication with the Ministry of Transport and the County Surveyor with a view to making an immediate application for the maining of this road.

  The report was adopted.

  On the subject of separate drains to two houses in Carnegie-street, Mr. Perkins said it would be a great saving of cost if people could be allowed to have a common drain where two houses were built together, and provided they signed an agreement to keep the drain in proper order it should not matter.  The Council had houses with common drains.  He wondered whether it could be allowed.  He was told that two people who were building in Hayway-road would have to pay an extra £10 each for separate drains.  He realised that there were difficulties in the way of allowing common drains, but it had been done.

  Mr. Knight said it was a very serious thing if anything went wrong, because the drains of two houses had to be seen to.  The Council had had common drains and they had been sorry for it.

  Mr. Newberry said it would complicate matters if one house was sold to a second owner.

  Mr. Tysoe said he agreed with the principle of separate drains and was surprised that the Council had any of the other sort.  The £10 to have separate drains was money well spent.  There were cases of one person blocking a neighbour’s drain.

  Mr. Tom Wilmott said that where two houses had drains on the two outsides it was necessarily a case of having separate drainage, but where the drain was carried between two houses he favoured one 6in. drain rather than two 4in. drains side by side.  In the latter case it always caused muddle and disturbed the unaffected drain when the ground was opened to see to the blocked drain alongside, and it caused double expense.  There were four Council houses with common drains.

  The Clerk said common drains were not now allowed anywhere.

  The Chairman said that if cases arose such as Mr. Wilmott mentioned the Council could deal with them.

  Mr. Perkins said he supposed it would be made public that the Council had a further extension of time for granting subsidies – namely, up to March 31^st, 1929.

  The Clerk said that that would be made known.

  Mr. Tysoe asked whether the work of making Prospect-avenue would start shortly, as it had been rather disgraceful for a long time.

  The Chairman explained that the Surveyor was sending to each tenant notification of his apportionment of the cost shortly.

Health and Sanitary Committee

  A meeting of the Health and Sanitary Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, May 2^nd, 1928, when there were present: Messrs. T. Swindall, D. G. Greenfield, J. Allen, T. F. B. Newberry, J. T. Richardson, L. Tysoe, A. Wilmott, and T. Wilmott.

Chairman

  It was resolved that Mr. Swindall be appointed Chairman of this committee for the ensuing year.

Sub-Committees

  The following sub-committees were appointed.

  Cemetery, Messrs. Allen, Greenfield, and A. Wilmott.

  Farm, Messrs. Swindall, Newberry, Richardson, and Spencer.

  Depot, Mr. T. Wilmott.

Health and Sanitary Reports

  The report of the Medical Officer for the month of April was received.

  The Sanitary Inspector reported that since the last meeting 37 additional nuisances had been dealt with.

  Forty-one visits had been made to premises where food was prepared or sold.  During these inspections quantities of foodstuffs to the total weight of 3cwt. 1qr., had been discovered to be unfit for human consumption and destroyed in the usual way.

  Three rooms had been disinfected following cases of infectious disease.  Quantities of bedding, etc., had been disinfected, and a quantity of bedding destroyed, also after cases of infectious disease.

  An application was received from Mr. F. A. Smith, of No. 24, Albion-place, for compensation in respect of destroyed bedding, and it was resolved to recommend the Council to replace part of the bedding destroyed at a cost not exceeding £1  7s.  6d.

  The Inspector gave a detailed statement of his work and inspections since the last meeting.

Annual Reports

  It was resolved that the annual reports of the Medical Officer and Sanitary Inspector be printed as usual and circulated amongst the members of the Council.

Public Health Act, 1925

  The committee had before them a Police report dated Feb. 29^th last, which had been previously considered without any action being taken.  Action on a similar case in a neighbouring town was recently taken and a conviction obtained, but, having regard to the length of time since the offence at Rushden took place, the committee decided not to take any action in this particular case.

  The Clerk was instructed to convey the thanks of the committee to the Police for their attention in the matter and to state that any future cases would be brought before the Magistrates.

  The report was adopted.

Housing Committee

  A verbal report on a meeting of the Housing Committee held just before the Council meeting was given by Mr. Perkins (chairman), who said that the committee had been reconsidering plans for houses in Westfields.  On one side were non-parlour houses.  If those on the side facing north were the ordinary non-parlour type, the Ministry of Health might turn the scheme down because of the houses not having a southern aspect.  The Surveyor was shortly going to the Ministry on other business, when he might, with the consent of the Council, take plans for the approval of the Ministry of a parlour type or a modified kind of non-parlour type.  The Council had already decided that the next 50 houses should be of the non-parlour type.

  Dr. Greenfield:  But they would be on the wrong side of the road?

  Mr. Perkins: Yes.

  Mr. Newberry asked whether any houses would be built on Bedford-road yet.

  Mr. Perkins: No, sir.  They won’t reach as far as that! (Laughter.)

Finance and Estates Committee

  A meeting of the Finance and Estates Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Thursday, May 3^rd, 1928, at 10 a.m., when there were present: Messrs. T. Swindall, G. W. Coles, C. Claridge, F. Green, C. W. Horrell, J. Hornsby, F. Knight, L. Tysoe, and J. Roe.

  It was resolved that Mr. C. W. Horrell be appointed Chairman of this committee for the ensuing year.

  A number of accounts amounting to £673  2s.  1d. were examined and passed for payment.

Purvis-Road

  A report from the police was received in connection with the damage to a hedge at the top of Purvis-road.

  It was resolved that the youths concerned be summoned to attend the next meeting of the committee and be required to pay the amount of the damage.

Housing, Etc., Act, 1923

  The Clerk reported that the balance in hand on the loan for providing lump-sum grants in connection with the erection of houses by private enterprise was nearing exhaustion and that at least 21 grants would have to be provided for by September 30^th next.

  It was resolved to recommend the Council to make application to the Ministry of Health for sanction to a loan of £1,750 for this purpose.

  The report was adopted.

  On the subject of the damage caused in Purvis-road, Mr. Roe said it was time the Council did something more than merely caution offenders.  The police went to the trouble of preparing charges of damage done, and yet the Council did not take any action.  It had been said that the public conveniences were not kept open until a later hour because of damage done.  Although the Council had said in previous cases that they would prosecute “next time,” they still merely cautioned offenders.  They ought rather to support the police.

  In reply to Mr. Newberry, the Surveyor said that the damage would be rather more than £2.  It would be some time before the hedge would grow sufficiently strong again for its purpose.

  Mr. Newberry said it should be sufficient to ask the parents of the boys to pay.

  Mr. Tysoe disagreed with Mr. Roe, he said.  The police had a duty to report such things, and he did not think they would gloat over the prospect of a summons, nor would they care one iota whether the Council prosecuted or not.  If the Council did not prosecute, the police would not say “We shall not trouble to report anything else.”  The police would report if there were 50 cases, and the responsibility would then be the Council’s.  He preferred that the committee should have the offender before them to see if the boys came in a penitent attitude or otherwise.  That did more good than sending them to Wellingborough.  He did not say that the committee were not going to ask for payment.

  Mr. Newberry:  The father is willing to pay!

  No further action was taken in the matter.

Completion of Improvement Scheme

  Mr. Tysoe said that as a new member of the Council he was grovelling for light.  He had many times congratulated the Council on the Rectory-road opening, and he did so now.  But he would like to know why the scheme had not been completed at the Salvation Army Barracks and at the Rectory Cottages.  No doubt the “older” members of the Council knew all about it and were sick of talking about it, but he would like to know the cause of the delay in demolishing four cottages which were a death-trap.  After all, good as the improvement was, he thought a source of danger was still there.

  The Clerk:  We should not be permitted by the Ministry to pull down dwelling-houses at present.

  Mr. Tysoe:  Not if we build others to take their place?

  Mr. Mason:  Not even if we built 100 houses!

  Mr. Tysoe said there was plenty of room at the back of the houses, so that they could be set back.

  Mr. Tom Wilmott said that the scheme would probably cost £10,000 to make quite complete.

  Mr. Swindall:  We are all desirous of seeing the scheme completed.

  Mr. Tysoe:  I presume as much.