Joint Parish Council's Meeting
STREET LIGHTING
A joint meeting of the Aspenden and Layston Parish Councils was held at the Board Room, Buntingford, on Wednesday evening, when there were present: Mr H.C. Marshall (in the chair), Capt. H.H. Williams, Messrs. H.G. Stearn, C.H. Poulton, F. Camp, A.W. Wilson, G. Scarborough Taylor, P. Hamilton, J. Lawrence, H. Clarke, F. Crouch, and the Clerk (Mr J. Boniwell).
The chief business was the discussion of the question of street lighting in Buntingford and to receive a tender from the North Metropolitan Electric Supply Company for lighting the streets by electricity.
The tender submitted by the Company amounted to £131 17s. for twenty-three lights - viz., ten suspended lights, eleven mast lights and two bracket lights. The scheme included the lighting of Newtown.
The Chairman said the present system of gas lighting was costing £100 per year.
The meeting discussed the matter fully, and then decided to ask Mr Dixon-Browne, engineer-in-charge for the Buntingford district of the North Metropolitan Electric Company, to give the meeting further details in connection with the tender submitted.
Mr Scarborough Taylor asked if it would be practicable to reduce the number of suspended lights by increasing the power of the lamps.
Mr Dixon-Browne, replying, said the ten suspension lamps of 100 watts could be reduced to six suspended lamps of 300 watts. This would be cheaper than the scheme submitted.
Asked if the Company would reduce the term of years specified in their tender, from ten years to seven years, Mr Dixon-Browne said he was prepared to make the tender for seven years. He was afraid he could not hold out any hope of a lower tender than for the amount submitted, less the allowance in respect of the reduction in the number of suspended lights, as the price quoted was only just at working cost. The Company was bearing the entire cost of installing the necessary fittings and lamps, and in addition would have to bear all replacements.
Mr Wilson asked whether the lighting of Hare Street Road was included in the tender. Sunny Hill was as important as Newtown, and a lamp was badly needed.
The Chairman said he was afraid that Sunny Hill was not included, as it was not in the lighting area.
Capt. Williams then moved that the tender of the North Metropolitan Electric Supply Co. be accepted, on the understanding that the number of suspended lights be reduced to six, the tender to be for seven years, and that the lights be extinguished at 10.30 p.m. instead of 10 p.m. as mentioned in the tender.
In consequence of the amendments, the tender was reduced to £122 11s.
Mr Scarborough Taylor seconded the proposition, which was carried.
Mr Poulton asked why the parish of Wyddiall was not represented at the meeting. Wyddiall at present had one lamp in the High Street, and if the parishioners chose to keep out of the present scheme they could do so.
Mr Wilson asked what the position would be if the parishioners of Wyddiall refused to come into the scheme they had just adopted. They would be getting their light at the expense of Aspenden and Layston.
The Chairman said he thought the matter would be met if a small sub-committee be appointed to go into the matter with the North Met. with regard to the fixing of the lighting points. He would suggest that one or two of the Wyddiall parishioners who resided in Buntingford be asked to serve on the committee.
This was agreed, the following being appointed: Aspenden, Capt. H.H. Williams and Mr A. Wilson; Layston, Mr G. Scarborough-Taylor and Mr J. Lawrence; Wyddiall, Mr Claud Fraser and Mr Ernest G. Thody.
Mr Clarke raised the question of the apportionment of the cost. He thought Aspenden and Layston should divide their share equally.
It was finally agreed to leave this matter to the sub-committee to report on.
The Chairman thanked Mr Dixon-Browne for attending and for his explanations, and in reply Mr Dixon-Browne said that when they matter was settled and points fixed his Company would start with the work straight away.