8th April 1927 - Rural District Council

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Rural District Council

Captain H.H. Williams presided over the meeting of the Rural District Council which followed, other officers present being - Dr R.A. Dunn (M.O.H.), and the Surveyor (Mr E.G. Thody).

Surveyor's Report

The Surveyor reported that the Isolation Hospital was closed. The town's consumption of water during the month had been 935,000 gallons, and the water level had risen slightly.

A further supply of disinfectants was required - estimated cost £10 3s.

Drainage

Drainage work had now been completed at the Little Hormead site, and difficulty was now being experienced with the drainage at Cottered; it would be advisable, if possible, to secure a piece of the land adjoining the Council's cottages, for use as a dump.

The Surveyor also asked for instructions as to the cropping of the Buntingford Sewage farm, and stated that sugar beet had been grown there with success during the past year.

After discussing the matter, the Council decided to grow two acres of sugar beet on the farm. It was also agreed to purchase the disinfectants required. The question of the purchase of a piece of ground at Cottered for the disposal of drainage matter from the Council's cottages was left over until the Surveyor had seen Mr Sanders, of Cottered.

A letter was read from Mr Chapman, who has recently erected a bungalow on the London Road, to the effect that, although he had complied with the Surveyor's instructions, as to certain parts of the buolding, he had received a letter from the Clerk to the effect that he was not entitled to the subsidy.

The matter was fully discussed by the Council, and it was unanimously agreed that the Council were in order in not recommending a subsidy.

The Surveyor reported on the rent arrears, and the Chairman said he was very pleased to see that there was an improvement, and that some of the tenants had made an effort to get the arrears down.

The question of adopting bye-laws was again discussed, and the Surveyor presented a draft of the bye-laws which the Council proposed adopting before the war. Mr H.C. Marshall proposed that the Surveyor look through them and report on the matter to a sub-committee consisting of Capt. H.H. Williams, Messrs. C. Hummerstone and W.J. May.

Mr W.J. May reported on his visit to a conference in London on the Rating and Valuation Act, and was thanked by the Chairman for his interesting and instructive report.

The Clerk read a letter for Sir Charles Longmore to the effect that the work of preparing the Jurors Lists, and registers of electors would now be carried out by two of the Council's rating officers.

Mr C. Hummerstone said the matter required consideration. If the work was being taken out of the hands of the Assistant Overseers, there would be compensation to pay. Some of the Assistant Overseers had been collecting rates, and had been paid no salary for the work, buy they had been receiving certain sums for the preparation of the lists of voters; it was now proposed to take this work from them and give it to the Council's rating officers.

The Clerk said that the amount paid for the preparation of the whole of the lists was approx. £100. He (the Clerk) did not want the job.

Mr G.C. Wilson said he believed thre was a lot of feeling over the matter, and he was anxious, if possible, or giving the Assistant Overseers a chance to carry on.

Mr H.E. Dudley also spoke in a similar way, and after further discussion the Clerk was instructed to write to the County Council for a ruling on the matter.

The North Metropolitan Electric Company submitted plans showing the route of their overhead cable, and these were passed.

The half-yearly estimates were presented by the Clerk. The total required - £3763 - was an increase of £81. There would be a General Rate of 5/- for the district.

Tenders

The following tenders were accepted - Scavenging - Mr C.H. Poulton. Team labour for highways - Mr E.J. Crane.

23rd July 1926 - Rural District Council

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Rural District Council

A meeting of the Rural District Council followed, Captain H.H. Williams presiding.

Surveyor's Report

The Surveyor's Report was presented and passed.

Little Hormead Cottages

The Surveyor reported on the drainage at these cottages, and after a discussion the Surveyor was instructed to interview Mr Pattern.

Housing Acts

Application for subsidies under the House Act, 1923, were received from Mrs Lacey, of Cottered, and Mr R.G. Peck, of Rushden. Both applications were granted.

The Milk and Dairies Order, 1926

The order was discussed, and the Medical Officer of Health (Dr Dunn) was asked to report on the order at the next meeting of the Council.

Rating and Valuation Bill

The question of the new Rating and Valuation Bill was discussed, and the following elected to serve on the local Rating Committee: Mrs Dimsdale, Messrs. W.J. May, C. Fraser, A.J. Hayes, W.H. Kittow and G. Graves.

Mr C. Hummerstone asked what would be the position of the present Assistant Overseer when the new act came into force.

The Clerk pointed out that there would have to be a certain number of collectors, and the matter was left for the Committee to report upon.

19th Oct 1928 - Buntingford Rural District Council

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Buntingford Rural District Council

Housing Troubles

The monthly meeting of the Buntingford Rural District Council was held on Thursday, the 11th inst., when there were present: Captain H.H. Williams (in the chair), Mrs K.J. Dimsdale, Messrs. C. Hummerstone, G.C. Wilson, H. Ward, J. Russell, S. Pigg, A.J. Hayes, E.J. Marchal, G. Graves, J. Bygrave and H.E. Dudley, with the Clerk (Mr E.C. Clarke) and the Surveyor (Mr E.G. Thody).

Tenders were received for the erection of a fence, etc., around the water supply at Little Hormead, these being from Messrs. D. Wilson and Son, of Hare Street, who quoted £13 15s.; and Mr C.E. Harradence, who quoted £16 10s. 

It was resolved that the tender of Messrs. Wilson & Son be accepted.

SURVEYOR'S REPORT

The Surveyor submitted his monthly report, in which he stated that the Isolation Hospital was closed. The consumption of water during the last month had been 1,218,000 gallons, and the water level now stood at 38 feet. A supply of 400 gallons of paraffin was required for use at the Waterworks, at a cost of £12 10s.

The Surveyor also reported that the County Council had completed the wharfing of the River Rib as requested by the Council. The work at the Hospital and the Ardeley water supply had now been carried out. No report was forthcoming with reference to the extension of the Sewage Farm owing to the dry weather having made it impossible to ascertain certain details.

The Council authorised the purchase of the paraffin, and instructed the Surveyor to dispose of the crop of mangolds at the Sewage Farm to the best possible advantage.

HOUSING

The Surveyor also submitted a detailed statement showing the amount expended on the repair and maintenance of the Council's cottages throughout the district for the seven years ending March last, together with a lengthy list of the various repairs that were necessary.

It appeared that the average cost of maintenance per house per annum had been £2 13s. 6d., whereas the sum allotted was £2 7s. 2d., and thus the Maintenance and Repair Fund had been overdrawn by the sum of £287 3s. 1d.

The matter was referred to the Housing Committee, and it was decided to call a meeting of the Committee at an early date. It was also resolved to furnish the Ministry of Health with a report upon the matter, together with a statement of the expenses incurred in connection with the Cottered drainage scheme, and the £300 that was required for the external painting of the cottages in the district.

The Surveyor pointed out that it would be necessary to repair the roofs of the cottages at Meesden as the tenants had declined to pay their rents owing to the wet coming in, and it was decided to carry out the repairs forthwith.

There were several applicants for the two cottages at Buntingford and Chipping, which were both let to local residents.

The Clerk submitted the report of the district auditor with reference to the audit of the Council's accounts, in which the auditor made certain suggestions with regard to rate collection.

Notification was received from the North Metropolitan Electric Power Company that owing to the delay experienced in procuring materials the lighting scheme would not be ready until a few days later than the specified time.

Mr Hayes asked whether the Council could not write to the County Council about the speed of motor vehicles which used the Hare Street Road. The road which had just been repaired, he said, would soon be as bad as before.

The Chairman replied that the Council would take no action in the matter as motor vehicles were licensed to use the roads, but the speed of the vehicles, however, was a matter for the police to deal with.