12th Feb 1926 - Buntingford Rural District Council

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Buntingford Rural District Council

MONTHLY MEETING

The monthly meeting of the Buntingford Rural District Council was held at the Council Offices on Thursday last week.

Present - Mr C Fraser (in the chair), Capt E.T. Morris, Capt H.H. Williams, The Rev. L.W. Wright, Messrs A.W. Page, H.C. Marshall, W.J. May, E. Bygrave, J.C. Pigg, F.B. Cannon, H.E. Dudley, A.J. Hayes, W.H. Kittow, C. Hummerstone, G. Graves, and G.C. Wilson, with the Surveyor (Mr E.G. Thody) and the Clerk (Mr E.C. Clarke).

SURVEYOR'S REPORT

The Surveyor presented his report as follows:

Isolation Hospital

No cases of infectious disease have been reporte during the past month, and the hospital remains closed.

Waterworks

The consumption of water during the past month has been:

1st week - 238,000 gallons.

2nd week - 240,000 gallons.

3rd week - 250,000 gallons.

4th week - 244,000 gallons.

The water level has risen 12ins. and now stands at 40ft., being 3ft. flower than at February last year.

Licences

Application is made for the renewal of 9 petrol and 2 carbide of calcium licences.

Norfolk Road

Plans showing the proposed scheme in connection with Norfolk Road are submitted. The total length of the road is 537 feet, and width 28ft. In addition to the road it is proposed to provide two footpaths 4ft. wide and a storm water drain with four surface gullies. The tenements number 30 with a frontage of 709ft., whilst land with a further frontage of 366ft. remains undeveloped.

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It was reported that owing to the bad state of the roads it was impossible to get road material delivered in some districts.

Mr F.B. Cannon said he thought the road material should be carted during the summer months. This was generally agreed and the matter was left to the Surveyor to deal with.

Applications were submitted for one of the Council houses at Meesden, and it was agreed to let it to an applicant who was at present in lodgings.

An application for a subsidy in connection with a proposed bungalow at Cromer was considered and granted.

A letter was read from one of the tenants of the Sunny Hill houses, asking for permission to replace the kitchener in the living room by a register stove. After discussion the request was agreed to.

MOTOR TRAFFIC

The Chairman said the Sub-Committee appointed to go into the matter of the sign boards, warning motor traffic to slow down while travelling through the town, had approved of a warning board, and that tenders for supplying and fixing the boards had been received.

The tenders were as follows:

Mr C.H. Poulton 4 19 6

Messrs Hamilton 5 10 0

Messrs Attwood 5 16 0

On the proposition of Captain Williams, seconded by the Revd L.W. Wright, Mr C.H. Poulton's tender was accepted.

The question of suitable sites for the boards was left to the sub-committee.

Mr C. Hummerstone asked whether the large board at Hillside could be removed. It was an eyesore.

Mr F.B. Cannon said the "Buntingford" board was of no use to local residents, but no doubt strangers found it useful.

Capt. Morris: It's quite as well to leave the board where it is, because I am often being asked where Buntingford is. (Laughter)

HORMEAD ROAD

A letter was read from a householder at Great Hormead point out the bad state of the road near the "Three Horseshoes" Public House, and the Surveyor was instructed to attend to the matter.

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(With regard to the above matter - the BUNTINGFORD board - we would like to state that the board has been lying on the ground for several weeks. - Ed.)

12th Feb 1926 - Buntingford Petty Sessions

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Buntingford Petty Sessions

ANNUAL LICENSING MEETING

On Friday last, before H.C. Marshall (in the chair) and Claud Fraser, Esqs.

Supt. H. Wright presented the following report to the magistrates:

Gentlemen,

I am directed by the Chief Constable to report that the number of licensed houses within the Buntingford Petty Sessions Division is- 34 fully licensed, 8 beer houses for consumption "on" the premises, 4 beer houses for consumption "off" the premises, 1 Grocer's licence. [Total=] 47.

One licence, in respect of "The Fountain" PH, has not been taken up.

Since the last annual general meeting 7 licensed houses have been transferred, an increase of 5 as compared with last year.

No licensee has been proceeded against during the year.

One person (a male) has been proceeded against for drunkeness, the case being dismissed. This is an increase of one compared with last year. This person is a resident in this Petty Sessional Division.

The permitted hours in the Buntingford Division are- Weekdays, 10.30am to 2.30pm and 6pm to 10pm. Sundays, 12 noon to 2pm and 7pm to 10pm.

Your obedient servant, H. Wright, Superintendent.

The Chairman said the report was very satisfactory. All the licences would be renwewed.

AFFILIATION CASE

An affiliation case, concerning a Buntingford man, was adjourned for three months.

5th Feb 1926 - Notes of the Week

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Notes of the Week

There was an excellent attendance at the meeting of the Guardians yesterday, but there was no "hush, hush" about the proposed Poor Law Reform.

One of the Councillors rose and condemned the Government's proposals in a ruthless manner, while another Councillor said he spent all last Sunday in trying to fathom what good there was in the proposed reform.

Mr H.C. Marshall must have taken more than an active interest in the matter at the County Council meeting on Monday, for he explained to the Guardians in a very able manner what the County Council thought of the scheme.

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At the Council meeting which followed there was great speculation as to the fate of the board near Hillside, which informas passers-by that they are about to enter Buntingford.

As the Council propose erecting signs asking motorists to drive slowly through the town, it was suggested that the name board be scrapped.

It was discovered, however, that this was erected by the County Council, and that none but that body have any power to have it removed.

5th Feb 1926 - Board of Guardians monthly meeting

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Board of Guardians

Monthly meeting

Poor law reform

The monthly meeting of the Buntingford Board of Guardians was held at the Board Room yesterday.

Present - Mr W.J. May (in the chair), Capt E.T. Morris, Capt H.H. Williams, the Rev L.W. Wright, Messrs A.W. Page, H.C. Marshall, Claud Fraser, E. Bygrave, J.C. Pigg, F.B. Cannon, H.E. Dudley, A.J. Hayes, W.H. Kittow, C. Hummerstone, G. Graves, and G.C. Wilson with the Master (Mr F.W. Butler), the Reliving Officer (Mr H.H. Macklin), and the Clerk (Mr E.C. Clarke).

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.

Master's Report

The Master reported as follows:

Number of inmates - men 23, women 15, children 2. Total 40.

Corresponding period for last year 45.

During the month 2 males have been admitted and 1 has died.

The following gifts have been received: Hormead Mothers' Union, cakes, tobacco and cigarettes; Mr C Hummerstone, books; Mr E.G. Thody, apples.

Relief

The Relieving Officer presented his report and several cases were dealt with.

House Committee

The House Committee report that they had inspect the Institution and found everything satisfactory.

Poor Law Reform

Mr H.C. Marshall said the question of the reform of Poor Law Administration had been fully discussed by the County Council, and it might be interesting to the Board if he explained what the County Council thought of the scheme. The County Council did not like the scheme and they felt that they have as much work at present as they were able to cope with. They also felt that if the proposed reform came in to force the administration would not be done any better, but would cost more money. (Hear hear).

The County Council realise that in the County the work of the Board of Guardians had been exceedingly wel done. There was also the danger of a flat rate of relief, and the Chairman of the County Council thought that what would be a sufficient scale for Buntingford and Sawbridgeworth would not be fair for Watford or St Albans (Hear, hear). 

The County Council say that if the reform is passed they will do their best, and they hope that who have done such good work in the past will come forward and help (Hear, hear).

The Chairman said they were very grateful to Mr Marshall for his remarks. They had a book on the proposed reform, and he thought it would be best to adjourn the matter until the next meeting. It might be suggested that a letter be sent to the Ministry, stating that the Board did not agree with the scheme.

Mr H.C. Marshall: I think it would be advisable to wait a bit; meanwhile we might formulate a resolution to send to other Boards of Guardians in the county.

Mr C. Fraser: I am sure we all agree with what Mr Marshall has said, and we are very grateful to him. A delay of a month might be beneficial.

Captain Morris: Is there any necessity to adjourn the matter? The County Council have said that they do not agree with the reform and we have endorsed their views. Why then discuss the matter further?

Mr C. Hummerstone said he had spent some time reading a book on the subject, and he thought there was nothing in it of any use.

Capt Williams said he did not think the Board wished to turn the matter down at this stage. They might say that they would discuss it at the next meeting, and then put forward any reasonable argumenents.

A general discussion then followed, in which Mr W.H. Kittow, the Rev L.W. Wright, and Mr H.E. Dudley took part. It was finally agreed to discuss the matter fully at the next meeting.

Rates

The Clerk reported that the County Council had asked for payment of one of the County Rates, and that a cheque had been drawn for three rates.

The Clark also reported that the average cost of upkeep for each inmate for the ending 25th March 1925, was 10/1 and quarter penny, against 9/7 and halfpence for 1924, and 10/4 for 1923.