Buntingford Rural District Council
Water Rents
Notice is hereby given that the Collector has received instructions to complete the collection of the Water Rents for the current half-year, and all amounts due must be remitted to him on or before the 23rd inst., failing which proceedings will be taken for the recovery of the amount.
Ernest G. Thody
Collector, Buntingford
9th September, 1926.
Buntingford Rural District Council
Captain H.H. Williams presided at the monthly meeting of the above Council, held at the Council Offices on Thursday in last week.
The Surveyor, Mr E.G. Thody, presented his monthly report.
The Isolation Hospital remained closed. The town's water consumption for the past month was 1,014,000 gallons; the water level at the well had risen another 12in., and stood at 38 feet, the same as at January last.
Condemned Cottages
Dr R.A. Dunn, the Medical Officer of Health, presented a report on the condition of the cottages in Baldock Road, previously reported on by the Surveyor. After discussion it was agreed to issue closing orders.
Fuel Overseer
The Board discussed the question of remuneration to be paid the Fuel Overseer for his duties during the period of the coal dispute - 30 weeks.
The Chairman said a great amount of extra work had been entailed in connection with the issuing of permits and the recording of stocks of coal.
After discussion it was agreed to pay Mr Thody the sum of £30 for his services, and the Chairman said the Board wished to thank him for the manner in which he had dealt with the situation.
During the coal dispute Buntingford was much more fortunate than many other places, with regard to the supply of coal.
Roads
The Surveyor presented a schedule showing the cost of putting in order the roads which the County Council proposed taking over.
The amount stated (£8213), was considered much too high, and it was agreed to get into comunication with the County Councillors representing the District, with a view to getting this amount substantially reduced.
Buntingford Rural District Council
Monthly Meeting
Appointment of Rate Collector
Over 30 Applicants
The monthly meeting of the Buntingford Rural District Council was held at the Board Room on Thursday of last week.
Present - Capt. H.H. Williams (in the chair), Mrs Dimsdale, the Rev. L.W. Wright, Messrs. G. Graves, C. Hummerstone, F.B. Cannon, W.J. May, A.J. Hayes, G.C. Wilson, E.J. Marshall, H.C. Marshall, Claud Fraser, A.W. Page, and T.J. Stick, with the Surveyor (Mr E.G. Thody), and the Clerk (Mr E.C. Clarke).
Surveyor's Report
The Surveyor reported as follows:
Isolation Hospital
No cases of infectious disease have been notified, and the hospital remains closed.
Waterworks
The consumption of water during the month has been:
1st week - 262,000 gallons.
2nd week - 249,000 gallons.
3rd week - 248,000 gallons.
4th week - 248,000 gallons.
Four hundred gallons of paraffin are required and 40 gallons lubricating oil.
Licenses
Three persons make application for licenses to store carbide of calcium, and 14 for the renewal of their petrol licenses.
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The purchase of the paraffin and lubricating oil was approved, and all the licenses were granted.
Roads
Mr H.C. Marshall reported that he had interviewed the County Surveyor, and had arranged the matter of the roads which the County Council proposed taking over from the Rural District Council. The arrangements were subject to confirmation by the County Council.
The Chairman said the Council were very grateful to Mr Marshall and Capt. Morris for what they had done in the matter.
Appointment of Rate Collector
There were over 30 applicants for the post of Rate Collector, at a salary of £150 per annum. A Sub-Committee had been into the applications, and had chosen six applicants for interview by the Council.
Mr Hayes: I don't think there was any suggestion that the Sub-Committee should open the applications and choose any number to come before the Board. It has caused a lot of talk in the town, and I heard last week that it was almost decided who should have the post.
The Chairman: You have heard the minutes read, and no doubt you noticed that you seconded the resolution, proposed at the last meeting by Mr F. Cannon, that the Sub-Committee should meet and go into the matter immediately after the last day for receiving applications for the post.
Mr Hayes: I certainly seconded the resolution, but I did not think that the Sub-Committee would go into the matter so early.
The Chairman: Immediately after the last day for receiving applications: that was the resolution.
Mr G.C. Wilson: I quite see Mr Hayes' point. I admit that I was a little surprised to find that the Council were interviewing applicants today. At the same time I think the Council are very grateful to the Sub-Committee for going into the matter so thoroughly.
The Rev. L.W. Wright: I quite agree. It would have been a lot of unnecessary work for the Council to have to go into the question of the whole of the applicants today. The Sub-Committee has done quite the right thing.
Mr Hayes: I am quite satisfied now, only I heard that there was a good deal of canvassing.
The Chairman: As far as I am concerned I can say that I have no spoken to anyone or interviewed anyone respecting the post.
Mr Hayes: I am satisfied. Let us get on with the selection.
The Council then interviewd the six applicants recommended by the Sub-Committee, and after ninety minutes' deliberation it was unanimously agreed to appoint Mr W.G. Bonness.
The other business was of a formal nature.
Rural District Council
Captain H.H. Williams presided over a special meeting of the Buntingford Rural District Council, held at the Board Room on Friday last to discuss the workings of the Housing (Rural Workers) Act of 1926.
The Chairman said they had met to consider the advisability of applying to the Ministry of Health for a declaration that the Council should be the Local Authority to administer the Act to the exclusion of the County Council.
The Chairman fully explained the Act, and pointed out that while the administration concerned the Rural and Urban Districts more than it did the County Councils, the Government, for some reason or other, was anxious for the Act to operate through the County Councils.
Following a discussion on the various points, the following resolution was unanimously carried:
"Resolved that this Council, in accordance with the provisions of Season 5. s.s. 1 of the Housing (Rural Workers) Act of 1926, do make application to the Ministry of Health for the purpose of being declared the Local Authority to administer, throughout the Rural District of Buntingford, the Housing (Rural Workers) Act of 1926 and any scheme made there-under to the exclusion of the Council of the County of Hertford."
In the event of the Ministry declaring the Rural District Council to be the Local Authority, a scheme will be prepared by the Council whereby financial assistance will be afforded to owners of property for putting into good habitable condition houses occupied by agricultural labourers or others coming under the same category.