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.