Archived Extracts

Several interesting points were raised at the monthly meeting of the Huthwaite Urban District Council held in the Council Offices on Tuesday evening, when Councillor J. Davis presided over the following members:- Councillors T. Goodall, E.H. Lowe, J. Potter, J. Iball, S. Allcock, A. Wilson, M. Betts, D.D. Bonser, J. Peters, W.E. Hancock, W. Clarke and F.C. Sowter.
  When the Roads and Buildings Committee minutes were before the meeting, Mr. Lowe asked if anything had been done with regard to Cross Lane, which was still in a dangerous condition, and the Clerk said negotiations were still proceeding with regard to the matter.
  Mr. Betts raised the question of the fencing of the gardens near the Recreation Ground when the Cemetery, Allotments and Pleasure Grounds Committee minutes were under discussion, observing that some of the gardens were cultivated and the fences were in a bad state.
  The Chairman replied that the Council were awaiting the Ministry's reply on the matter.

  Mr. Clarke referred to the damage done to see-saws, one of which, he understood, had disappeared and the other was broken, and he asked what was the amount of damage done.
  The Surveyor said he could not estimate the damage until he had written the makers with regard to the cost of repairs, etc.
  Mr. Clarke thought it was time the bye-laws were passed by the Ministry so that offenders could be punished. Much damage was being done both on the Recreation Ground and the Park.
  The Clerk said he would write to the Ministry asking for the sanction of the bye-laws to be expedited. Mr. Clarke suggested that as soon as the Clerk heard from the Ministry he should get in touch with the police and put them on the track of offenders.
  The Chairman said the annual meeting would be held shortly, and the Clerk hoped by then to have the regulations in order and these could be put in operation right away.
  The question of water charges was raised on the Finance and General Purposes Committee minutes, and it was resolved that as from April 1st, 1933, the charges to consumers paying upon rateable value of properties only be increased from 50 per cent. above the original scale of charges to 75 per cent. above such scale.
  The Clerk reported the receipt of a circular letter from the Ministry of Health dealing with local expenditure on housing, public health, public assistance, etc.
  Mr. Sowter wondered if it would be possible to reply to the letter pointing out to the Government that the Council were spending money wisely under the above headings, and suggesting that they considered money was being spent unnecessarily by the Government on the army and navy.
  Mr. Clarke supported Mr. Sowter's suggestion. The Chairman said they could hardly reply to the circular in that strain, and the matter was allowed to drop.

  The Clerk read a letter from the Ministry of Health notifying the Council that objections to the proposed re-arrangement of county boundaries would be heard at Shire Hall, Nottingham, on May 9th.
  Mr. Clarke asked if a representative of the Ministry would visit Huthwaite first. The Clerk: The letter gives no information to that effect.
  It was decided that the matter be put on the agenda for the annual meeting of the Council, when the Clerk would have more information on the question. The annual meeting was fixed for Thursday, April 20th.
  Mr. Clarke said he had received a complaint from a member of the Public Assistance Committee to the effect that during the hours relief was being paid out at Huthwaite there was hardly enough privacy for the Relieving Officer or for the persons applying for relief owing to the number of men in the adjoining room. The speaker suggested that the room be emptied whilst relief was being paid out.
  Mr. Hancock said he was in favour of privacy for the people applying for relief, but he did not think the Council should do anything until more money was paid for the use of the room by the Public Assistance Committee.
  Mr. Sowter thought it was neither a matter for the unemployed nor for the Library Caretaker, and contended that the remedy lay with the Relieving Officer, who should strictly adhere to the principles of privacy.
  The Chairman thought the difficulty would be overcome during the summer, when the unemployed would be mostly out of doors.
  On the proposition of Mr. Lowe, seconded by Mr. Goodall, it was agreed that the room used by the unemployed be closed during the time relief was being paid.
  Mr. Hancock moved an amendment to the effect that the matter lie on the table until such time as the charge for the room was settled, but he could get no seconder. The speaker said he was in sympathy with persons applying for relief having privacy, but the alternative was for the people to be visited at their own homes as they used to be.

  Mr. Peters said the Bowling Club members were desirous of opening the green on Easter Monday, and he moved that they be granted permission to do this.
  The Chairman said he could see no reason why the green should not be opened at Easter this year. In previous years there had been the question of the condition of the grass, but it was quite dry this year. Mr. Peters' motion was seconded and carried.
  Mr. Potter moved that a letter of congratulations be sent to Mr. Harold Larwood on his success in the Tests. Mrs. Larwood was a native of Huthwaite, and it would be appropriate for the Council to congratulate her husband.
  Mr. Clarke seconded, observing that Mr. Larwood deserved all the congratulations he received, and the motion was carried unanimously.

  At the Peacock Inn, Huthwaite, Messrs. W. Watson and Son, auctioneers, offered for sale several lots of property and buildings and accommodation land, the greater part being freehold, the coal in all cases being reserved. Mr. Farnsworth secured six freehold dwelling-houses in Columbia Street, producing a cross rental of £49 8s., for the sum of £400, and two unoccupied shops in Main Street were knocked down to the same gentleman for £141. For two villas in Columbia Street, at an annual rental of £24 14s., Mr. Evans was the highest bidder at £345.
  Two dwelling-houses in High Street, at a gross rental of £28 12s., were withdrawn at £410, but were sold privately. A plot of land in King Street, containing an area of 610 square yards, realised 3s. per yard, Mr. H. Holland being the purchaser. Mr. Dickens also secured two lots of building land in Unwin Street. In all cases Messrs. Alcock and Shacklock were the acting solicitors.