Archived Extracts

  There was a fairly full agenda for discussion 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 F.C. Sowter, Alf. Wilson, T. Goodall, J. Peters, D.D. Bonser, M. Betts, J. Iball, W.E. Hancock, W. Clarke, E.H. Lowe, H.A. Simpson, J. Potter, and J.G. Wright.
  Before proceeding with the business, Mr. Betts moved that the Council's sympathy be conveyed to Mr. C.H. Coupe, J.P., in his illness, and also wishes for his speedy recovery.

  Mr. Sowter seconded. He said they all knew Mr. Coupe as a former member of the Council for a great number of years, and although they may not have seen eye to eye on many occasions that did not debar them from recognising his sterling qualities. For his work in connection with that parish the speaker was devoutly thankful. Mr. Coupe had done much good for those down and out, and the speaker hoped his health would be speedily restored and that he might be spared to live for many more years. The motion was agreed to unanimously.
  When the Cemetery, Allotments and Pleasure Grounds Committee minutes were before the meeting, Mr. Clarke asked if anything further had been done with regard to the negotiations with the C.W.S.
  The Clerk said there had been no further correspondence since he received a letter from the firm to the effect that the matter was receiving their attention.
  Referring to a minute of the Health and Hospital Committee with regard to the proposed pail closet conversions, Mr. Clarke asked if the Council could make sure that the ratepayers concerned in this scheme did not have an increase in rent. As the ratepayers were to pay two-thirds and the landlords one-third, they ought to guard against the raising of rents.
  Mr. Sowter: It would be illegal to raise rents on this particular item. ....
  When the Public Library Committee minutes were being dealt with, Mr. Clarke said a request had been made by Mrs. Hill for the use of the Library in connection with the work for the rescue of girls, and it was agreed that this be granted.
  The Secretary of the Huthwaite Unemployed Workers' Committee (Mr. Bradley) wrote thanking the Council for the free use of the Library Lecture Hall as a recreation room for the unemployed, and enquiring as to what the Council meant by the term genuinely unemployed. Did they mean that only wholly unemployed could use the room, or did it include partly unemployed? Mr. Bradley also stated that he had attended the conference at Nottingham in connection with the scheme for cheap seeds and tools for unemployed, and added that the Huthwaite branch had already gone into the matter thoroughly and were receiving benefits from the scheme.

  The Chairman said he understood part-time workers had been attending the Lecture Hall.   Mr. Hancock said it was made clear when the Council met the deputation of unemployed that part-time workers should be allowed to use the room. Mr. Sowter confirmed Mr. Hancock's remarks.
  The question of the Huthwaite Park bye-laws with regard to the locking up of swings etc., was discussed, and it was agreed that the Ministry's suggested alterations to the bye-laws concerned be adopted.
  Mr. Betts said a ratepayer had drawn his attention to the question of the Tramways Co.'s 'buses running into the Market Place. He knew the Company had a right to run to the tramway terminus, but he wondered who had allowed them to run round the Market Place?
  Several members: The Council.
Mr. Lowe: It was dangerous where the 'buses were standing before.
  Mr. Betts: Well, it was a wrong thing to do.
  Mr. Sowter: What was done by the sanction of the whole of the members of this Council, and, it was in the interest of the ratepayers that permission was given to the Company to run to the Market Place. Still I agree the Market Place needs repairing.

  Mr. Simpson said everyone who went through Huthwaite commented on the bad condition of the Market Place. He would like to see it repaired and utilised for some other purpose.
  Mr. Clarke agreed that the Market Place was an eyesore, and he thought it was about time it was made worth looking at.
  The Chairman: The Council are going to be put to some expense if they make it a proper 'bus stand.
  Mr. Simpson thought the place ought to be reconditioned and made a permanent 'bus stand.
  Mr. Lowe moved that the Surveyor get out an estimate of repairing the part of the Market Place used by the 'buses for the next meeting. Mr. Betts seconded, and hoped that Tramway Company would be asked to bear some of the cost.
  Mr. Simpson: I should like to see this part of a general scheme to put the Market Place right.
  The Chairman agreed with Mr. Betts that the Tramway Company ought to meet the Council with regard to any expense incurred in making a proper 'bus stand. It was proposed to make a 'bus stand at Sutton, and it was suggested that the Tramway Company bear part of that cost. He thought they ought to come to some understanding with the Company.
  It was agreed that an estimate of the cost be obtained, and further discussion on the matter as deferred until this is available.

  Mr. Clarke asked if it was possible to revise the rents of the Common Road houses. In view of the state of some of these houses compared with the condition of some of the new houses, the speaker was of the opinion that a little more thought ought to be given to the Common Road tenants and the Council ought to see if it was not possible to reduce their rents to bring them more on a level with the others. He did not think the Common Road houses worth what was being charged.
  The Chairman said they were bound up by conditions in this respect, and they could only charge as stated by the law. .....
  The Clerk said he had a pile of correspondence with the Ministry with regard to this matter during the past few years, from which it was quite plain that they were unable to alter the rents.
  Mr. Clarke next referred to the overflow of water down to the Common Road houses, and it was agreed that the matter be seen to.
  Mr. Sowter said he wished to raise what he considered a very important matter. He had received some correspondence from the County Council requesting members of a particular Committee of which he was a member to put in better attendance. He had already informed the Council that the members of the Committee who had been co-opted by the County Council had never yet put in an appearance, and he had protested against this at the Public Assistance Committee meetings with the result that letters had been sent to the members of the Committee in question asking for better attendance.

  .... In reply to Mr. Sowter, the Chairman said he would raise the question at the next County Council meeting, and with this assurance Mr. Sowter altered his resolution in accordance with the Chairman's suggestion, and this was carried.
  Mr. Clarke asked if the condition of Cross Lane had been improved.
  The Chairman said he was down the lane the other day and it was still in a bad condition. The Clerk read correspondence with regard to the matter, which was left to the Clerk to go into further.
  The question of alleged damage to a gate post belonging to a Mr. Hopkin caused by the laying of gas pipes was raised by Mr. Betts, who was informed that the matter had been gone into and the Gas Manager was of the opinion that the Council were responsible.
  Mr. Clarke asked when Mr. Rockley was likely to be given any more plumbing work by the Council, as the speaker did not think he was getting his fair share as agreed.
  Mr. Hancock thought Mr. Rockley had been working for the Council a long time before Mr. Gelsthorpe was given any of the work, and the latter had not been working 12 months yet.
  The Chairman said it was decided that the work be allotted to local people and he thought it was being shared among them as fairly as possible.