Mexborough and Swinton Times September 6, 1935

Housing fees
Grant to Surveyor Criticised
Objectors Ruled Out

Protest in reference to the payment of £5 per house to the surveyor (Mr H Thirlwall) if connection with the erection of 100 houses to accommodate persons displaced by slum clearance, were made at the monthly meeting of the Conisborough Urban Council on Wednesday. Mr. R. H. Shepard presided.

Mr J. I. Webster, said that at their last monthly meeting the meeting of the finance committee was held in two sections. It was adjourned for the business of the full council and after the council meeting was resumed, and then followed by another open session of the council. The result was that in the minutes of the last council meeting was one £5 per house be paid to the surveyor in connection with the erection of the hundred houses to accommodate persons displaced by slum clearance.

Mr. J. Leatherland: this means that he is entitled to his £5 per house without any more discussion.

Mr J. T. E. Collins asked how the matter could be considered to have been confirmed if he had not been dealt with in full council.

Webster: it appears to me been some wangling summer. What the committee did has never come before the open Council for confirmation.

The Clerk explained that when the finance Committee adjourned until after the public meeting it made certain recommendations and a comprehensive resolution was then passed and people were invited come back into the Council chamber. But the public had gone. That in effect was what had been done month after month, and no previous objection be made. There had been a full opportunity going to this matter on July 10, when the last monthly meeting was held.

Mr Leatherland: There will have to be some public meeting about this £5 per house

Mr Webster: Conisborough cannot afford to pay this money. I am not satisfied to pay this £5 per house. The people of Conisborough are up in arms about this.

Mr R. J. Troughton suggested that it was against standing orders to discuss in open council the thoroughly of an official.

Mr Webster: this is an ex-emolument, so you are wrong. You want to gloss over this present. It is not a payment.

The Chairman: Next Business

Mr Webster: you will get this later

Mr Collins: I don’t care when this matter is dealt with, but it wants dealing with openly. When people do were they want paying for it, but if they have already been paid they cannot expect extra payment.

Mr Troughton: This is a committee matter whichever way you look at it

The Clerk said there is no doubt that this discussion is contrary to standing orders.

Mr Ben Roberts said that an effort be made to mislead the public, and under the circumstances he thought a discussion ought to be allowed.

The Chairman: I cannot give preferential treatment to you. I have ruled the matter out of order.

The Clerk said they could not have a discussion unless they suspended certain standing orders.

Mr Collins move the suspension of the standing orders and Mr Roberts seconded, but the proposal was defeated by seven votes to 5

Mr Leatherland: We shall have a public meeting then.

Mr Webster asked that it should be place on record that he was against this minute, and Mr Leatherland and Mr Collins made similar requests.

Before the council past Mr Webster after they contain any payment for housing stop at the last meeting a payment of £57 on this score had been wangled through.

Mr Leatherman: I don’t think there is anything wangled this time.

Mr G Oldfield said he did not think it was fair for Mr Webster to make these insinuations. He refuted Mr Webster statement concerning the accounts.

Traffic Commissioners.

A letter was received from the minister of transport asking the council to nominate one of their members for a seat on the panel of traffic commissioners.

Mr Webster suggested that they should make no nomination but Mr Gomersall said that they might be losing a privilege and it was decided to nominate Mr Webster.

Controlled houses

It was decided to give support to a resolution submitted by the Rhondda Urban Council, that the government be urged to amend legislation to bring all houses within the provisions to the Rent Restrictions Act or to fix a maximum rent for the decontrolled houses.

Shelter

A further letter on the subject of providing shelter for the unemployed at the Mexborough employment exchange was received from the manager, Mr. E. G. Wilson, stating that the question had been referred to the Department concerned. Mr Gomersall explained that this was a national matter, but their aim was to get something done locally.

Immunisation

A letter from the medical practitioners union stated that at their recent annual meeting the question of immunisation against diphtheria has been discussed and the views expressed that it was desirable for this to be affected more frequently than was generally done at the present, and also that greater use should be made of the services of local practitioners.

They asked for the council’s observations on a resolution that public health authorities be urged to employ local practitioners rather than medical officers to carry out immunisation. The medical officer said the county council and given facilities for all local practitioners to inoculate their own patient.

Overcrowding

Moving the adoption of the minutes of the housing committee, Mr Oldfield said that certain people in the district bought the council was the only responsible authority when questions of overcrowding occurred. But the colliery company had also a certain obligation. Men had been thrown out of work at the colliery and some of these were wanting other houses. It was up to the colliery company to see that their own employees who were living in the room lived in their houses.

A Rent point

Mr. Leatherland mentioned that with regard to certain property in Sheffield Road. Conisborough certificate under section 12 of the rent restrictions act had been cancelled before the repairs had been completed.

Mr Gomersall said the Surveyor had already explained this and had satisfied the Council in committee. He was astonished that Mr Leatherman raising the matter, I grow think you have done so for publicity purposes.

Mr Leatherman move that no certificates be cancelled in future until all internal and external repairs had been carried out

The Chairman: It is out of order.