South Yorkshire Times, September 8th 1933
Conisboro’ Council
Slum Clearance
A Three-Year Plan
100 Houses To Go
Many topics were discussed by the Conisboro’ Urban Council on Wednesday, and a scheme of slum clearance prepared by the surveyor, Mr. H. Thirlwall, for submission to the Ministry of Health, was discussed.
The scheme provides for the demolition of 100 houses which have been found unfit for habitation, out of a total of 112 houses inspected recently, and the erection of 100 new houses at a total capital cost of £36,000. The scheme shows that of the 100 new houses, 70 will be of the three-bedroom type, 26 of the two-bedroom type, and four of the one-bedroom type, all houses to be provided with a bathroom. The cost of the houses is £360 per house.
During the discussion, Mr. Thirlwall said that the scheme proposed to demolish 70 houses in 1934, 20 houses in 1935, and 10 houses in 1936. The new houses would be erected yearly accordingly, and the houses demolished as new houses were completed.
The houses affected by the clearance would be 84 houses in the old part of Conisboro’, 7 houses in the newer part, inclusive of loan charges over a period of 60 years, and the annual working cost would be £2,608. The average rent, with the addition of rates, would be 6s. 4d. per week, rates making the total 8s. 7d. per week.
The average rental at present paid by the tenants of the property in question works out, where information is available, at 3s. 11d. a week.
Mr. J. E. Collins suggested that the Council should wait until the scheme had been submitted to the Ministry of Health and approved by that department, and that then they should be asked to submit the scheme to be ratified in the meantime, and that the scheme category should be made the subject of a supplementary scheme.
Councillors and members then discussed the scheme.
Mr. G. Orfield, chairman of the Housing and Town Planning Committee, said that many other houses which were not fit for habitation were in the state of repair and modernisation, which should receive attention early.
Worse Off Working
The plight of a man in receipt of public assistance benefit who had become worse off by obtaining part-time employment was referred to by Mr. T. Collins. The clerk (Mr. Spencer Baker) said that he had conveyed to the County Committee the protest of the Finance Committee against the treatment of the man, whose public assistance was reduced when he was appointed a caretaker.
The reply pointed out that the county committee had conformed to the regulations by taking into account the whole of the earnings of the applicant.
Mr. Collins said that the man, by obtaining a few shillings for part-time employment, was now actually a shilling a week worse off than if he had not been working.
No Support
A letter was received from the Thorne R.D.C. asking for support for a resolution which seeks to amend the law and give local authorities power to reduce the rates of poor owners of small dwellings whose poverty was due to the occupation of the houses by themselves.
Mr. Collins moved that they do not give their support. The majority of people who owned houses were much better off than the tenants, and Mr. H. Gomersall said they were a class who could afford to stand it better than the working class.
It was decided to leave the letter on the table.
More Magistrates
The clerk reported that he had written to the Lord Lieutenant pointing out that the recent appointment of magistrates did not represent the Conisboro’ position, and pressing again for the appointment of Messrs. J. Sheldon and G. A. Chadwick. He had received a reply stating that the matter would be brought before the meeting of the advisory committee.
Burn Coal
A letter was received from the Coal Utilisation Council inviting the co-operation of local authorities in ensuring the erection of houses which gave complete control of the matter of fuel. The letter referred to the tendency to build houses without flues, which prevented the burning of solid fuel. Flueless houses were undesirable because they interfered with ventilation and were calculated to injure the coal industry.
The surveyor said that in the Conisboro’ district the provision of coal fireplaces was 100 per cent, and that such houses were erected everywhere.
The question was deferred until the next meeting.
Wilful Damage
In moving the minutes of the Sanitary and Highways Committee, Mr. Gomersall reported further extensive damage to roads. New conveniences in Station Road, Chains Head, Broomfield, and other roads had been broken off, brass fittings destroyed, and brickwork broken. The Council suspected that youths were responsible, and Mr. Gomshall made a further appeal for the assistance of the townspeople in looking after the property of the town.
Cheaper Electricity
Mr. Gomersall reported that a reduction in the local price of electricity had been attained.
No Lift
It was stated that the Council had explored the possibility of erecting a lift to convey passengers from the foot of the Waterfall Hill to Conisboro’, but it was found financially impracticable.
Bus Time Table
The Council is to oppose the alteration in the services of the Yorkshire Traction Company through Conisboro’, which it was stated would mean a difference in the maximum interval between buses of from seven to twelve minutes.
Traffic Commissioners
The Council approved the nomination of Mr. J. I. Webster for a seat on the Traffic Commissioners Panel.
Fire Brigade Chief
A minute of the Baths and Fire Brigade Committee referred to the resignation of Mr. R. J. Clarkson as superintendent of the Fire Brigade on the grounds of ill-health, and Mr. H. H. Gray expressed regret at Mr. Clarkson’s retirement and wished him a speedy recovery.
Boxing and Dancing
The Council approved a recommendation rejecting the offer of Mr. James Guest, of Mexborough, to promote boxing contests in the Baths Hall on condition that he could have the use of the hall on Friday and Saturday nights for dancing. The committee were of the opinion that there were already many local organisations requiring the hall for dancing and that they could not consent to such an arrangement.
On the Sickness
On the motion of the chairman, the clerk was instructed to write to Mr. T. Morgan expressing sympathy at his illness and wishing him a speedy recovery.
Rent Act
A committee consisting of all members of the Council has been appointed to explore the duties of the Council under the Rent Restrictions Act.