Mexborough & Swinton Times July 17th 1896
Conisborough and Urban Powers.
Parish Meeting.
The meeting of ratepayers was held at the Board School, Conisborough, on Monday evening. Mr. J. Pagdin, chairman of the Parish Council, presiding; and among those present were Messrs. Mosley Singleton, Lee, Martin, Hirst, Holmes, R. H. Sharp, Earnshaw, Fisher, Brocklesby, and Marsh. There was not a large attendance.
The Chairman said the meeting was called in accordance with a resolution at the last Parish Council meeting. The Council had to ask them to sanction the employment of legal assistance for the purpose of obtaining urban powers. They were, he thought, all agreed that it was time they had the management of their own affairs, and this they could not have under existing circumstances. They were surrounded by pressing needs for improvement, and there were things wanting doing in Conisborough which had been crying for attention for years. (Hear, hear.) The parish had already agreed to go in for urban powers, but no already agreed to go far been made in the matter. They required legal assistance in order that they might put their case in the best possible form.
Mr. MARSH said that it had been previously decided by a parish meeting that it was desirable to procure urban powers, and that being the case, the Council, he found, would have been authorised to spend money in obtaining legal assistance. The Council had, however, given the ratepayers an opportunity to state their views on the matter, and he moved that the proposed expenditure be sanctioned.
Mr. EARNSHAW: Then, according to what you say, this meeting is unnecessary.
The CHAIRMAN replied that according to a legal opinion they had, the Council would have been in order to proceed without calling a meeting.
Mr. HOLMES said he believed that when the Council decided to call a parish meeting they were nor aware of this fact.
Mr. R. H. SHARP seconded the resolution, and said it reflected credit upon the Parish Council that they had come to ask the ratepayers for permission to spend this money, where they really could have done so without authority.
The resolution was then put and carried unanimously, and the meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the Chairman.
A special meeting of the Conisborough Parish Council was held on Wednesday evening, to consider what legal gentleman to employ in obtaining legal powers.
Mr. PAGDIN, as Chairman of the Council, thought Mr. Muir Wilson, Sheffield, was the most likely man, and recommended him.
Mr. C. HOLMES proposed his appointment, Mr. Norwood seconded, and the resolution was carried unanimously.
Mr. HIRST proposed, and Mr. Butcher seconded, ‘that a deputation, consisting of Messrs. Pagdin, Holmes, Ogden, and Norwood, wait upon Mr. Muir Wilson upon the question. – Carried unanimously.
The Allotments Committee reported that they had seen Mr. Wigfall, who was willing to grant the Council about five acres of land for allotments, at £2 10s. per acre, on a seven years’ lease.
Mr. NORWOOD: Will Mr. Wigfall run a fence across the land.
Mr. HOLMES: That did not transpire.
Mr. NORWOOD: The landlord ought to do that, and if he does it will be a very favourable offer.
It was decided that a deputation from the Allotment Committee wait upon Mr. Wigfall respecting a fence and valuation. Some of the inhabitants of Burcroft desire some land for allotments, and the Council decided to wait upon Mr. Bradbury, with a view to taking a field now in his possession.
The Chairman drew the Council’s attention to a lamp over Mr. W. J. Ward’s shop door, which he said was of no use for the purpose of public accommodation, and on his proposition it was decided to ask the Doncaster authorities to have it removed to the other side of the road.
Mr. HOLMES moved and Mr. Butcher seconded, ‘That the District Council be asked to have three additional lamps erected in Elmgreen Lane. – Carried unanimously.
Mr. BUTCHER moved, and Mr. Robinson seconded, and it was carried unanimously, ‘That we request the District Council to have all the streets in Conisborough named, and have name plates fixed.’
The CLERK reported that Fireman Smith had at last surrendered his clothes and that the same were in good condition.