Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 16 February 1924
Conisborough Urban Council
Important Housing Scheme
Public Utility Society Formed To Build 500
The meeting of the Conisborough Urban District Council, held on Wednesday evening, was again very brief, the bulk of the business being left for consideration in committee. The matters dealt with in public consisted in the main of the confirmation or otherwise of the recommendations of the standing committees.
The Housing and Town Planning Committee recommended that the sum of £1250 be paid for the purchase of the 15 acres, 26 poles, or thereabouts, of land on the Housing Scheme, as agreed in September, 1920, together with interest at the rate of five per cent. per annum from that date, subject to a deduction for the rent received. This was confirmed.
The Committee also made the following recommendation: An application was received from the Conisborough Housing Association, Ltd., for a subsidy and loan with respect to 500 houses proposed to be erected by them as a Public Utility Society, off Garden Lane, and the committee recommended that the Ministry of Health be requested to authorise the grant of a subsidy of £100 with respect to each of the houses, in accordance with the scheme of the Council; and that the sanction of the Ministry be obtained to a loan from the Council to the Association up to ninety per cent. of the balance of the agreed value of the houses, secured upon the first mortgage of the property and land therewith, and repayable by half-yearly equal instalments of principal and interest in thirty years; the value of the property to be ascertained by an independent valuer appointed by the Council, and, if required, nominated by the Ministry of Health; and that, subject to such sanctions, an agreement be prepared by the Clerk, giving effect to the conditions set forth in the second schedule of the Council’s scheme, and such other guarantees as may be necessary.
Mr. Brocklesby expressed dissatisfaction with the financial provisions proposed, and on his suggestion the recommendation was referred back for further consideration in committee.
The Council confirmed the recommendation of the Sanitary and Highways Committee that Messrs. Brocklesby and Hiley meet a representative of the Yorkshire Electric Power Company and the Electrical Distribution of Yorkshire, Ltd., with respect to the possibility of the service of electricity in the district at an early date.
The Clerk had reported to this Committee that the sanction of the Ministry of Health had been received to the borrowing, for privy conversions, of £11,660 for a period not exceeding 30 years, and of £2310 for a period not exceeding six years, and the Committee recommended that a hut be provided for the storage of the materials for the work, to be purchased direct by the Council.
New Recreation Ground
The Allotments and Fire Brigade Committee recommended that North Cliff Hill be purchased for the purpose of a recreation ground for the sum of £1000, subject to the obtaining of satisfactory access thereto, and that plans and estimates for the laying out of the ground be prepared and submitted to a subsequent meeting.—This was confirmed.
The Clerk reported that the West Riding County Council had given notice that April 5th had been fixed for the holding of the next Urban Council elections in that district.
The Council decided to leave the opposition to the South Yorkshire Mines Drainage Bill to the West Riding County Council on their behalf.