Mexborough & Swinton Times, September 20
Conisbrough Urban Council.
Superannuation: Mr. Brocklesby’s Renewed Protests.
‘Markham’ Collieries Offer Electricity.
Prospect of Competition
Mr. John Brocklesby again protested, on Wednesday, at the monthly meeting of the Urban District Council at the manner in which the Council’s approval of the superannuation scheme had been decided.
His main argument was that only nine of the eleven councillors present at the special meeting voted and that the scheme was ultimately approved by a majority of one. ‘It seems to me,’ said Mr. Brocklesby, ‘that a matter of such importance ought not to be carried out when the voting is five for and four against.’ At the same time, he thought the whole question had been discussed with great thoroughness and the objections had been raised after very careful examination of the proposals. The speaker reiterated his opinion that such an important measure ought to have a substantial majority behind it before it was put into practice. ‘I shall still vote against it. I object to the details of the scheme and the way in which it has been brought before the Council.’
Mr. J. Maxfield: When the matter was adjourned sine die, ought it to be broached at the very next meeting?
The Chairman (Mr. A. E. Berry): I think we are dealing with the question very inconsistently.
Mr. A. Roberts: I take it that it is out of order to criticise the minutes unless the records are found to be incorrect.
Mr. Brocklesby: I and others have consistently voted against this matter, and I now move that it be referred back.
Mr. Maxfield seconded this but it was found impossible to ‘refer back’ a decision arrived at by the whole council.
Mr. W. B. Wells: I think there has been some ‘jiggery pokery’ work going on. Who authorised that man to come from Wakefield?
Mr. T. Hill: He came at the express wish of the Council.
Mr. Wells: I don’t remember.
The Chairman: I think, Councillor Wells, that the members who heard him were pleased with the explanations he gave. We have given our decision and it simply means the superannuation will come into operation in due course.
Mr. Brocklesby repeated his objections to the proposals and the manner in which they had been adopted.
The Chairman: What would you like us to do?
Mr. Brocklesby: I think you ought not to proceed with the scheme when it has been approved by a majority of only one. I understood that a majority of two-thirds was required. If the position had been fully explained and the facts given that later were understood, my opinion is that the scheme would not have been carried.
Mr. Hill: A two-thirds majority was necessary to adopt the scheme, and the two-thirds majority was given. It was confirmed by a majority of one.
Mr. Roberts: I very much regret that the discussion has taken this trend. I think it is a retrograde step to raise a matter and to dispute a decision simply because it was agreed to by a majority of one. There has been talk of ‘jiggery pokery.’ I do not think there in any question of ‘jiggery pokery,’ but at this rate we shall make ourselves a laughing stock in the eyes of the public. To raise this question again is a reflection on the intelligence of the Council. There is good evidence that the matter has been raised in the form of a protest for the purpose of using this against us at some future time. Well, we shall have to take steps to prove that the scheme is in the interests of the people. We ought now to bring the scheme operation and to co-operate in assuring its success.
District Rate Unchanged.
It was announced that the general district rate for the next half-year will be unchanged at 3s. 2d., for the Council are to borrow £2,050 for the purposes of the Denaby Main burial ground extension.
Supply of electricity for the Conisborough Urban Council’s area.
‘I understand,’ said Mr. Baker, ‘that the Doncaster Collieries Association are contemplating extending their high tension line through Conisborough right to Mexborough, and they would be able to supply at 1d Per unit, the price at which electricity is supplied to Adwick-le-Street. I told Mr. Markham that the Yorkshire Electric Power Company were preparing to supply the Conisborough district. I said I thought the rate suggested was considerably less than that proposed by the Yorkshire Power Company.
Mr. Brocklesby: If we had heard of this twelve months ago, it would have altered the situation altogether.
The Chairman: It raises a very interesting point.
The Surveyor explained that the price suggested by the Doncaster Collieries Association did not include the cost of transforming plant, etc. He understood that the ordinary rate was 6 1/2d but there were special rates for different classes of property. The Yorkshire Electric Power Company covered a wide area and they could not afford to lay down a lot of capital without prospect of seeing any return for it. They would have to declare a dividend on capital, and until that was done they would not be in a position to make any rebate.
On the resolution of Mr. Brocklesby, it was agreed that a deputation consisting of the Chairman, the Clerk, the Surveyor, and Mr. Brocklesby wait upon Mr. Markham to discuss the proposals.
Wastage of Water.
Mr. Worsley, moving the recommendations of the Sanitary and Highways Committee, said the committee had discussed at great length the wastage of water through defective fittings. The water inspector had been given instructions to examine the whole of the taps in the district with a view to complete overhauling.
Bus Services and Safety.
Me. W. W. Norwood raised the question of the time tables of local bus services. He thought that some sort of uniformity should be made in the public interest. He understood that the ‘Blue’ bus service ran ten minutes before the Barnsley buses., and suggested that a better arrangement would be for the two systems to arrange to run each half hour.
Mr. Hill agreed and, on the suggestion of the Clerk, it was decided to find out exactly what power the Council had in the matter of persuading bus services to accommodate themselves to the public.
Mr. Hill: I only make the suggestions as a request.
The Chairman: We shall have to try moral persuasion.