South Yorkshire Times January 19, 1946
Paying Too Much
Conisbrough Query Hospital Assessment
Conisbrough Urban Councils case for a more equitable assessment of Doncaster and Mexborough Joint Hospital Boards precepts on their constituent authorities for Common Fund contributions was advanced by councillor G Oldfield at the monthly meeting of the Board at Conisbrough Isolation Hospital on Wednesday. Councillor WH Johnson (Mexborough) presided.
The Clerk (Mr Roy Bowers) reported the receipt of a letter from the Clerk to the Conisbrough Council (Mr R.W.Birch) to the effect that, after some years, Conisbrough was again raising the question of the basis under which the precepts were calculated. The Urban Council felt that the basis whereby contributions were based on the 1921 population of the constituent authoritie’s areas was unfair and out of date. His council’s population was practically unchanged, but in other areas the population had increased. That penalised Conisbrough, who felt that an approach should be made to the Ministry of Health for an amending order.
Mr Bowers stated that Conisbrough Council and enclose a copy of the letter that sent the Ministry, in which the Council stated that they felt they were paying out of proportion. They felt that the base should be on rateable value or in the product of a 1d rate; that would be more in accordance with modern practice.
Councillor Oldfield (Conisbrough) said that they raised the matter previously. The Clerk had written the Ministry of Health, what informed them that they were not prepared to consider the matter during the war period.
The Clerk said he rather thought that matter was raised about 1933 and 1934.
Councillor Oldfield said that Conisbrough sought they were paying at an extortionate rate. They hoped the Board would rectify the position. He understood that in 1921 the contributions were based on a population of 87,000. Conisbrough figure was fixed at 16/87ths and they were still paying on the same figure.
Actually Paying More
The Clerk pointed out that actually Conisbrough were now paying on the basis of 17/87ths. When Thurnscoe went out of the board area there was an amendment whereby two or three 87ths were handed to Doncaster Rural Council’s contribution and 1/87th to some other districts.
He added that they should be very careful not to confuse the Common Fund precepts with maintenance charges. Doncaster Rural Council were contributing to the Common Fund on a basis of 27/87ths, Mexborough 16/87ths, and Adwick le Street 14/87ths, Bentley 13/87ths and Conisbrough 17/87ths.
He agreed that the precepts were based on the 1921 population it was quite prepared to admit that some populations had increased out of all proportion.
Councillor and Hughes (Rossington) suggested that the best plan for the Board would be to await the reply from the Ministry and they could then discuss the matter.
The Board adopted this suggestion.
The Board decided to extend the services of Dr W.J.McClure (Conisbrough) as medical superintendent of Conisbrough Isolation Hospital for a further 12 months.
A welcome was extended before the meeting to Mr J Brocksom, of the “South Yorks Times” editorial staff, was reported first meeting of the Board after 5 ¼ years absence in the R.A.F.