Mr W. J. Weld presided at the meeting on Thursday, and there were present Messrs R. H. A. Holbech, W. H. Jarvis, Ridley Brown, A. Spencer, A. Fairfax (clerk), and G. Elkington (surveyor).
Dr Johns’ Illness
The Chairman suggested they should send a letter of sympathy to Dr Johns on account of his illness.
The Clerk said that he had heard from Dr Prichard that Dr Johns was getting on well.
Mr Holbech said he was very pleased to hear it. The Chairman’s suggestion was agreed to.
The Late Mr John Smith
The Clerk read a letter from Mrs Mander, daughter of the late Mr John Smith, thanking the Council for the letter of sympathy which had been sent to the family on the death of her father.
Farnborough Water and Avon Carrow Drainage
The Clerk said he understood from Mr Elkington that the well at Farnborough had been cleaned out now.
Mr Holbech remarked that it had, and he asked the surveyor if he had taken a sample.
The surveyor replied that he had not taken a sample, but he had been told that the water was now in a better condition that it was a month ago.
Mr Holbech said the surveyor had better take a sample for analysis; which was agreed to.
The Chairman said that the drainage at Avon Carrow was now being proceeded with.
A Radway Labour Difficulty
The Clerk asked the surveyor if he had obtained a roadman for Radway.
The Surveyor said that he had not. He had not received any applications. A man had applied for an application form but he had not sent it in, and he did not think he would.
Agricultural Wages in the District
The Clerk said he had received from the Board of Agriculture the usual forms to fill up with regard to agricultural wages in the district, and asking whether any changes had taken place. He remarked that last year they had put carters at 14s.
Mr Holbech said that had been put too low.
The Chairman observed that wages, on the average had been raised 2s. a week.
Mr Brown said that he thought they, in making the return last year, had put the wages too low.
Mr Jarvis said that carters at Warmington were receiving 17s.
It was agreed that the Clerk should make the following return: Cowmen, 16s. a week; shepherds and carters, 17s.; and ordinary farm labourers, 15s.
The Estimates – Reduction of the Rate
The Clerk said that the balance in hand was £221 4s. 7d. but there were some accounts to be paid out of it. In presenting the estimates for the half-year, he said that the salaries would be £58 9s. 9d., and the surveyors estimate for the repair of the highways was £318 3s. 3d., , which was a little higher than last year. They generally provided for two-thirds of that sum which was £212 2s. 2d. The stationery, election expenses, and sundries he put at £30, which gave them an expenditure of £300 11s. 11d. They would receive from Warwickshire County Council £11, and from the local taxation account £102 13s. 9d., and he proposed to take from the bank balance £50, so that the Council had to provide for £136 18s. 2d. He suggested there should be a rate of 3d. in the pound, which would be a penny less than last half-year. A rate of 3d. would produce £140 8s. 3d. They had not spent so much on sundries and elections as they had estimated. The calls would be as follows: Avon Dassett,£21 3s.; Farnborough, £48 4s. 9d.; Radway, £18 3s.; Ratley, £18 11s. 6d.; Shottesewell, £13 17s. 3d.; and Warmington, £20 8s. 9d.
Mr Spencer said he though the estimate was quite satisfactory.
The Chairman observed that the reduction of the rate by a penny was very acceptable that the amount of the county rate that they had to pay now.
The motion was carried.
The Appointment of a Sanitary Inspector
The Clerk said there were two applications for the appointment of sanitary inspector, and perhaps the Council would like to take that matter in committee; which was agreed to.
A Dangerous Cottage at Radway
The surveyor said there was a cottage at Radway in such a condition as not to be safe.
The Clerk said that Dr Johns would have to inspect it.
The surveyor – I do not think he need. It is so evident.
Mr Jarvis also remarked that the house was not safe.
The surveyor said it was not occupied, but it was a danger to the public.
The Clerk said that if the Council gave him instructions he would serve notice on the owner of the house.
It was agreed to do so, the owner being it was said, Mrs Haynes, of Fullready, Stratford-on-Avon.
The Radway Drainage Scheme
A letter was read from Messrs Aplin, Hunt, and Co. with reference to some drainage alterations it was proposed to make on farms on the Radway Grange estate, and which it was said would be all that was necessary to be done in that part of the village.
Mr Brown said he thought he had better postpone the motion of which he had given notice a month ago – that they appoint someone to carry out the Radway drainage scheme. It might be that the person they appointed as sanitary inspector would be competent to carry out the scheme.
Votes of Thanks
Mr Holbech said that being the last meeting of the Council, he had much pleasure in proposing a vote of thanks to the chairman, Mr Weld, for the able manner in which he had carried out the business of the chair during the year for which they were very much indebted to him.
Mr Spencer seconded the motion; which was carried.
The Chairman, in reply, said he was very much obliged to them. He had done the best he could in the office and he thanked the members of the Council for the manner in which they had supported him. He proposed a vote of thanks to Mr Brown, the vice chairman, which was seconded by Mr Jarvis and carried.
Appointment of Mr N. H. Dawson as Sanitary Inspector
The Council sat in committee and considered the appointment of a sanitary inspector in room of the late Mr John Smith, the result being that Mr N. H. Dawson, the late surveyor for Banbury, was appointed to the office.
Banbury Guardian, April 1915