Abergavenny Chronicle

Abergavenny Town Council. I The monthly meeting was held on Monday tiiglit. Present: The Mayor (T,t.-Col. J. H. Gilbert Harris) Deputy Mayor (Alderman J. G. Bishop) Aldermen James Straker and Z. Wheatley Councillors S. J. Ruther. W. Bevan, A. C. Graham, J. R. Beckwith, W. Meale, J. R. Jacob, George Plowman, W. Horsington, T. A. Delafield, 1). Telford the Town Clerk (Mr. \V. H. Hop wood) the Borough Surveyor (Mr. F, Mansfield), the Gas Manager (Mr. A. T. Kyle), and other officials. There was an unusually large number of the general public present. Alderman Z. Wheatley said that, as chairman of the Streets Committee. lie had pleasure in moving that the Town Clerk be instructed to apply to the Local Government Board for powers for the Council to borrow the sum ot £ 2,150, tor I the purchase of 50, Cross-street and 4 Monk- street, for the widening of the approach from I Monk-street into Cross-street. The proposition had been before the Council and passed unani luouslv at a previous meeting this sum to be an inclusive charge. Alderman J. Straker seconded the proposition, and it was carried unanimously. The Mayor proposed that the Corporation seal be affixed to the provisional contract for the purchase of this property. This was seconded by Alderman Z. Wheatley and carried unanimously. LKTTLCRS. 1 The Town Clerk read a letter from the Lord Mayor of Cardiif, thanking the Council for a cheque for £ 37 16s., the balance of Abergavenny s contribution to the Senghenydd Relief Fund. The Town Clerk added that the ex-Mayor had previously sent a cheque for /50 for the funds, so that altogether the sum of £87 16s. had been raised in Abergavenny. Alderman Z. Wheatley And we ought also to be credited with the i-ioo sent to the fund by the Marquess of Abergavenny. (Hear, hear). There was also a letter from the Trades and -I,abour Council of Abergavenny, suggesting that a copy of the committees' reports be exhibited in the Free Library and the Town Hall lobby. The Mayor suggested that this letter be re- ferred to the Standing Orders Committee for their consideration, seeing that if Councillor W. Meale's notice of motion stood it would also have to go to that committee. I f ROM REPORT OF FINANCE AND GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE. (Alderman J. G. Bishop, chairman). Waterworks Extensions Mr. Dixon, water- works engineer, has certified a further sum to be due to Messrs. Barnes, Chaplin & Co., contrac- tors, amounting to £ 533- The certificates issued and paid to date are as follows Nos. I to I I, f,7,111 -1 No. 12, /553 total £ 7,664.—" Holiday Haunts The committee recommend the renewal of the advertisement of the town in Holiday Haunts for the sum of £ 10 per annum.—Audit of Accounts The Elective Auditors have completed the audit of the books and accounts for the half-year ended 30th of September last, and report same are correct. The committee recommend that the two elective auditors be paid the sum of £ 3 3s. each for the work of audit. The Mayor's auditor requires no salary for his share of the audit work.—The committee considered the question of the date by which all amounts due for rates and water charges must be paid, and the Town Clerk was directed to insert a notice in the Abergavenny Chronicle or to issue small posters, informing the ratepayers of such date.—New Valuation J.ist The Abergavenny Union Assessment Com- mittee have issued an order for the re-valuation of the whole of the property in the parishes com- prised in the Abergaveiiny Union. The over- seers for the parish of Abergavenny Urban report that they have considered the matter, and ask the committee to vote a sum to be expended in the c.vrrving out of this work. The committee recommend that an amount not exceeding £ 50 be paid out of the poor rate for this purpose. The new valuation will stand for the next seven years, subject to any supplemental lists or re- ductions on appeal. The adoption of the report was proposed by Alderman J G Bishop, seconded by Alderman Z. Wheatley. Councillor P. Telford raised a question, and was informed by the Town Clerk that the matter would come up in the Gas Committee's report. The report was adopted. FROM REPORT OF CAS COMMITTEE. I (Councillor T. A. Delafield, chairman). I House, Gas Works The committee recon- sidered this matter, and adhere to the recom- mendation contained in last month's report, except as regards the entrance door to the house, which, at present, is from the coke yard. The committee have amended their scheme with regard to the entrance door, and recommend that this be from the garden in front of the "house by means of a staircase erected in the small back kitchen. By this arrangement the tenant would have an additional small scullery downstairs to do the cooking and washing up, and would be entirely cut off from the gas works. -Cool,-ers The Gas Manager reported he had obtained information from Cardiff, Abertillery, and Blaina in regard to the cleaning of cookers. The practice appeared to be to clean the cookers on a change of tenancy, if necessary. The work of cleaning was carried out on the premises if possible, and if not the cooker was disconnected, taken to the works and cleaned, and subse- quently refixed free of charge to the consumer. The committee directed that the Manager be given discretionary power in regard to the clean- ing of cookers. The committee empowered the Manager to re-engage Mr. Farmer to continue the work of cleaning the remainder of the cookers at present in stock, at the same wages as pre- viously.—Gas Works Profits The committee have considered the question of the gas works profits. They find that Councillor Telford, in offering his criticisms on the amounts of profits for the financial years ending 31st March, ion, 1912 and 1913, dealt with the net profits as shown by the net revenue accounts. The com- mittee desire to point out that, so far as the Gas Manager is concerned, this is unfair, as he has ncf control whatever over income or expenditure contained in the net revenue accounts. He is only responsible for the working or productive expenditure and the revenue-producing items contained in the working or revenue accounts, which show the amount of gross profit earned. The gross profits for the last five years are as follows 1909, ).724 4s. 4d. 1910. £ 3,160 14s. 6d. 1911, £ 3,527 15s. nd. 1912, £ 3,386 3s. 8d.; 1913, £ 3,061 13s. id. If the Council will com- pare the above figures they will observe that Councillor Telford took the highest recorded profit during the last five years, namely 1911, as the basis for his comparison. The average profit for this period is £ 3,172 2S. 3d., and in fairness this should be compared with the profit for 1913. namely 63.06r 13s. id. This shows a reduction in profit of £ 110 9s. 2d. There are many reasons why the profit earned in 1913 should be below the average, and the committee anticipated the reduction would be much greater than shown. The main reasons for such re- duction are (a) the price of coal having ap- preciably increased (b) a new item of expendi- ture was introduced into the accounts, namely, discounts for prompt payment of accounts." (c) the price of gas supplied to Llanfoist was reduced (d) it was during this period that the railway strike occurred and the committee were compelled to pay a big price for coal, some of which was of an inferior quality and gave a very poor yield of gas (e) the gas consumption for the year was less, owing to the fact that the gas consumers were appealed to 'by the committee to be economical in the use of gas during and immediately preceding the period of the strike, and the shopkeepers, in response to such request, closed their shops at a much earlier hour than usual (f) and also the coming into operation of the Shops Act and since the coal strike shops have closed earlier, which has materially affected the gas consumption, Dealing with the gas works net profits, as quoted by Councillor Tel- ford, they are substantially correct. The net profits for the last the years are cs follows: 1909, £ 1,165 I7S- iid. 1910, £ 1,357 17s. 1911, £1,925 4s. iod. 1912. £ 1,838 18s. 9d. 1913, £ ,1,293 ios. 8d. The average profit for the five years above quoted is £ 1,516 5s. lod. These figures show the year 1913 to be below the average, but having regard to the facts men- tioned in reference to the gross profits, it neces- sarily follows that the net profits are to some extent governed thereby. Other contributory items as reasons for a reduction of net profit, as compared with the year 1912 are (a) Sinking Fund charges slightly increased, £ 22 2s. 2d. (b) repairs to Gas-works cottages, increase of iIi5 13s. nd. (c) rents from cottages less by £ 20 us. (unoccupied during repairs) (d) interest on mains renewal account less by £19 19s. 6d. (c) gross profit less, as explained above, £ 324 30s. 7d. The committee, as previously stated, anticipated the expenditure for the year 1913 would be greater, and that the income would probably be somewhat less. owing to the reasons mentioned. They considered the question of raising the price of gas to compensate for these items, but decided not to do so, otherwise the profit might have been up to the average. Coal Carbonized The committee have re considered I the question of the quantity of coal carbonized during the financial year ended 31st March, 1912. They find that the quantity of coal stated in the Manager's report was erroneously stated, the Manag"er having given the figures recorded by the stokers in the retort house instead of the figures as shown in the stock accounts. The committee are satisfied there is no leakage of 220 tons of coal as suggested at the last Council meeting. The stock of coal at the commencement of the year, plus quantity of coal purchased during the year, does not amount to the quantity of coal stated in the Manager's report as the quantity of coal carbonized during the year. It is, therefore, obvious that the quantity of coal stated in the Manager's report was an error, as it is an impossibility to car- bonize more coal than was actually purchased during this period. In regard to the figures recorded by the stokers, they need adjustment. These figures were obtained as a result of a sries of something like 50,000 separate weighings during the year, and the total is checked only at the end of the financial year, when the stock of coal on hand is taken for the purpose of the annual accounts. It is impossible for the Manager to check these weighings, as his duties frequently take him away from the works, and he has therefore to rely upon the stokers to furnish him with the weighings. To obviate the likelihood of a discrepancy occurring in the future between the figures recorded by the stokers and those as shown by the stock accounts, the Manager will run out his stock of coal every three or four months, to test the accuracy of the weighings, instead of only once a year as at present. The committee wish it to be distinctly understood there is no leakage of 220 tons of coal. All the coal purchased has been duly accounted for to their satisfaction. The figures which have been questioned are the result of an error, as explained above, and they do not in any way affect the accuracy of the accounts. All calculations have been based upon the correct figures. -Quality of Gas The Manager reported he had received complaints from various parts of the town regarding the supply of gas. On in- vestigation, he found these were due, not generally to inferior quality of the gas, but to obstructions in the services. Some of these services had been in for a number of years/ and were very much corroded, and others were almost blocked up. Other services were found to be obstructed by naphthalene deposited through the frost acting upon the gas, owing to services being so very shallow in the road. These complaints reported were attended to, and nearly all could be attributed to obstructions in the services, and the clearing out of the latter very much improved the supply in each case. On Saturday, January loth, however, a slight mishap occurred at the works, which would account for the inferior quality of the gas on that occasion, but this has since been remedied.— House, Gas Works The committee again met at the Gas-works to further consider the matter in regard to the erection of the proposed stair- case from the room at the rear of the small kitchen. They decided to adhere to their report on the 16th January last. The adoption of the report was proposed by Councillor T. A. Delafield, who, in so doing, remarked that the committee had at one time seriously considered the question of increasing the price of gas. to cover the increased expendi- ture, but they had felt that the benefit should be given to the consumers. He added that the profits derived from the consumers was sufficient to provide the lighting of the town free of cost, and that meant a saving of about £ 1,000 a year to the rates. Alderman Jas. Straker seconded the adoption of the report. Councillor P. Telford criticised the statements of Councillor T. A. Delafield, and pointed out that the increased price of coal of £ 1*20 in 1912-13 was more than compensated for by an increased revenue of £ 135 from by-products. In 1913 there was an increase of 100 tons of coal used, and a decrease in the make of gas of 1,486,100 cubic feet, and he would like to have that ex- plained. He was not satisfied that choked services were the cause of bad lighting, because if so it would be consistently bad, whereas it was better sometimes than at others. Councillor T. A. Delafield said that the in- creased price of coal alone during the strike was £ 115, and some of it could hardly be called coal, but they had to be content with any class of coal they could get, and pay the price. The report was adopted. FROM REPORT OF SANITARY AXD WATER I COMMITTEE. I (Alderman Jas. Straker, chairman). I Warehouses, Mill Street The Town Clerk re- ported that this property was purchased in 1867 in connection with the old sewerage system, and the loan obtained for same had been paid off some years ago. He also reported the rents at present being obtained. The committee are ot opinion that this property should be sold if there is an opportunity.—String Cleaning at Slaughter- houses The committee interviewed Mr. Sweeney, one of the tenants, who carries on the business of string cleaning at the slaughter-houses, and he asked the committee to allow him to remain as a tenant. He stated he had paid a good-will for his business, and he made several suggestions to meet the complaints made against his business, and also offering not to get any imported strings if allowed to continue. The committee very carefully considered this matter, and directed the Town Clerk to report on the whole matter, and also to submit draft agreement to be entered into by any tenants who are allowed to carry on this business. In the meantime Mr. Sweeney was informed the matter of his notice would remain in abeyance, and he could continue his tenancy at an increased rent. The Medical Officer is of opinion that it is better to allow this business to be carried on in the slaughter-houses than elsewhere, as more supervision can be exercised. -.N,otification of Births Act 1907 A letter was read from the Monmouthshire County Council inviting the Town Council to send representatives to attend a conference at New- port as to the desirability of carrying into effect the provisions of the Notification of Births Act, 1907. The committee decided to do nothing in the matter.—Castle Meadows The tenants of Castle meadows are to be given the option of renewing their tenancies for another year, with the exception of Plot 3, which is to be advertised to let.—From Sub-Committee's Report.—The Proposed Infirmary, Llanfoist: The sub- committee considered the matter of treating the sewage from the proposed infirmary to be erected at Llanfoist, and recommend that a charge of £s per annum be made.—Llanfoist Farm The sub-committee inspected the gates and fences at Llanfoist Farm, and recommend that 13 gates, which were not put in proper repair at the time of the letting of the farm to Mr. Bowcott, be repaired and renewed where necessary. The sub-committee visited each gate and gave de- tailed instructions as to repairs. Tne committee confirmed the action of the sub-committee.— Proposed Infirmary, Llanfoist The committee have agreed to supply water to the proposed infirmary to be erected at Llanfoist. The report was adopted on the proposition of Alderman Jas. Straker, seconded by Councillor P. Telford. I FROM REPORT OF STREETS, BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS COMMITTEE. I (Alderman Z. Wheatley, chairman). Water over Footpaths The committee re- considered this matter, and adhere to their previous resolution that all new buildings should adopt the method of discharging the rainwater from spouts into a groove cut in the pavements.— Monk Street Improvement The work of setting back the shop front in Monk-street is in progress. In carrying out this work the committee have been requested to take down a partition in the shop, and this they have consented to do.- Motor Traffic The committee have considered the matter of asking Messrs. Gabb cc Walford if they would consent to reducing the height of the wall attached to their offices in Monk-street. The committee are prepared to put the Council's workmen to do the work of reducing the height of the said wall to an approximate height of 4ft. 6in.. subject to the consent of Messrs- Gabb & Walford being obtained and no other expense being incurred. If this work was carried out, motorists and others would be able to see the traffic coming round this corner from Lion-street into Monk-street, or vice versa. The Chairman and Borough Surveyor have been directed to interview Messrs. Gabb & Walford on the matter. -Plans: The committee disapproved the plans submitted by Mr. Williams, Uanellen, for the erection of two villas in Cae Penydre road.— Byelaw With regard to the question of amend- ing the building byelaws by reducing the height of rooms, the committee are of opinion that the Local Government Board would not sanction I any such amendment.—Public Rights of Way Bill The committee recommend that the following resolution be adopted with regard to the Public Rights of Way Bill (a) That in the opinion of the Corporation it is imperatively necessary that the law in regard to the proof of public rights of way should be simplified, and the expense of litigation reduced in view of the frequency with which disputes arise in regard to such ways, and in order that this may be brought about the Corporation urges upon His Majesty's Government the importance of providing facilities for the passage of the Public Rights of Way Bill, which the Corporation regrets has not yet been placed upon the Statute Book." (b) That copies of this resolution be forwarded to the Prime Minister, the Home Secretary, the Presi- dent of the Local Government Board, the Presi- dent of the Board of Agriculture, the Leader of the Opposition, the Commons and Footpaths Preservation Society."—Housing and Town Planning Act 1909 The committee deputed the Chairman and the Borough Surveyor to attend a conference of Local Authorities in South Wales, Monmouthshire, and Herefordshire, to consider the practical administration of the Housing and Town Planning Act igog, to be held at Newport on Thursday and Friday, Feb. 26th and 27th next. The Borough Surveyor was directed to draw a report on the matter after the holding of the conference. To obtain all the papers on the subject and the right to attend the conference, the committee recommend that the necessary subscription of £ 2 2s. be paid. The adoption of the report was proposed by Alderman Z. Wheatley, seconded by Councillor G. R. Plowman. Alderman Z. Wheatley referred to the para- graph dealing with Water over footpaths," and said that a few days previously he had been in Cardiff it was a wet day, and he counted all the down-pipes 011 one side of St. Mary's-street, and out of 32 only one discharged direct to the drain all the others discharged on to the pavement, as proposed by the Aberga- venny Town Council. He thought they would not be going far wrong in following a large town like Cardiff. Councillor P. Telford said that, although a member of the committee, he would like to call attention to the paragraph relating to the Coliseum urinal. He was not satisfied. The matter had been allowed to be shel ved. Alderman Z. Wheatley said that the matter had not been shelved but, seeing that there were only three members of the committee present at the last meeting, it was decided to let the matter stand over until the next meeting of the committee. He hoped that there would be a full attendance of the members, so that the question might be thoroughly threshed out and settled. Councillor T. A. Delafield said he hoped that a place would be put up similar to those in other parts of the town, and not such a rough structure as at present existed. Councillor J. R. Beckwith said he was very pleased to see that the chairman of the com- mittee and the Borough Surveyor had been instructed to attend the conference at Newport in connection with the Housing and Town Planning Act 1909, and he hoped that a good report would be made, so that members of the Council might see what was done. He said lie would also like to know when the rates were to be raised, because he had heard of a letter from a gentleman wishing his tenants a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and at the same time said he would have to raise their rents owing to the rise in the rates. (Laughter). The report was adopted. FROM REPORT OF MARKETS, TOWN HA 1,1, BUILD- j IXeS, CASTLE AXD PARK COMMITTEE. I (Councillor Major Williams, chairman). Room, late Council Chamber The Town Clerk was directed to communicate with the Man- chester Unity of Oddfellows Friendly Society, and enquire whether they are prepared to take the room lately occupied as a Council Chamber, at a rental of 5s. per meeting. The approximate cost for lighting and cleaning the room will be is. 3d. pei: nieetin, -Town Hall Clock Messrs. Gillett & Johnson, clock makers, whose tender for repairing the town clock has been accepted, have written stating they are sending on a man to take down the clock to send to their works to be repaired. A contract will be prepared, and one month will be inserted therein, within which the work must be completed.—Implement Shed, Cattle Market Messrs. Saunders & Co., seeds- men, Cross-street, have written stating they have purchased the implement shed in the Cattle Market, lately owned by Messrs. Davies and Co., Lion Works, and asking to be allowed to take on their tenancy. It was resolved to grant their request on a rental of 2s. 6d. per week. It was further resolved that the tenants of the other sheds in the market be charged the same rental.—Tolls, General Market In regard to the letter from the Chamber of Trade suggesting that the tolls taken in the General Market should be collected at the entrances, the Town Clerk reported lie had made enquiries from other towns, and submitted the information to the committee. The committee considered the replies from other towns, and see no reason to alter the system at present in vogue. The report was proposed by Councillor G. R, Plowman (in the absence of the chairman, Major Williams), seconded by Councillor W. Bevan. Councillor Meale, referring to the question of the Town Hall letting, said he thought they ought to take strong steps to enter into serious competition with the Coliseum, which was now catering for theatrical performances. Councillor S. J. Ruther remarked that the impression had got abroad that Alderman Jas. Straker and himself tried to refuse the applica- tion of Mr. Sidney Cooper, of Newport, for the Town Hall, in order to put money into their own pockets. Councillor Beckwith was present when the application was refused. He (Councillor Ruther) would ask the Town Clerk to read Mr. Cooper's letter, and the minutes of the Council on the matter. This was done. Councillor J. R. Beckwith said he was delighted that his name had been mentioned. He was not a man of money, and he would not invest in the Coliseum if he were. He would stick to what he had said before that if the application was accepted, it would not be the Town Hall, but Mr. Cooper's hall. If he voted against the applica- tion he had not something else in view. He had only thought of the interests of the townspeople. He was not at all ashamed of what he had done. The report was adopted. REPORT OF SHOPS ACT COMMITTEE. I (The Mayor, chairman). I SHOPS ACT CLOSING ORDER. I The Town Clerk read letter addressed to the various occupiers of shops in the borough asking if they desired a Closing Order in respect of their trade or business. The result shows that the necessary two-thirds in number of the shops affected as required by the Act do not desire an Order (with the exception of two trades). The butchers and hairdressers have already presented separate petitions asking for a Closing Order for their respective trades or businesses, and the Committee will now proceed to give effect to their wishes. The Committee, however, will postpone taking any action for a month, so that in the meantime if any other class of trade, or business desire an Order and the two-thirds majority is forthcoming, the Committee can include them in one application to the Secretary of State. The report was adopted on the proposition of the Mayor, seconded by the Deputy Mayor. Alderman Jas. Straker asked permission to make a statement in connection with the Streets Committee's report, and which he had forgotten to make at the right moment. The necessary suspension of Standing Orders was granted, and the Alderman stated that he had attended a meeting of the County Council at Newport on the previous Wednesday, when the question of the motor speed limit was under discussion, when it was decided, as suggested by a member of the County Council, to defer the matter until the next meeting, when Risca and some other places proposed to apply for a similar authority, as it was thought that if all the ap- plications were made at one time they would have greater weight. I COUNCILLOR W. MEALE S NOTICI OF MOTION. In accordance with his notice, Councillor W. Meale, on behalf of the Trades and Labour Council of Abergavenny, proposed that the minutes of the various Committees be publicly displayed in the lobby of the Town Hall and in the Free Lib.rary, three days before the Town Council meetings. The public who took an interest in their meetings would then know what was coming on, and would be able to instruct their members how to vote on many point?. (Laughter). This method of displaying the minutes was adopted in many places in South Wales. Councillor J. R. Beckwith, in seconding the proposition, said that the public might by that means know what was going on. The Coun- cillors were there for the benefit of the town, not any class or party. The public then would not have anything sprung upon them unawares. The public might then have an opportunity of enlightening them as to what was best to do in the interests of the town, and not of any class or party. Councillor Graham asked whether it would be a proper thing to so display the minutes. The Mayor said he should say that it was grossly irregular and a breach of all etiquette for the minutes to go to the public before going to the body to whom they were addressed. The Deputy-Mayor said that no one wished to hide anything, but lie thought it would be most inconvenient, and might be attended with injury to the town if the proposition were carried. There had been many cases during the past few years in which if the minutes had been published before the Council meeting, the Council would I have had to pay many hundreds of pounds. (Hear, hear). Councillor Meale had stated that other towns in South Wales adopted this practice. Councillor W. Meale Yes Merthyr does it. The Mayor said that was not so, for the minutes of the committees were not published until after the Council meetings. Councillor W. Meale 011, but I have it from a member of the Council that they do. The Town Clerk remarked that as Mertliyr had been mentioned, he had written to the Town Clerk of Merthyr, and he proceeded to read a letter which he had received from the Town Clerk of Merthyr in reply, which was to the effect that the reports of committees were not published until after the Council meetings. I Councillor T. A. Delafield said it would be rather indiscreet to publish reports of committees before the Council had finished with them. Councillor W. Meale said he did not know how the Press got hold of the reports. The Mayor said that the Press did not get them until the time of the meeting of the Council. The resolution was referred to the Standing I Orders Committee, 011 the suggestion of the Mayor. -&