The Northern News March 26, 1898 Brampton Parish Council

Brampton Parish Council

NORTHERN NEWS with which are amalgamated the HALTWHISTLE and ALSTON NEWS and NORTH CUMBERLAND REFORMER. ===================================== No. 421. - VOL. IX   SATURDAY MARCH 26, 1898  PRICE ONE HALF-PENNY ================================================ BRAMPTON PARISH COUNCIL. The monthly meeting of this Council was held on Tuesday, the members present being the  REV. S. FALLE (Chairman),  MESSRS  RIDDELL,   BROAD,   PENFOLD, SMITH,   T. BELL (Howard Arms),   RUSSELL,   ROUTLEDGE,   LEE,   BELL (Longtown Road),   BURN,   CHEESBROUGH   and   WINTHROP, with the Clerk (MR. PATTINSON). URBAN POWERS:  A SAVING. A sub-committee, consisting of the Chairman,  MR. RIDDELL and MR. BROAD, was appointed some time ago to report with reference to the present charges on Brampton Parish as compared with what they might be expected to be under Urban powers.  A statement drawn up by them was submitted to the meeting. The charges at present falling on Brampton are: District roads.........................................................£427 10s 9d Special expenses, sewers, gas, etc..........................£859    8s 7d General sanitary expenses.......................................£334  14s Salaries (total £212) Brampton's share......................£42  10s Parish Council clerk..................................................£10 Stationary.................................................................£ 5 Total....................................................................£1,679 3s 4d Under an Urban council the estimated charges are: District roads (11-1/2 miles)....................................£157 16s 10d Special sanitary.......................................................£859 8s   7d General sanitary......................................................£181 Salaries...................................................................£132 Office expenses.........................................................£15 Loss under Agricultural Rating Act.............................£52   4s Total....................................................................£1,397 8s  7d This leaves a balance of £281  4s  9d, which would be in favour of Urban management, equal to a rate of 3-1/2d in the £. The CHAIRMAN said the making out of the statement had not been an easy matter.  Some had been rather impatient and thought they were wasting time, but his colleagues would bear him out in stating that they had to correct and go through the statistics several times over.  The greatest difficulty they had was with reference to the general sanitary expenses.  The greatest saving from the parochial point of view was in the district rate.  In Brampton they had 11-1/2 miles of district roads, and the cost would only be £157 16s, instead of  £427 20s 9d which they contributed at present. MR. CHEESBROUGH asked how long the load for the sewerage and water had to run.  There would be a considerable saving to the rates when that was paid off. MR. RIDDELL said the loan was contracted in 1876 for thirty years.  The work was commenced in 1870, but the Board dealt first with the bank.  Of course this expense had no bearing on the question under discussion, since it was paid by Brampton at present.  Of course the repayment of the loan in eight or nine years time would relieve the ratepayers considerably, and it was satisfactory to know that the pipes, some of which had been examined, were as good as the day they were put in. The CHAIRMAN added that the Committee had no recommendationn to make on the statement, they preferred that the whole Council should decide.  If, however, the statement served no other purpose, it would at least let the ratepayers know what they had never been able to know before --- why they paid the rates, where the money went to, and under what heads it was expended.  It showed exactly how much Brampton had to pay, and put them in a very good position in making their petition to the Local Government Board against the cost of the horse and cart being made a special charge on the parish.  The Local Government Board had answered their letter, and the answer would be before the District Council.  They must, however, show something more than a saving to rates if they applied for urban powers. MR. PENFOLD:  If we can prove we are paying more than our share, is that not a reason ? The CHAIRMAN:  Not before the Local Government Board. MR. WINTHROP asked for the committee's report, and the CHAIRMAN informed him that the statement before him (a copy had been furnished to each member) was the report. MR. WINTHROP:  Then I am sorry to see it. The CHAIRMAN:  I thought you were fond of figures. MR. WINTHROP:  Apparently you are asking me to say something.  I find here that Urban powers will save 3-1/2d in the £ in the rates.  I am prepared to challenge any member that he cannot show it in an authoritative way. The CHAIRMAN:  You have searched the books before you make that statement ? MR. WINTHROP:  I have not gone thoroughly into it, but I am prepared to prove it. The CHAIRMAN:  If you will show me one thing in which we are wrong, we will change it. MR. WINTHROP:  I can*****************tistics laid down, and therefore won't argue, but if you will give me time......................... MR. CHEESBROUGH:  Does MR. WINTHROP doubt the accuracy of these figures; they are obtained from official records. MR. WINTHROP:  I do doubt them, and I believe the CHAIRMAN doubts them too. The CHAIRMAN:  Have you any authority for that statement MR. WINTHROP ?  I cannot allow you to say that MR. BROAD, MR. RIDDELL, and myself agreed to a statement which you allege is neither accurate nor true. MR. WINTHROP:  I am prepared to say you cannot save 3-1/2d in the £.  Is any member of the sub-committee prepared to swear that the parish of Brampton will save that by Urban Powers. The CHAIRMAN:  Speaking for myself, I am not, nor am I required to do so. MR. WINTHROP:  Then I say examined and found not correct. The CHAIRMAN:  You have not examined it, and therefore you know nothing about it. MR. WINTHROP:  I take your word for it.  I don't want to cast a slur on any one, but to get on with the business. MR. RIDDELL:  Is it business-like to get up and question the statement when you have never set eyes on the books, and know no more about them than the man in the moon. MR. WINTHROP here subsided for the evening. MR. BROAD remarked that salaries and other expenses had been calculated on a more liberal scale than was the case with other Urban Councils from whcih information had been obtained. MR. LEE thought the fact that they would save the rates by an Urban Council would tell against them with the Local Government Board. MR. CHEESBROUGH:  It might be a question of more efficient administration. MR. LEE:  Would it be more efficient ? MR. RIDDELL said an Urban Council would have greater powers, powers which they could not get with a District Council.  He thought, however, they should not move till they saw how the District Council acted with regard to making the sanitary cart a special charge on the parish.  They now knew what Brampton contributed, and he contended it would be unfair under the circumstances to place any further special expense on the parish. MR. BROAD vindicated the accuracy of the statement, and moved that it be entered in the minutes, which was agreed to. PUBLIC LIGHTING. The Council confirmed the resolution of the Parish meeting of 11th December, by ordering that a precept be issued for £140 for public lighting. AT LIBERTY. MR. SMITH moved and MR. BURN seconded that a vote of thanks be accorded to the Chairman for his services. The CHAIRMAN, in reply, said he was going to get up to wish them goodbye, but it was pleasanter to have this motion made, and he was very much obliged to MR. SMITH and MR. BURN.  He had tried to perform the work of chairman, sometimes under difficult circumstances, as impartially as he could, but he did feel tonight like a schoolboy in a school breaking up for a holiday, so they must not take it badly if he said that he was very glad this was his last meeting - his last apperance in that chair. _____________________

 

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