STRATFORD BOROUGH.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 7, 11 April 1916, Page 5

STRATFORD BOROUGH.

RESUME OF OPERATIONS. I ! i At last night’s meeting of the Borough Council, the Mayor submitted the following report of the year’s operations ; Last year we had to deplore the loss of the Municipal Buildings; this year we have to congratulate ourselves on the near completion of the splendid set of buildings which have arisen on the Broadway site. The buildings are now far enough forward to give an idea of their completeness and utility. It only remains now to let the various shops and offices to make the Council’s venture a success. The buildings, being in the most central position in the Borough, cannot fail to attract tenants, and the whole of it should soon be occupied. The Council should be able to take advantage of its new offices in about a month from now. Meetings.—Eleven ordinary and fifteen special meetings were held during the year, the attendance at which was as follows:—Mayor 26, Crs. Lawson 26 v Hancock 25, Mills 24, Davey 23, Hunter 23, Young 23, Thompson 22, Stanley 20, ißutllerfurd 18. • ' Building ; Permits.—Permits to the extent of £7270 were issued during the year, exclusive of the new Municipal Buildings, as against ’£7ooo last year. Penults included nine new residences £4883, additions to existing [buildings £993, and two business premises £1394. ~ ~ . .. j Streets.—The work of tarring and sanding the Central Broadway footpaths has been completed, and a firstclass job has resulted, the improvement to Broadway being very noticeable. Last year it was mentioned that the formation of these paths at their proper level was a prelude to the work of tarring the roadway, but this work can only be done out of loan money, and should be one of the first works considered in any loan scheme for street improvements.

Approximately about 3500 yards of boulders and shingle were ; delivered during the year at a cost of about 4s 6d per yard for boulders and 2s Td per yard for shingle. With the on hand at the beginning of the year, the Council had about 4500 yardfe ; availal)|e, of which about 2200 yards been used, the balance of about 2300. yards remaining on hand. The Gouiiqil will probably not require to obtain'any further stone this year, thhs allowing an opportunity of leaving the Council in a very fair financial position at the end of our term of office. In addition to the ordinary routine work of the outdoor staff the following works were carried out: —Scarifying, re-metalling and rolling of the following streets: Fenton Street from Swansea Road "to Cordelia Street; Cloton Road from Juliet Street to Swansea Road; Coidelia Street from Cloton Road to Fenton Street ; Regan Street from Sylvia Street to eastern 1 dary; Sylvia Street; Swansea ' Road’ from bridge to Regan Street; Pembroke Road, Portia Street to Broadway ; formation and gravelling of seven chains of Swansea Road South; gravelling of Pembroke Road East; footbridge on path Juliet Street North replaced by concrete culvert and filling in of gully; .concrete culvert Pembroke Road East'; repairs to Swansea Road bridge; repairs to weir at headwork ot water siipply. Some attention was also required to. Victoria Lake, water having on -..more- than one occasion overflowed. A new outlet was made for the water, and there should be no further' recurrence of the trouble. The flood gate has been made to open and the lake can now be cleaned out periodically, Another urgent work has been taken in hand, the formation and grading of Juliet Street South between Celia and Romeo Streets. When completed the improvements made will be very beneficial to residents on this street.

Sanitation.—A new scheme of nightsoil disposal was instituted during the year; the matter now being treated through the septic tank instead of being carted away and buried as heretofore. A rubbish depot was also found on the septic tank site, and the whole question of sanitation is now properly Wider the Council’s control. The now system of sanitation fees has also worked well, and numbers of ratepayers have expressed their appreciation of the new method. In view of the outbreak of infantile paralysis in : neighbouring districts, precautions were taken to prevent the infection spreading into the Borough, and it is a matter for congratulation and also speaks well for the sanitary condition of the Borough that up to the present the town has been free of the complaint. Mr Sullivan is now inspecting the sanitary fittings and conditions in the more thickly populated

part of the town, and any defects not* iced are being rapidly remedied. I Reserves.— The rent received from [ reserves amounts to £125, as against* .an estimate of £234. Amounts out-l [standing (£115) accounts for the dif-| ference. Rents during the current! year, if the etc., in the new| buildings are let, will show a large in-| crease, though the greater part of| .the increased revenue will be required! for the purposes of meeting the inter-S est and sinking fund on the £9OOOI loan. , I

Town Hall.—The revenue for the| year amounted to £2o4plus £35 out-| standing, which was paid at the be-J ginning of the month; and will show in| the current year’s revenue. In ex-| penditure (£159), an actual deficit off £55 is thus shown for the year, as I against an estimated .deficit of £7O. * Abattoir.—The working of this insti-l tution continues in its usual satisfac-| tory manner, end shows a small profits on the year’s working. The slaughterman, Mr Jenkins, who was appointed to succeed Mr Copestake, has performed his work in a most satisfactory manner, and the Council is still fortunate! in having the services of Mr Spilman*as| manager. Both those officials take ’al keen interest in keeping the abattoir in| an efficient state, end their efforts are! much appreciated. A policy establishedi by the Council some three or four years* ago of having a paddock stumped, i ploughed, and sown each year, has been? continued, and at present on one of | the paddocks is a fine crop of turnips. | The sale of this crop, together with | the amount of timber taken off the| paddock and used as fuel, will more* than- cover the- cost of labor, ‘seed"atffF| manure. The following is a summary I 'of the stock slaughtered during the * year: Cows 740, heifers 424, oxen 67, calves 42, sheep 3072, lambs 581, pigs 465. tripes prepared 522, sundries 6; showing an increase over the previous year, of 29 cattle, jl-|l sheep, 65 lambs, and a decrease ef 50 pigs.

Library and Readme Room.—These institutions continue to retain their popularity, and considering the distance from the centre of the town are well patronised. Subscriptions to " "ike library are the same‘a'f last should increase when ‘tße; 'libT^iry K is transferred to the new buildings. Books continue to arrive regularly from LondoiH* R will Necessary this year fQc the Library Committee to take a very ‘live interdA m ifbrkr’y'*a^ffbfrii, and_a new stock of books will be required; 3 TTie £IOO iVcmved frdra the* insurance company will have to be made available this year for that purpose. Fire Brigade.—The Brigade continues to maintain its high state of efficiency, and both officers and men take a. keen interest in their work. Expenditure on fire prevention exceeded the estimate by £45, this result' beiWjg due to the necessity of extending the 6-inch main in' Victoria Bark*. , *•;

Street Lighting.—The policy instituted by the present Council of having the lights turned.off at 1 a.na., and oh mponlight nights, has resulted in a saying |d|ring *t|e eight months it has been in operation of £lO3, Though there was some opposition shown to the ’propositi when it was fi&fli&Sll that opposition has apparently faded, and burgesses seem quite satisfied with the Council’s action. ~ ~

~ .Electric Eight, This. , tion has taken up a great deal of the Council’s time, and has bCen sible for a number of meetings. The result up to the present has been sate isfactory, and an amicable agreement has been arrived at with the Company! It only remains now for the agreements to be prepared and signed, and the valuers will be able to proceed ' with their work. .The result of the valuation should be known early in May, and the necessary steps will then be instituted to take a poll of the ratepayers. It is to be hoped that the result of the Council’s labors will bring- to finality a question winch -has been troublesome for years. . •

Finance.—The year closed with a debit balance of £1124, as against £630 last year. Against this may be set a decreased liability for salaries and wages of £l6O, increased assets in rates outstanding £73, sundry debtors £75, and value of stone on hand £100; total £689. The Council this yearwill not have the benefit of the insurance amounting to £1750, and it will therefore be necessary to undertake only very urgent works, and to conserve our financial resources as much as possible. Our ordinary expenditure for. tlxe nest six months will tax our. revenue, enough without undertaking any-work requiring large payments to be inajfe. The Council.—While a number of the Councillors were untried men and new in Municipal work when elected, yet I have to them lor the keen interest they have taken and the. work done during the year. Although at times questions were keenly debated at the Council tableV I have to thank Councillors for tlie manner in which they have always extended to me the courtesy due to the occupant of the Mayoral chair. | Council Staff.—l have to extend ri*/ thanks to the Town Clerk, Engineer, and staff, for valuable assistance rendered and for the courteous and oblig-lt ing manner in which they have carried out their various duties. Their work has been made more arduous' than necessary owing to the cramped and limited space available for offices. In conclusion, I feel satisfied that with a continuance of the good feeling existing between Mayor, Council, and staff the work of the current year will be not less successful than the year just closed.