Annual Parish Meeting – 29th March 1906
Minutes of the twelfth Annual Assembly of the Parish Meeting,
held in the School-room, Great Longstone, on Thursday 29th March 1906.
Present:
Mr W. R. Pitt Dixon (Chairman), Rev. G. Andrew,
Messrs. J. Bean, J. Bridge, J. Cooke, A. Flint, G. Hambleton,
Jasper Johnson, Joseph Johnson, W. Morton, J. Rodley,
H. A. Spanton, J. Vernon, A. N. Ward, G. Ward and I Shimwell.
The Minutes of the last Meeting were read and confirmed.
Charities
The names of the recipients of the Wright and other charities were read out.
Mr Hambleton proposed, and Mr Cooke seconded, that the names of recipients of the Charities be posted on the Parish Council’s notice boards.
Carried.
Rowland Eyre’s Charity – List of Recipients
| Recipient | s | d | Recipient | s | d |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mrs Blagden | 2 | – | Mr J. Garlick | 1 | 6 |
| “ Bradwell | 1 | 6 | Mr Hallows | 2 | – |
| Miss E. Cocker | 1 | – | Miss S. Morton | 2 | – |
| Mrs A. Eyre | 2 | – | Mrs E. Sellers | 2 | – |
| “ A. Furniss | 2 | – | Mrs Maria Taylor | 2 | – |
| Miss E. Furniss | 2 | – |
Total: £1 1s 0d
Rubbish Tip
Some discussion took place respecting the application of the Parish Council for Urban Powers with respect to scavenging.
It was pointed out that the Parish Council had no intention of introducing a system of public scavenging, but by having the powers they would be able to provide a tip, and prevent people from depositing rubbish in the by-lanes as they do at the present time.
End of meeting – they were not “signed” in the book.
NOTES FOR INFORMATION – NOT PART OF THE MINUTES
Background on “Urban Powers and Scavenging” (Context c.1894–1907)
1. What was “scavenging”?
In late-Victorian and Edwardian local government, scavenging meant the collection and removal of household refuse and street sweepings — essentially the early form of municipal rubbish collection.
It included:
- collecting domestic ashes (from household fires)
- removing kitchen waste
- carting away street sweepings
- clearing night soil in some areas (though this was fading by 1900)
2. Why was a rural parish discussing urban powers?
Under the Local Government Act 1894, Parish Councils had only limited powers in rural areas.
Urban District Councils had stronger powers, including compulsory responsibilities for:
- street cleansing
- refuse collection
- managing rubbish tips
- enforcing by-laws to prevent nuisances and dumping
A Rural Parish Council did not automatically have these powers.
However — and this is the important point — a Rural Parish Council could apply to the Rural District Council to have certain “Urban Powers” delegated to them under various sections of the Public Health Acts.
When the minutes say:
“discussion took place respecting the application of the Parish Council for Urban Powers with respect to scavenging”
it means Great Longstone Parish Council was considering formally asking Bakewell Rural District Council to delegate to them the legal authority to run a rubbish collection service as if they were an urban authority.
3. Why were Rural Parishes seeking these powers?
Because by the early 1900s:
- house refuse was increasing
- local ratepayers expected rubbish collection similar to towns
- there was concern about public health and sanitation
- Rural District Councils were often slow to introduce refuse services in scattered villages
Villages like Great Longstone often wished to:
- establish a parish rubbish tip
- stop illegal dumping in lanes and quarries
- hire or contract someone to collect refuse
- ensure nuisances were properly removed
All these activities required statutory authority — hence the need for “Urban Powers”.
4. Why did Longstone decide not to become a full scavenging authority?
The 1906 minutes say:
“It was pointed out that the Parish Council had no intention of introducing a system of public scavenging, but by having the powers they would be able to provide a tip and prevent people from depositing rubbish in the by-lanes…”
This means:
- They did not want to run a full refuse collection service (too costly)
- But they did want:
- legal authority to create a proper rubbish tip
- the ability to order people not to dump in lanes
- powers to erect notices or issue penalties if needed
So taking “Urban Powers” was a way of enforcing public cleanliness without assuming the full cost of a municipal service.
This was very common for rural parishes around this date.
5. Which powers exactly?
Most likely they were referring to powers under:
Public Health Act 1875, s.44, s.45, s.51
- cleansing of streets and public places
- removal of house refuse
- establishing refuse tips
- regulation of nuisances
The Rural District Council could adopt these and then delegate them to the Parish Council.
Summary
“Urban powers with respect to scavenging” = powers normally given to an Urban District Council to collect refuse, regulate dumping, and provide rubbish tips.
Great Longstone Parish Council in 1906:
- did not want to run a full refuse collection service
- did want the legal authority to establish a rubbish tip and stop dumping in lanes
- Therefore they were discussing applying to Bakewell RDC for specific delegated Urban Powers relating to refuse disposal.
