Local Government Enquiry into Council Expenditure
We have included a brief report of the Town Council's debate on the new Trent range to give the background to the Local Government Enquiry which took place in July. Money was not only being spent on the range but also in the upgrading of public bath houses in the town.
Nottinghamshire Guardian, 12th May 1894
At a meeting of the Town Council on Monday the expenditure of £16,000 on the purchase of a new rifle range for the Robin Hoods was sanctioned, there being only four dissentients. An animated discussion took place on the report of the Finance Committee recommending a 5s. 3d. district rate, an increase of 3d. over last year, and a number of speakers opposed the proposal, pointing to the bad trade in the town, and denouncing the expenditure of the School Board.
Ultimately an amendment, submitted by Mr. Baggaley in favour of a 5s. rate was carried unanimously, it being understood that the committee and the School Board should reduce their estimates in order to avoid a deficiency at the end of the year.
Far from being a matter of considerable concern, the Local Government Enquiry into the expenditure on the new range seemed to pass without any serious consequences. Maybe this reflected the appointment of a military person to be the Inspector; but clearly the well prepared responses from the officers of the Robin Hoods, Captains Brewill and Perry, were very effective in removing any doubts that the Inspector might have had.
Nottingham Evening Post, 31st Jul 1894
THE ROBIN HOOD RIFLE RANGE AND THE PUBLIC BATHS.
This morning inquiries directed by the Local Government Board were held in the grand jury room of the Guildhall, into the application by the Town Council of the borough of Nottingham for sanction to borrow £16,000 for the provision of a rifle range for the use of the Robin Hoods, £16,200 for the reconstruction of public baths, and £745 for police station purposes. The inspector appointed to hold the enquiries was Major-General Henry Darley Crozier, R.E., and there were present Mr. F.B. Harris (from the office of the Town Clerk), Mr. J.E. Bryan (borough accountant), Mr. Lewis (from the office of the borough engineer), Captain Brewill, Captain Perry, and Staff-Sergeant Worth.
The Inspector first took some formal evidence as to the population of the borough, which was put down as 220,000, the annual assessable value which was stated to be £862,570, and the debt, under the Sanitary Acts only, which is £14,122.
Mr. Harris said the application was made in consequence of a petition sent to the Town Council by the officers of the Robin Hoods, signed by the Duke of St. Albans, the hon. colonel, Col. Cantrell Hubbersty, commanding officer, and practically the whole of the officers. The petition was presented in November, 1893, under circumstances which he would relate. Up to 1890 the regiment had a range for rifle practice within the borough, at Coppice New-road, on a portion of the estates of the Corporation. The population of the district and the traffic in the road adjacent had increased considerably, and the range had to be lengthened, as improved rifles were obtained by the regiment, and the range became a danger to the locality. Eventually in August, 1890, the War Office condemned it and it was closed. Difficulties then arose as to getting the loan of a range for class firing. Many men had to lose a whole day's work to get the necessary practice. Under the difficulties of the case the War Office for a time excused class firing, but in October, 1893, they intimated that unless the class firing was completed the capitation grants would be discontinued. This would have meant that the regiment would be disbanded. This was felt to be an exceedingly serious thing. The regiment was a very fine one, it was one of the earliest formed, in 1859, and it had maintained a high state of efficiency since that time. The officers, therefore, took advantage of the Ranges Act, 1892, and petitioned the Council to provide this range. The petition was considered at two or three meetings of the Council, and a deputation was appointed to wait on the War authorities to see if they could induce them to provide the range or assist them in doing so. In April last the War Office intimated finally that they could do nothing in the matter, and the Council at its meeting in May resolved to accede to the petition. Mr. Harris proceeded to put in and explain the plans relating to the proposed new range. He stated that the War Office had approved of the range subject to certain conditions which had been incorporated in the scheme.
Major-General Crozier: Will the corps pay for the laying out of the range?
Mr. Harris: No; the Corporation propose to bear the whole of the expense.
The inspector was then supplied by Captain Brewill with particulars of the items mounting up to £16,000 were as follow:- Mr. Madan, purchase money, 77 acres, £7,000; Mr. J.C. Hopkins, purchase money, 16.5 acres, £2,300; Lady Byron, cash portion of purchase money for easement over land, £2,800; enfranchisement of copyhold land, purchased from Mr. Hopkins, £100; law charges for conveyances and estate agents charges, £400; cost of works, butt in rear of targets, target platform, markers' pit, markers' cottages, ammunition store, sergt.-instructors' house, fencing, levelling, and grubbing up hedges, signal posts, etc., sunk safety road on Lady Byron's land, diversion of occupation road in rear of the targets, £3,400. It was explained that the footpath which crossed the butts was a private one, and would be diverted behind the butts and between them and the canal.
Mr. Harris mentioned that if possible they asked for sanction for the loan for 60 years. Major-General Crozier said of course this was a special case, but for all ordinary purposes of purchasing land, as they knew, 50 years was the maximum. This was the first case that had come up under this Act of 1892, and he did not know what course would be taken. He himself did not express any opinion on the matter.
Capt. Perry said he would like it to be mentioned that the regiment was to pay rent to the Corporation for the loan of the range.
There were no objections, and the inquiry concluded.
Major-General Crozier intimated that he should like to see the range, and Captain Perry volunteered to accompany him over the site.
The inquiry then went on to consider the reconstruction of baths and the money for the police-station purposes.
Transcripts from Nottinghamshire Guardian 12/05/1894
and Nottingham Evening Post 31/07/1894
British Library Newspaper Archive