`Right,' said Prescott when the preliminaries were out of the way. `Before we get started, I have a brief statement to make. There's been criticism directed at me from some quarters because the work voucher scheme was introduced so quickly without reference to the council. It was my decision following a meeting with a deputation from the banks. They felt that speed was essential to introduce a non-inflationary scheme that would have the joint effect of financing our immediate work requirements and prevent panic buying. That's why I ordered shops to remain shut and authorised the printing and distribution of the vouchers. Early indications are that the scheme is a success. Panic buying has been nipped in the bud and we've had hardly any problems recruiting labour. The idea came from the banks but responsibility for its promulgation was mine. If there's a proposer and seconder and two assentors for my resignation, I will do so here and now, and re-stand for election.'
Prescott's unexpected statement caught Ellen off guard and neatly sabotaged her own plans for a censure motion. To get four to oppose Prescott before a vote was cast would be impossible. It was essential for a vote to take place because a few raised hands encouraged others to follow suite. David would second but, judging by the alarmed expressions around the table and comments of warm support Prescott was receiving, two assentors would not be forthcoming.
Prescott glanced confidently at everyone in turn. `So I continue as chairman. Are we all agreed?'
A shrewd operator would single out Ellen Duncan's approval, thought Malone.
`Councillor Duncan?' Prescott inquired.
`No objections, Mr Chairman,' said Ellen stonily.
By God, he's learning fast, thought Malone.
`Minute that please, town clerk. Unanimous rejection of my offer to resign.'
Malone reflected that, not only was Asquith Prescott learning the art of political shafting with remarkable speed, but he was practicing it with commendable skill.
`Excellent,' Prescott beamed at the gathering. `First item. Air quality. Councillor Harding.'
The government scientist summarised the readings from the monitoring site run by Pentworth Sixth Form College. The sharp rise in carbon dioxide, sulphur and carbon monoxide levels experienced after the start of the crisis had been checked and were falling. `But the present strict controls on CO2 emissions must remain in place until we have a clearer idea of their effect on our atmosphere,' he stressed. `We must continue to limit the use of fires, particularly wood fires, but we don't have to ban them altogether. Don't run away with the idea that carbon dioxide is a poison -- it's not -- it's a vital part of the carbon cycle. Plants need to absorb CO2 in order to release oxygen. The danger is in an excess of the stuff is poisonous. So is too much oxygen. Until we know exactly how our tiny bowl of an atmosphere is reacting and recovering, then it is best if our reserves of carbon dioxide remain locked-up in trees.'
A brief discussion followed in which it was decided that four more supervised public barbecue areas should be established and that a leaflet explaining how to convert central heating radiators to solar-powered water heating panels should be published, and that a contract be awarded to Selby Engineering to produce a batch of solar cookers using Harding's four-metre parabolic satellite TV dish to make the mould.
`Made from what?' someone wanted to know.
`Papier mache reinforced with net curtaining,' Harding replied. `We've got the waste material to make the pulp, and enough net-curtaining to last us until we can crop flax to make linen. The finished dishes are sealed with varnish to make them weatherproof, and the dish surface painted with aluminium wood primer. Supports and framework are made from hazel and chestnut. They are not efficient, but their size makes them effective.'
The scientist looked at his notes. `We've forgotten what a marvellous material papier mache is. Just about anything that's made out of plastic can be made out of papier mache. It's light, immensely strong, and can be sealed with a varnish made from pine resin -- shellac. Best of all, the sun can used for drying mouldings. Your Formica worktops are made from layers of paper bonded together by pressure-cooking, and Bakelite is really a sophisticated form of linen and papier mache.'
Gerald Young reported that there were now over twenty drinking water standpipes installed in and around Pentworth, and four more public toilets would be completed the following week.
`Next report to consider is from Councillor Gavin Hobson's Agricultural Task Force,' said Prescott. `Sorry you have to share minutes but we're economising on paper until production is increased. The report clashes with Emergency Council policy regarding the purpose of this meeting which is to get us through the coming month. But as the task force rightly say, we must act now to pool all vegetable seed and seed potatoes. Shops and garden centres have already handed over all their stocks. Now we need growers, nurserymen and the public to do the same.'
`And supposing people refuse?' Ellen inquired.
Prescott regarded her frostily. `The co-operation with my appeals has been remarkable so far, Councillor Duncan. I'm sure most people will be pleased to hand over their seed in the common interest. I'm also sure that if problems arise, we'll be able to rely on Inspector Evans and his police force to exercise a degree of assertiveness.'
Harvey Evans looked as though he were about to say something but remained silent.
`Anyway,' Prescott continued. `Let's see what happens first before we start needless worrying.'
Ellen had a point before the report was voted on. `It includes a provision to purchase the Jet filling station's entire stock of petrol and diesel. How will it be paid for? Surely we're not using work vouchers for capital expenditure?'
`The same way that we've been paying our way for the past week,' Prescott replied. `With I.O.U.s.'
`Promissory notes, Mr Chairman,' Diana corrected.
`We've used them to buy-up Pentworth Plant Hire's mobile generators and other equipment, and everything else we've needed,' Prescott continued, eyeing Ellen with ill-concealed dislike. `All paid for at the going rate in Euros. When the crisis is over, West Sussex Council or central government will have to bail us out by footing the bill. Let's worry about that when we have to.'
Ellen had no further objections but by speaking out she had encouraged others to find their voices. Some farmers were unhappy with the idea of the crop rotation practices outlined in the report because they had never used them.
`You'll have to get used to the idea,' said Gavin Hobson bluntly. `We've plenty of grain in stock so we have to concentrate on vegetables. Plan your arable land this year -- a quarter for brassicas; quarter for pulses -- peas and so on; quarter for root crops; and a quarter lying fallow -- good for running pigs and chickens on. Switch around the next year and so on until you've run through a four-year cycle. That way bugs and pests that depend on one crop don't have a chance to get established. I expect most of you have forgotten that peas and beans provide free fertilizer for follow-on crops by fixing nitrogen in the soil. Okay -- so you don't get the vast, unnatural yields that you've got used to but you will get healthy crops without having to buy pesticides and insecticides -- which we won't have anyway.' He glanced around the chamber. `And a lot of you know the difference between my eggs and the watery crap balls you mass producers palm off on the supermarket buyers.'
There were nods of agreement.
Dan Baldock's contribution of: `A load of bollocks,' produced some smiles.
`You have something to say, councillor?'
`You're talking about a four-year plan,' Baldock retorted. `As I keep pointing out, for all we know the bloody Wall might be gone next week.'
`And it might not,' said David Weir. `If we do something and it goes, we haven't lost anything. But if it stays and we do nothing, we starve -- even with the 4000 tonnes of EU grain we're sitting on. It might go mouldy in this humidity. There might even be a scarcity of carbohydrates this coming winter because what seed we have, we'll have to let go to seed this year for next year's crop.'
`The shortages will s
tart to be noticed in the early summer before main crops are ready,' Hobson remarked. `Be plenty of salad crops, though. People will have to change their eating habits.'
`For the better,' Millicent Vaughan added.
There was a silence in the room.
`Councillor Weir is right,' said Prescott. `We have to assume the worst and plan our spring ploughing and harrowing now with a clear idea as to how we're going to make the best use of our land -- the warm days and nightly rain means that the soil's incredibly friable so we're lucky in that respect, but there's no point in unnecessary ploughing. It's not so much sulphur pollution from diesel that's the problem -- we've only just got enough fuel for this year and next year if we're careful. The fact is that we're going to rely on heavy horses in year three so we've got to start breeding them now. Councillor Weir has a pair of Suffolk Punch stallions and I've got a mare, and I know of two other mares.'
`Horse-drawn ploughing,' Baldock muttered in contempt when it was agreed that a heavy horse breeding programme should be implemented.
`We've done it for several hundred years,' David countered. `The skills aren't dead.' He grinned. `I came second in the ploughing contest last year. Five years ago the only ploughs I'd ever seen were on pub signs.'
`It's going to be hard,' said Prescott, `but we have to rethink our farming policy from scratch. We're back to the old system whereby the farms around the town fed the town. I've got around 10,000 chickens in my deep litter sheds; the Long's have around another 40,000 in their batteries. Pentworth doesn't need 50,000 layers and we won't be getting feed for them anyway.'
`An initial glut of boiled chicken,' a councillor commented.
`We can use a lot of them to clear land for cultivation,' said Gavin Hobson. `Fence a couple of hectares, dump a couple of hundred chickens on it, and they'll turn it into hard, bare earth for brassicas for free in no time without using weedkiller, and they'll fertilise it for free at the same time, too, and you'll get top quality eggs while they're doing it. Turn your weeds into eggs, I say.' He glowered around the assembly, ready for an argument but it wasn't forthcoming.
`An excellent point,' said Prescott expansively. `There you have it, ladies and gentlemen. Our market is no longer the size of a continent. We have to start relearning old techniques for raising and storing crops that most of us have forgotten. Growing sugar beet; storing potatoes in earth clamps, carrots in sand beds, and so on.'
Health was the next item on the agenda. Millicent outlined her concerns. She pointed out that Pentworth did not have large reserves of drugs, vaccines and antibiotics. In that respect the community had been pitchforked back into the 19th Century. But it did have one distinct advantage: the possession of the certain knowledge that pure drinking water, clean air, good diet, sanitation and housing were the most powerful weapons of all against epidemics. Clean air, sanitation and the water supply was being taken care of therefore she proposed that a team of inspectors be trained to oversee the communal cooking facilities and visit private houses where they were cooking for several families.
`We'd best call them advisors -- not inspectors,' said Prescott. `At the moment everything is being done on a voluntary basis. It would be better to call them advisors until our plans have legislative teeth.'
How long before that happens? Malone wondered.
The meeting lasted through into the warm afternoon and looked like it might outlast the daylight but at no time did it drag -– there was an enthusiastic flow of ideas that were acted on swiftly. Millicent Vaughan and her colleagues were tasked with setting up a hospital and rounding up drugs. A working party was to be established to produce a whole shoal of guide lines ranging from refuse separation by householders for recycling, to the registration of ponies and all horse-drawn vehicles.
Ellen agreed to expand her herbal remedy production and was voted the necessary funding in the form of an allocation of work vouchers that would enable her to `buy' labour to bring more of her land under cultivation.
The Freezer Fare supermarket had already been set up as a food distribution centre, now there was to be a supplies depot, and there would be an appeal for the voluntary donation of books and journals, particularly reference and technical works, for the expansion of Pentworth Library into a learning centre with an increased permanent staff.
`That may well turn out to be the most important measure we've agreed on,' was Harding's comment when the vote was passed. `We need a repository for all our learning. I've got about ten years back numbers of New Scientists that my wife's keen for me to find a home for.'
`Next item,' said Prescott briskly. `Radio Pentworth is our vital link with the people. Councillor Harding has proposed setting up a depot where people can swap their radio batteries for recharged batteries. Councillor Harding.'
`It's one of the simplest things we have to do,' said Harding. `All that's needed is about 10 car batteries, a well-ventilated room, and use of a one kilowatt generator for about four hours per week. We've several competent electricians who can trickle charge banks of ni-cad batteries and ordinary batteries. In fact the care of our stock of ni-cads and dry cells is vital. It would be better if the task was in good hands.'
The proposal went through without dissent. Exhaustion was creeping in. The lengthening list of responsibilities falling on Diana's shoulders appeared to worry her. Malone noticed that she had shuffled her notes. Although he couldn't read them from where he was sitting, he caught a brief glimpse of the top document which appeared to consist of a single typewritten paragraph.
`Mr Chairman,' said Diana hesitantly. `I've only done a rough calculation, but it looks like I'm going to need an admin staff of at least 200, and much bigger offices.'
`Seems reasonable,' said Prescott, looking around the table. `We're having to shoulder the responsibilities of central government and county council. Suggestions anyone? Town clerk?'
Diana looked down at her notes and Malone's suspicions hardened. This was a set up.
`How about the old Court House in Market Square?' she suggested. `Four floors. It's been empty for the last two years. It's big enough to put everything in there: all the government offices and the library. The old courtroom could used as a magistrates' court and council chamber. Mothercare next door aren't using their upper floors so we could take those over as well if necessary. And without telephones, it would be a good idea if all government departments were centralised.' It was longest statement that the town clerk had ever delivered. Malone estimated that its length matched the length of her typed paragraph.
`Suggestions?' Prescott glanced around the table. `Okay. We requisition the old Court House. I suggest we temporarily rename it Government House.' He moved on to the next item without inviting discussion.
Set up -- definite, Malone decided, and wondered what else would be sprung on the meeting when everyone was tired.
`Policing. Inspector Evans.'
Harvey Evans preferred formality; he didn't have to stand yet he rose to deliver a carefully-worded three page report that had taken him half the night to write and had cost two candles.
`That looks ominous, inspector,' said Prescott before the police officer had a chance to speak. `Could we have a summary please. It's been a long day.'
Evans was thrown. `I wanted to council to informed of all the--'
`The town clerk will incorporate your report as an appendix in the minutes. We know that you're desperately under-manned. That's the first page taken care of. Yes?'
Evans managed a nod but Prescott jumped in before the police officer could continue. `And that there's been a spate of petty crime and a serious crime with that raid on Radlett's tobacconists. Town clerk -- minute a unanimous vote of thanks to Inspector Harvey Evans and his force for their tremendous efforts during this crisis. He deserves our full support therefore I propose that we hold urgent discussions with him to determine ways and means of expanding the police force. You've all had a lot dumped on your plates today so, if everyone is in agreement, I'll be happy
to look into the problem with him.'
Ellen was incensed. It looked like it was going to go through on another of Prescott's on the nod votes. She was on her feet, eyes blazing. `Mr Chairman! This is unconstitutional! Such an important matter must be discussed in open council!'
Prescott looked genuinely taken back. Either that or he was a better actor than Ellen realized. `Unconstitutional, councillor? All Inspector Evans and I are going to do is discuss ways and means of recruiting additional special constables. There is already a procedure in place whereby the sector inspector or division commander can submit the names of candidates to the chief constable for approval. Is that not correct, Inspector Evans?'
`That's correct, Mr Chairman.' Even before he had finished speaking, Evans realized that his confirmation of the special constable selection procedure sounded like his approval of Prescott's overall plan. `But I would like to add--'
`Unfortunately, Councillor Duncan,' Prescott continued, ignoring Evans, `Sussex Police's HQ is in Lewes so it might as well be on the moon. There can be nothing constitutionally amiss with Inspector Evans and myself coming up with a plan to strengthen the police force and putting it to the next full meeting.' The motion was proposed, seconded, and passed with only Ellen's vote against. David's blood would've curdled in his veins had he the courage to look at her.
`Last point,' said Prescott. His new-found astuteness ensuring that there wasn't a hint of a gloat in his smile when he looked at Ellen. `We need someone on hand to help deal with the thousand and one day-to-day problems that have been cropping up. I propose being in Government House every day during working hours to help with the smooth running of things. I'm more fortunate than most in having an excellent manager to run my farms.'
Ellen snorted.
`Oh please don't worry, Councillor Duncan -- I shall be providing my services free of charge.'
`Paying you what you're worth would be a very small burden on our resources, Mr Chairman.'
Baldock had a sudden nasal problem. What little that could be seen of his face, hidden behind the handkerchief he had snatched from his pocket, was turning an alarming shade of pink.
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