3Every claim so delivered as aforesaid shall be submitted to the council, who shall forthwith take it into consideration, and assess the just amount of compensation (if any), and shall forthwith inform the claimant of their decision, and if a council fail to inform any claimant of their decision upon his claim within six months after it has been so delivered to them, the Minister may, on application made to him in that behalf by the claimant, direct the council to do so within such time, not being lees than one month, as may be specified in the direction.