The Corporation Criticised - Council Meeting
In its criticism on the foregoing petition, the Brighton Guardian remarked that :-
"It was but a few weeks before that they scouted such an idea when informed by Mr. Elphinstone that they might have a portion of the ground in question for such purposes. Oh, no! said they, the ground was too far westward, and a pleasure-ground at that spot would be as likely to benefit St. Leonards as Hastings. Houses and shops, they contended, would soon be erected around it, and then it could not fail to injure, perhaps to ruin, High street and George street. That the up-town party were serious in the reasons which they urged for their objection, need not be doubted; but they had a further motive which they did not think it wise to make known, and that was, that the suggestions was made through the wrong channel to be acceptable. It being thought probable, however, that a new town would spring up there, under any circumstance, and it being whispered, moreover, that a party, with whom was associated Mr. James Burton, of St. Leonards, would probably purchase or lease the ground from Government the memorials above referred to was immediately got up. But it was either too late, or the inhabitants were asking for too much. The answer from the Woods and Forests Commissioners, received about the 2nd of July, was to the effect that the prayer of the petition could not be complied with. The old "Shadwell's party" - as a certain school of politicians were called - were too proud to accept a portion of the Priory land for a public recreation ground or pleasure gardens through the instrumentality of a certain Member of Parliament, because they thought it would increase his popularity; but rather than it should get into other hands, they would try to get the whole of it by direct communication with the Government officials. Alas! they grasped at a shadow and lost the substance. The splendid new town of St. Leonards, as well as the grand new parade reaching from the Archway to the White-rock, have up to the present time, been opposed by the old Corporation party, because they are aware that as the borough is enlarged, their power ceases."
The Corporation began the year by re-electing Dr. Wilmot till the 9th of November, thus extending his services from the 11th of May, 1835, in conformity with the date named in the new Municipal Corporation Act. It was ordered that the Mayor be the officer before whom the Court of Record shall be held, and the Town Clerk to continue to act as registrar of such Court; that J. G. Shorter be Town Clerk during the pleasure of the Council, George Scrivens, banker, to be treasurer, and that all quarterly meetings be open to the public from the 15th of January. Mr. Ransom, of Blacklands, shipwright, was elected a councillor of the East Ward, and Edward Farncomb, of Filsham, yeoman for the West Ward in place of Wm. Scriven and Jas. Burton, respectively, who had been made Aldermen. At the same meeting, the Finance Committee reported:-
Finance Committee's Report on the general Position
"That the sums and fines annually due to the Corporation were £58, but for the last three years only £40had been collected; that £24 had been annually received for publicans' licences; that the pierwarden's receipts had averaged £60 per year; that from such sources (amounting to £233 14s) had been paid £42 to the Council, £12 9s 2d-
