Some Selected Reports from The Windsor and Eton Express
2nd December 1837
Windsor Town Council - Yesterday the first meeting of the Town Council since the election of W.Jennings, Esq, to the Mayoralty of this borough, took place in the Council Chamber of the
Town Hall. Mr.Sharman, after highly complimenting the late Mayor (Edward Bovington,jun, Esq), for the consistency , impartiality, and zeal which he had displayed - in accordance with his
promise when elected - during the period he had served that office, moved a vote of thanks to that gentleman, which, after being seconded by Mr.Clarke, was carried unanimously, and ordered
to be entered into the minutes of the court, and a copy transmitted by the Town Clerk to Mr.Bovingdon.
The Report on the General Purpose Committee on a memorial for the remission of the market tolls was read, in which the committee expressed their opinion, that under the circumstances
they did not conceive a sufficient case had been made out to justify the council in acceding to the prayer of the memorialists. The report was unanimously adopted.
A lengthened discussion took place, relative to some land in Packer's-yard, which had in 1829 been granted on lease to Messrs. Ramsbottom and Legh, those gentlemen at the time
intending to erect malt-houses on it, but had not done so. It ended in a motion being made by Mr.Sharman, seconded by Mr.Blunt, and carried, that
Messrs. Ramsbottom and Legh be requested to fulfil the covenants of the lease.
A discussion took place on the subject of a memorial, which at a former Court was presented from farmers, &c, praying for a remission of the corn market tolls. The Town Clerk gave it
as his opinion that the Council could not legally remit the tolls secured to them by charter, unless they had an available surplus fund. It was, however, generally thought that the remission of
the tolls would add to the trade of the town, and as the amount of the tolls was so very trifling that the present renter only gave �20 a year for them, and has expressed his intention of offering
but �12 a year, the Council determined to try the effect of a remission. They accordingly agreed to suspend the collection of the tolls for the present.
The next business was the making a borough rate, when a rate of sixpence in the pound was ordered, which would produce �600 7s 8d, viz, for that part of Clewer within the borough,
�198 17s 5d; for Windsor parish , �459 18s 9d; and for the Lower Ward of the Castle, �31 11s 6d. Overseers, under the Act, were also appointed to collect the rate,viz, for Clewer, Mr.Brown, whitesmith, and Mr.Agar, grocer; for Windsor,
Mr.Brough and Mr.George Hewitt; and for the Lower Ward, Mr Salmon and Mr.Joseph Palmer.
An application was made by Mr.Alderman Bedborough (who was absent) for a lease to enable him to lay down gas pipes, in consequence, as he alleged, of his being shut out from a
competition for the renewal of his lease for the existing gas works. This gave rise to considerable discussion, during which Mr.Adams moved that the application be dismissed. Mr.Clode (wine-merchant)
moved, as an amendment, that it be granted. As neither the motion nor the amendment was seconded, the subject dropped.
The Court were next called on to consider, according to a letter from the Secretary of State for the Home Department, the propriety of altering the present borough gaol, or of building a new one.
This subject was ultimately referred to the Watch Committee and General Purpose Committee jointly.
The Council then adjourned.