1836—January 26—The Council recommended twelve persons as magistrates to the Secretary of State—The Mayor, Mr. Alderman R. Evans, R. Temple, Esq., Mr. Alderman Hall, William Shaw, Esq., R. Berkeley, Esq., William Saunders, Esq., John Dent, Esq., L. Johnstone, Esq., William Acton, Esq., G. Farley, Esq., and Captain Thomas. Three of these gentlemen were Conservatives. Mr. Farley and Mr. Johnstone having declined to serve, the names of Mr. Lavender (Conservative) and Mr. Alderman Corles were inserted in the list, but the Lord Chancellor only appointed the first ten. The wine of the old corporation was ordered to be sold, except fifty dozen to be applied in aid of sick poor.
1836—February 18—Report made by the committee appointed to investigate the accounts of the old corporation. The balance sheet presented to the Council by their predecessors showed credit a balance of £1,028, while the real fact was that the old corporation was in debt £1,170. £200 of this sum had been promised towards the improvements in front of All Saints’ Church, payable only on condition of the inhabitants doing their part within a certain number of years. The new Council confirmed this grant on the same terms.
1836—March 24—First quarterly meeting. A statement of the value of the city property was laid before the Council; which, some being calculated at twenty-five years’ purchase, and others at fourteen years’, was reckoned to be worth about £43,000. In mortgages and debts to the charities there was owing by the corporation £5,381. The gross produce of the corporation wine was £823, being an average of nearly 64s. per dozen. The Council determined to discontinue the practice of “fetching the fair from St. John’s to Worcester,” as a “farce.”
1836—April 7—It was announced by Mr. Sidebottom that he had been gazetted as police magistrate of the city; and as the holding of that office was deemed by Government inconsistent with the town clerkship (as had been all along foreseen), he must give up the latter. In answer to a question by Alderman Corles, he said he intended to retain the assessorship to the Court of Pleas.
1836—April 21—Mr. John Hill chosen Town Clerk in the room of Mr. Sidebottom.
1836—May 5—The Council received a grant of a separate Quarter Sessions, as they had prayed. The appointment of Mr. T. Waters as Clerk of the Peace was confirmed, and Mr. J. B. Hyde was appointed City Coroner.
1836—July 7—The Attorney-General’s opinion having been taken, it was decided that Mr. Thomas Hughes had no claim for compensation for loss of his situation as Vice-Chamberlain under the old body. This was a subject which had been repeatedly before the Council.
1836—October 6—Dinner given by the Town Council to the Mayor. Dr. Hastings was in the chair, and proposed the health of Mr. Hebb in flattering terms; describing him as a benevolent medical man, an author of some celebrity—having translated the works of some French pathologists at a time when there was little communication with the continent—and the constant advocate of the diffusion of useful knowledge. As their chief magistrate he had laid them all under a great debt of obligation. “The Bishop and Clergy of the Diocese” was responded to by the Rev. T. Pearson, and “The Dissenting Ministers” by Dr. Redford; “The Members for the County” was answered by Mr. Cookes, Captain Winnington, and Mr. Holland; and Mr. Robinson answered for the city members. Colonel Davis responded for the “Magistrates of the County,” and was most enthusiastically received. 306 sat down at table.
1836—November 9—The Council, in entering on their second year of office, reëlected Mr. Hebb as Mayor, and chose Mr. Alderman Gibb as Sheriff. There were scarcely any changes made in the body at the election on the 1st of this month.
1837—April 11—The Council agreed to the by-laws which have since, with little alteration, been acted upon.