EASTBOURNE AFFAIRS

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 20, 24 January 1936, Page 14

EASTBOURNE AFFAIRS

TOWN CLERK'S REPORT

In his report to the Eastbourne Borough Council last evening the Town Clerk and general manager (Mr. C. L. Bishop) stated that for the nine months of the financial year to December 31 £6285 had been collected on account of the current year's rates, as against £5738 for the same period the previous year. The collection on account of arrears amounted to £1072, as against £2479 in 1934-35. The current year's rates have been coming to hand very well and the collections on this account for the full year should show an improvement over last year's collections. The collections on account of arrears had been much lower than last year, one reason being that the outstanding rates at the commencement of the year were £ 1500 less than those of the previous year.

The weather during December, although reasonably good, was not particularly suitable for the outdoor attractions of the bays, this being more apparent at weekends. The result tWerefore was a substantial falling off in ferry department revenue, the amount for the month being approximately £300 below that for the same month the previous year. For the nine months of the financial year to the end of December, the total revenue was £200 lower than for the corresponding period the year before. With the expenditure approximately £500 lower for the period, the net result still showed an improvement over that of the same period of the previous year. The traffic on Boxing Day was very poor, being less than one-half of that for the previous Boxing Day. In the New Year period, however, it was remarkably good, and the first week of this month a substantial increase in revenue was.shown.

The Butterfly Reserve was proving very popular with the many visitors. The position in regard to the omnibus department continued to be satisfactory. The traffic revenue for December was approximately the same as for the corresponding month the previous year, and the total for the period approximately £400 higher. With expenditure normal the net improvement was fairly substantial, and the results for the full financial year should be very satisfactory. Eastbourne had again proved very popular with holiday-makers and more visitors than usual appeared to have been staying there. The improved facilities for holiday makers and permanent residents would be reflected in the transport revenue in the future. The borough engineer (Mr. W. J. Frethey) reported that the value of building permits taken out-during December was £589. The number of drainage connections made during December was 17, the value of work done being £490.