The Board consisted of twelve members all of whom were present:
Messrs J Elgey, Dr Wood, Dr Eames, T G Marshall, J M Jennings, H Angus, T D Whitaker, G M Foley, W Allanson, J Walker, G R Wrangham and E Gibson.

Prior to the formation of this Board, parish affairs had been conducted by the Vestry Assembley.

Charles Dickens in his 'Sketches by Boz' gives us a vivid insight into these Vestry Assemblies, which functioned in most parishes in a very similar way:

'Our parish which, like all other parishes, is a world of its own, has long been divided into two parties, whose contentions, slumbering for a while, have never failed to burst forth with unabated vigour, on any occasion on which they could by possibilities be renewed. Watching-rates, lighting-rates, paving-rates, sewers-rates, church-rates, poors-rates - all sorts of rates, have been in their turn the subjects of a grand struggle.'

Meetings in Driffield usually took place in the Church Vestry, but after the Corn Exchange was built in 1841, when a throng of anxious spectators was expected at a meeting, it was found necessary to adjourn there, where the ceremony could commence in due solemnity.

(From the minutes of the Driffield Vestry Meetings. County Archives PE 10/T99)
Collection of Taxes
January 3, 1810.

An entry in the minute book for this date shows that there was a growing concern for the way in which the parochial accounts were being kept and how non payment of rates were being handled.

'We the undersigned have resolved: That the parochial accounts have been in general irregularly kept, and produced without dates and many ommissions and neglects overlooked, injurious to the Parishioners - that in future no Parochial accounts will be allowed without they are produced, the items specified with dates. In future any collection ommitted to be made shall fall upon the officer holding the situation. (12 signatures).

April 25, 1832

It was decided that an annual payment should be made to the collector of all monies in the Parish and it was specified where his salary should come from.

C Laybourne to collect all taxes and to be allowed for one year the sum of £17-8-0. To cover this fee £9 to be paid out of the Highway assessment, £7 out of the Poor rate and £1-8-0 out of the Church assessment.

Disputes over rights of way and upkeep of roads
June 10, 1834.

It was resolved at the above meeting of the Vestry that the Surveyors of the Highways be instructed to propose to Mr Arkwright (the owner of much of Skerne) that in consideration of the Parish allowing the inhabitants of Skerne to use the Bell Mill Road, he should undertake to keep the road in repair for the same.

June, 18th 1834

(It was thought at the above meeting that more pressure should be placed on Mr Arkwright)

It was resolved by a majority of the Vestry that a gate should be placed across the road leading to the Bell Mills against all who had no right to the road.
December 3 1841
(The minute of this meeting was used at a later date against property developers in the town who were attempting to include a portion of George Street in their plots of building land)
It was resolved unanimously that the terms of the Act of Parliament having been complied with for dedicating the road or street called George Street (being 181 yards and 2 feet in length and 10 yards in width) to the Public and due notice having been given to the Surveyors of the Highways in June, 1840, and such dedication with due formation of the road having been cretificated by two magistrates and such certificate enrolled at the Mid summer Quarter Sessions, 1840 - it is the duty of the Surveyors of the Highways to adopt such road as a public road and to keep the same in repair at the expense of the Parish.
May 3, 1872
Resolution
That as the Committee are of the opinion that an excellent supply of pure water is obtainable within a few feet from the surface of the ground in any part of the town, it is the duty of all owners of property to put down pumps wherever they should be now wanting and that no dwelling house should be left dependent for their water supply on the town beck and that all owners who have not provided their property with proper pumps should forthwith be required by the Vestry to supply this deficiency and further that as Parliament is now considering the question of drainage and such matters generally, it is expedient to defer taking any further action on the general question of drainage till the measures before Parliament have been settled.