Ongoing research; last updated 7 March 2014
5th January 1948 – BCC Parks
Committee Minute
Alderman Alldridge submitted the following report of the Sites and Buildings Sub-Committee:-
Alderman Alldridge submitted the following report of the Sites and Buildings Sub-Committee:-
Selly Oak Park – Park Keeper’s Lodge
A communication has been received from A.J. Markham, the
Officer-in-Charge of Selly Oak Park, asking if before taking up residence in
the Lodge, electric light could be installed there and also to the messroom,
and for the provision of a sink and water supply to the latter.
The cost of providing an electric service to these buildings is
approximately £50, including supply cable from Gibbins Road, and the provision
of a sink, etc., is estimated at a further £12.
The Committee’s instructions are desired.
Selly Oak Park – Canal Boundary
The Officer-in-Charge at Selly Oak Park has submitted a report to me
expressing concern over the unfenced condition of the canal boundary, and asks
for permission to erect a barbed wire fence and thorn and privet hedge along
the boundary of the park at this point.
He states that when ice is on the canal, men whose services he can ill
afford to spare have to be detailed to prevent children gaining access to the
canal from the park.
The District Superintendent supports the application for fencing of some
sort to be provided.
In view of the fact that your Committee is not generally in favour of
utilizing barbed wire where it may cause injury to children, I set out below
comparative estimates showing an alternative use of 4’6” chestnut fencing, with
single strand barbed wire along the top only:-
Length 390 yards
(i)
Oak
posts with 4 rows barbed wire, height 4’6” above ground
130 posts @2/4. each £15. 3. 4.
8 rolls barbed wire @ 25/6. £10 4. 0
£25.
7 4.
(ii)
4’6”
Chestnut fencing
130 post @ 2/4. each £15. 3. 4.
390 yds. Fencing @
5/- £97. 10. 0.
2
rolls barbed wire @ 25/6. £ 2. 11. 0.
£115. 4 .4.
Selly
Oak Park – Park Keeper’s Lodge
7686 Resolved:-
That for the reasons set out in the foregoing report, authority be given
for the carrying out of the alterations and modifications to the Park Keeper’s
Lodge at Selly Oak Park, at a total cost of £62, as more particularly detailed
therein.
Selly
Oak Park – Canal Boundary
7687 Resolved:-
That for the reasons set out in the foregoing report, authority be given
for the erection of chestnut fencing and barbed wire along the canal boundary
of Selly Oak Park at a total cost of £115. 4. 4d.
5th January 1948 - Parks Department
(Operations Card 26 EF4)
Buildings
Installation
of electric light to Lodge and Messroom.
Cost: £50. Parks Comm Min. date
5.1.48; No. 7686.
Erection of
fencing and barbed wire along canal boundary.
Cost: £115. Parks Comm Min. date
5.1.48; No. 7687.
2nd February 1948 – BCC Parks
Committee Minute
Alderman
Denton submitted the following report of the General Purposes and Finance
Sub-Committee:-
Staff – Appointments
The following appointments have been made in order to fill vacancies:-
Name & Age: Walker,
A.J.E. (59)
Designation: Garden
Labr (a)
Where employed: Selly
Oak Park
Commencing date: 5.1.48
Wages: £4.
14. 0. per week
Appointments
7751 Resolved:-
That the various appointments made to fill existing vacancies as
detailed in the foregoing report be approved.
1st March 1948 – BCC Parks Committee
Minute
Alderman
Denton submitted the following report of the General Purposes and Finance
Sub-Committee:-
Staff – Appointments
The following appointments have been made in order to fill vacancies:-
Name & Age: Young,
G.D. (27)
Designation: Garden
Labr (a)
Where employed: Selly
Oak Park
Commencing date: 7.1.48
Wages: £4.
14. 0. p. wk.
Appointments
7834 Resolved:-
That the various appointments made to fill existing vacancies, as
detailed in the foregoing report, be approved.
7th June 1948 – BCC Parks Committee
Minute
Alderman
Denton submitted the following report of the General Purposes and Finance
Sub-Committee:-
Dogs in Parks
In 1939, by Minutes Nos. 3522 and 3560 your Committee decided to allow
dogs to be exercised off the leash up to 10 a.m. in the mornings and for one
hour before the time fixed for closing in the whole or some parts of selected
parks and recreation grounds.
Some of these areas are no longer available for this purpose, the land
having been taken over for food production, the erection of prefabricated
bungalows, allotments, etc.
I have now received a request from several residents in the Perry Barr
area that permission be granted for dogs to be exercised off the leash in the
recently tipped area on the north side of the river at Perry Hall Playing
Fields, between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. from Mondays to Fridays each week.
Your Committee may wish to review their policy in this matter, and I
submit a revised list of areas suitable at the present time for the exercising
of dogs.
Park or Recreation Ground Portion to be Used
District
1
Selly Oak Park Area
alongside canal
Staff – Increases in Wages of Manual Employees
I beg to recommend the following increases in wages to manual employees,
such increases to take effect from the 1st June, 1948:-
Name: Markham, A.J.
Park: Selly
Oak Park
Length of Service as Officer-in-Charge: 7
mths.
Wage Scale: £6.
0. 0. to £7. 0. 0. per wk.
Present Wages (including emoluments): £6.
19. 3. per week,
Plus
3/- per week Improved service Pay
Recommended Increase: 2/6d.
per week.
Staff - Appointments
District No. 1
Name & Age: Watts,
A. G. (22)
Designation: Garden
Labr. (a)
Where employed: Selly
Oak Park
Date of Entering Service: 17.4.48
Wages: £4.
14. 0. p. wk.
Dogs in
Parks
8092 Resolved:-
That the request that dogs to be exercised off the leash in the tipped
area at Perry Hall Playing Fields, between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. from Mondays to
Fridays each week, be not acceded to and that the revised list of areas in
various Parks and Recreation Grounds as detailed in the foregoing report, where
the exercising of dogs off leash is permitted up to 10 a.m., in the morning and
for one hour before the time fixed for closing, be approved.
Manual
Employees – Increase in Wages
8101 Resolved:-
That authority be given for the payment of wage increases to the
employees mentioned in the foregoing report at the rates stated therein, with
effect from the 1st June, 1948.
Staff
Appointments
8108 Resolved:-
That the various appointments made to fill the existing vacancies, as
more particularly detailed in the foregoing report, be approved.
5th July 1948 – BCC Parks Committee
Minute
Alderman
Denton submitted the following report of the General Purposes and Finance
Sub-Committee:-
Temporary Manual Employees – Appointments to
the Permanent Staff
The following employees have now completed a probationary period on the
temporary staff. The services of these
employees have been satisfactory, and I recommend that they be appointed to the
Permanent Staff of the Department, with effect from the 5th July,
1948:-
No. 1 District
Name & Age: Boraston,
K.G. (20)
Designation: Garden
Labr. (a)
Where employed: Selly
Oak Park
Date Entered Service: 24.11.47
Temporary
Manual Employees – Appointments to the Permanent Staff
8190 Resolved:-
That the temporary manual employees named in the foregoing report be
appointed to the permanent staff with effect from the 5th July, 1948.
26th July 1948 – Bcc Parks Committee
Minute
Alderman
Denton submitted the following report of the General Purposes and Finance
Sub-Committee:-
Regrading of Parks
In March 1947, a detailed report was submitted for a Grading Scheme for
parks and recreation grounds. This
scheme was approved by your Committee by Minute No. 6956. The parks and recreation grounds were graded
into various classifications of importance, taking into consideration such
items as acreage, horticultural importance and amenities, sporting amenities,
etc.
It is now considered desirable that having regard to the increased
horticultural amenities at Selly Oak Park and ….. (report is here cut/missing!) ….. sites be
regraded from Grade III (wages £6. 4. 0d to £7. 4. 0d per week) to Grade II
(wages £7. 4. 0d to £8. 4. 0d per week).
Consequent upon these regradings it is recommended that the wages of
J.A. Markham (40) Park-Keeper at King’s Norton Park and Playing Fields be
increased from £6. 9. 0d to £7. 4. 0d per week, plus 5/- per week Improved
Service Pay, with effect from the date of this meeting.
A.J. Markham (41) Park-keeper at Selly Oak Park, is already being paid
at the Grade II rate.
The Committee’s approval of these recommendations is desired.
Regrading
of Parks
8278 Resolved:-
That for the reasons set out in the foregoing report Selly Oak Park and
King’s Norton Park and Playing Fields be regarded from Grade III (wages £6. 4.
0d to £7. 4. 0d per week) to Grade II (wages £7. 4. 0d to £8. 4. 0d per week)
and that consequent upon these regradings the wages of J.A. Markham (40)
Park-Keeper at King’s Norton Park and Playing Fields be increased from £6. 9.
0d to £7. 4. 0d per week, plus 5/- per week Improved Service Pay, with effect
from the 12th July, 1948.
Alderman
Alldridge submitted the following report of the Sites and Buildings
Sub-Committee:-
Park-keeper’s Lodge – Selly Oak Park
I have received an application from the Officer-in-Charge of this park
(set out hereunder) for the provision of a bathroom at the park-keeper’s lodge,
for the reasons stated:-
Sir,
I would be grateful if you would consider the possibility of having a
bathroom built on the lodge. The
position at present is there are only two bedrooms in the house. Originally there were three, but one was
converted to a bathroom. I have a mixed
family – three girls, aged 17, 14 and 4 years, and two boys aged 16 and three
months, and the boy has to use the bathroom as a bedroom, which is not good for
him owing to the dampness from the use of the bath, and is a nuisance to the
girls using the bathroom. If this
bathroom were converted to a bedroom, it would be a great relief to my
wife. I was told by Mr. Tarr, the former
Park-keeper, that some years ago plans were drawn for a bathroom over the larder. My wife and myself are very grateful for the
renovations already done to the house, and if this matter could be favourably
considered, we should be very happy.
I am, Sir,
Yours faithfully,
(sd.) A.J. Markham.
I am advised a bathroom can easily be built by raising over the larder,
and that the existing bath and lavatory basin can be re-used. The estimated cost of the work is
approximately £155.
In view of the size of the family to be housed in the existing
accommodation, you would, no doubt, wish me to proceed with the work. The cost can be met under the general heading
of “Improvements” in your Committee’s current Estimates of expenditure.
Your instructions are desired.
Selly
Oak Park – Lodge
8295 Resolved:-
That authority be given for the adaptation of the Lodge at Selly Oak
Park as more particularly detailed in the attached report at an estimated cost
of £155 and that contingent upon the foregoing, the rental in respect of these
premises be increased by 1/- per week.
26th July 1948 - Parks Department (Operations Card 26 EF4)
Buildings
Erection of additional room over larder in lodge. Contractor: Artisans Staff. Cost: £155. Parks Comm Min. date 26.7.48; No. 8295. Increase rent by 1/-.
1st November 1948 – BCC Parks
Committee Minute
Alderman
Denton submitted the following report of the General Purposes and Finance
Sub-Committee:-
Staff - Appointments
District
No. 1
Name & Age: Barker,
R.F. (20)
Designation: Garden
Labr. (a)
Where employed: Selly
Oak Park
Date of Entering Service: 19.8.48
Wages: £5.
0. 0.
Staff - Resignations
District
No. 1
Name & Age: Hunt,
W. (29)
Designation: Garden
Labr. (a)
Where employed: Selly
Oak Park
Date of Entering Service: 7.8.48
Staff
Appointments
8424 Resolved:-
That the various appointments made to fill the existing vacancies, as detailed
in the foregoing report, be approved.
6th December 1948 – BCC Parks
Committee Minute
Alderman
Denton submitted the following report of the General Purposes and Finance
Sub-Committee:-
Staff - Resignations
District
No. 1
Name & Age: Boraston,
K.E. (21)
Designation: Garden
Labr. (a)
Where employed: Selly
Oak Park
Date of Entering Service: 23.10.48
