Ongoing research; last updated 3 May 2014
2nd
January 1950 – BCC Parks Committee Minute
Alderman Denton submitted the
following report of the General Purposes and Finance Sub-Committee:-
Staff
(a)
Appointments
Since the last
meeting of your Committee, the appointments as set out in Appendix “D” have
been made.
Appendix “D”
Staff –
Appointments
No. 1 District
Name & Age: Elliott J.T.
(16)
Designation: Garden Boy
Where employed: Selly Oak Park
Date of Entering
Service: 14.11.49
Wages: £2. 10.
0.
Manual Staff - Appointments
9658 Resolved:-
That the various appointments made to fill existing vacancies, as
detailed in Appendix “D” to the foregoing report, be approved and confirmed.
6th
February 1950 – BCC Parks Committee Minute
Alderman Denton submitted the
following report of the General Purposes and Finance Sub-Committee:-
Police Report –
Accidents and Minor Offences
During the
month of December 13 serious accidents were attended to in the parks and the
patients sent to hospital.
94 minor injuries
were treated and the patients sent home.
Details of the
serious accidents are given in Appendix “H”.
Appendix “H”
Police Report – Serious Accidents
Date: 31.12.49
Park: Selly Oak Park
Name and Age: Alan Pritchard (16)
Nature of Injury: Fractured rt. wrist
Cause of Injury: Playing football
Councillor Gurden presented the
following report of the Recreation and Entertainments Sub-Committee:-
Cricket in the
Parks – Practice Pitches
I feel that the
Sub-Committee will be interested to learn that I have received a letter from
Mr. A.L. Bird, the Hon. Secretary of the Birmingham Public Parks Cricket
Association, informing me that his Association proposes to sponsor a coaching
scheme during the coming season, using the practice pitches which were laid
down last year in the parks, together with any additions which are made to their
number.
The Association
proposes to book the pitches in each park for one night per week and Mr. Bird
stated that it was hoped Warwickshire County Staff Members would act as coaches
on the opening evening, thereafter assistance would be sought from Professionals
attached to the Birmingham League Clubs and the Association’s own leading players. It is considered that activities of this kind
deserve to be encouraged and that the same facilities should be extended to
other organisations if required, always providing the pitches are not
monopolised by the Leagues, and individual clubs are given a fair share. Mr. Bird has suggested that if additional practice
pitches are laid down, one should be at Handsworh Park - but here there is
difficulty in finding a suitable site, and one at Selly Oak Park where no difficulty
as to siting exists.
With regard to
practice pitches generally, I would suggest that four additional double bay
pitches be laid down this year, one of which should be at Selly Oak Park and
three at other parks or recreation grounds, providing suitable sites can be
found.
I would further
suggest that an experiment be made with marl instead of concrete in the
construction of these pitches. They
would be less costly and it would be possible to change the site from year to
year. The cost, including double bay
nets, mats and stop net, would be approximately £60 in each case.
The Committee’s
instructions are desired.
Cricket in the Parks – Practice
Pitches
9818 Resolved:- That the use of practice pitches in various parks in connection with the coaching scheme to be sponsored by the Birmingham Public Parks Association, as referred to in the foregoing report, be granted; and that the same facilities be granted to other organisations, if required, provided always that the pitches are not monopolised by the Leagues, and individual Clubs are given affair share.
Additional Double Bay Practice Pitches
9819 Resolved:- That four additional double bay practice pitches be laid down in 1950, one at Selly Oak Park and three at other parks of Recreation Grounds, subject to suitable sites being found; further that, as an experiment, marl instead of concrete be used for the construction of these pitches at an estimated cost, including double bay nets, etc, of £60 each.
6th
March 1950 – BCC Parks Committee Minute
Accidental Death – J. Dix
The Committee were informed of the
death through tetanus of Mr. J. Dix, a semi-skilled gardener employed at Selly
Oak Park. The General Manager informed
the Committee that he had written personally to the widow of the late Mr. Dix.
9943
Resolved:- That a letter of
condolence be sent to Mrs. Dix sympathising
with her in the sad loss of her husband.
9997 Resolved:- That subject to the agreement of the donors in cases where the bandstands were gifts, authority be given for the General Manager to make arrangements for the bandstands at Calthorpe, Cotteridge, Queens, Rookery, Selly Oak, Ward End and Warley Parks, as more particularly referred to in the foregoing report to be disposed with, and to report further on the matter when the necessary work is completed.
Various Parks – Collection of Monies
10083 Resolved:- That approval be given to the installation of small safes, either in the walls or embedded in concrete in the floors in the case of timber buildings, at the various parks and recreation grounds at present without safes, more particularly referred to in the foregoing report, at an estimated total cost of £216. 18s. 9d.
3rd April
1950 – BCC Parks Committee Minute
Alderman Denton submitted the
following report of the General Purposes and Finance Sub-Committee:-
Staff
(e) Deaths
I have to report
that J. Dix (58), employed as a Gardener (S.s.) at Selly Oak Park, died on the 28th
February from Tetanus.
Dix sustained a
slight injury at the park on the 10th February, which was treated at
the park. He subsequently attended his own
doctor and Selly Oak Hospital. After
further treatment he was admitted to Selly Oak Hospital on the 23rd February,
suffering from Tetanus.
At the inquest
the Coroner returned a verdict of Death by Misadventure.
Alderman Alldridge submitted the following report of the
Sites and Buildings Sub-Committee:-
Band Stands – Various Parks –
Disposal
By Minute No. 478 of your
Sub-Committee, reference was made to the existence of obsolete bandstands in
positions which appeared to interfere with the lay-out of recreation pitches.
This matter has now been fully
investigated, and set out below, for the information of your Committee, is a
full list of bandstands existing at the present time:-
Aston * Rookery
Calthorpe Selly
Oak
Cannon Hill Small Heath
Cotteridge Sparkhill
Handsworth * Summerfield *
Lightswood * Ward End
Muntz Warley *
Queens *
* Indicates gift
Of the above-mentioned buildings,
I submit for your consideration the following, which either by reason of
structural defect or sterilisation of useful playing space, could more
conveniently be dispensed with:-
(From a list:-)
..............
Selly Oak 18 ft. Octagon. Too small for normal band concerts or
entertainments. Sheet iron roof and
appearance generally non-ornamental. Space
could be used for extension of cricket and football area.
.................
The remaining eight bandstands are
of a more modern and artistic design and have been more or less in use during the
entertainments season.
Band Stands – Various Parks – Disposal
9997 Resolved:- That subject to the agreement of the donors in cases where the bandstands were gifts, authority be given for the General Manager to make arrangements for the bandstands at Calthorpe, Cotteridge, Queens, Rookery, Selly Oak, Ward End and Warley Parks, as more particularly referred to in the foregoing report to be disposed with, and to report further on the matter when the necessary work is completed.
3rd April
1950 – Parks Department (Operations Card 26 D1)
By Minute No.9997 dated 3rd April 1950, authority
was given to dispense with the bandstand, subject to agreement with the Donor,
if any.
1st May
1950 – BCC Parks Committee Minute
Alderman Denton submitted the
following report of the General Purposes and Finance Sub-Committee:-
Various Parks – Collection of
Monies
With reference to your Minute No.
1328, I find upon investigation that money is collected at 63 places for
departmental services, of which 24 are provided with safes and 39 are without
safes, as shown in the lists below:-
Selly Oak is in the list headed “Without
Safes”
At the parks and recreation
grounds where safes are not provided, the Officer-in-Charge is responsible for
making his own arrangements for the safe custody of departmental monies until
banked. In consequence, at weekends,
where he is non-resident, there is no alternative but for him to take the money
home. This arrangement does not appear
to be a desirable one, as it tends to place unnecessary temptation in the way
of low salaried employees and to open up an avenue for defalcations. In consequence, the Sub-Committee may wish to
consider the desirability of providing at such places an “appointed place” where
departmental money must be kept until banked, or until collected by the staff
of the City Treasurer’s Department.
The cheapest, and probably the
best, method is to provide small wall safes, size 8¾“ x 6¼“ x 4 1/8“ fixed in
the wall of a brick building, and in floor concrete where there are timber
buildings only. The cost for 39 safes of
the size suggested would be £216. 18. 9., to which would have to be added the
cost of building in. There is no special sum allocated in the Estimates for
1950/51 for this expenditure, but the work, if carried out by direct labour,
could be charged against the sum included in annual recurring expenditure to
cover the cost of the Artisans’ wages and the materials used by them.
If these suggested arrangements are
put into operation, the City Treasurer’s Department are satisfied both as
regards the existing method of collection of monies and the insurance against
theft.
The Committee’s instructions are
requested.
Selly Oak
Park – Proposed Carnival
An application has been made by
the residents in Selly Oak for permission to stage certain carnival activities in
Selly Oak Park during the week commencing 4th June, 1950. The applicants desire to revive the former
custom of holding a carnival in the Selly Oak district and to raise funds for
the Bournbrook branch of the “Sons of Rest” and other charities.
The organisers, the Selly Oak Carnival
(1950) Committee, request permission to hold a Drumhead service in the bandstand
area at Selly Oak Park at 8 p.m. on Sunday, the 4th June, and they
wish to have the exclusive use of the park from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday,
the 10th June, for the purpose of holding children’s sports, a parade of
decorated vehicles, a fancy dress parade and a Jazz Band competition. They wish to have dancing on the Green during
the evening.
Application is also made for
permission to hold a fun fair, consisting of 400ft. – 500ft. of side-shows, a
cycle roundabout and “dodgem” cars, to operate in the park until 11 p.m. on
Friday, the 9th June, and until 11 p.m. on Saturday, the 10th
June. It is estimated by the Carnival
Committee that between 6,000 and 7,000 persons will attend the activities in the
park during the Saturday, and they would like to make a charge of admission to
the park of 6d. for adults and 3d. for children. They also ask to be authorised to make their
own private arrangements for the provision of light refreshments to persons
attending the carnival.
It is not possible to close Selly
Oak Park completely because a right of way (indicated on the plan which will be
available at your meeting), exists between Corisande Road and the junction of
Gibbins Road and Harborne Lane. However
by the erection of approximately 485 yards of Chestnut fencing, it would be
possible to fence off the main part of the park to the South-West side of the
right of way, and to use this area for each of the activities referred to in the
application other than the fun fair. Should
your Committee agree, it would be possible to allocate a space for a fun fair
in the unfenced side of the park on the area adjacent to the canal on the right
hand side of the main entrance to the park.
The presence of a fun fair upon
this site would be very detrimental to the turf, although there might be a
chance of preserving the turf if the weather remained dry.
The exclusive use of the main area
of the park by the carnival organisers would place out of commission two of the
four cricket pitches in the park.
The Committee will recall that at their
meeting on the 6th February last, authority was granted for a
similar type of carnival to be held at Cotteridge Park on the 8th July,
1950, subject to the following conditions:-
(a)
That only part or parts of the park be used for
a Carnival.
(b)
That no admission be charged for entrance to the
park, but only to certain specified enclosures therein.
(c)
That the Carnival be under the general
supervision of the Parks Department.
(d)
That the Association should submit a copy of the
accounts in connection with the Carnival after it has been held, with a view to
sympathetic consideration being given by the Committee to the making of a grant
out of any profits accruing to the Association.
Should your Committee agree to the
application now submitted, it is recommended that conditions of a similar
character should apply.
The Committee’s instructions are
desired.
Police Report –
Accidents and Minor Offences
During the month
of March there were 28 serious accidents dealt with in the parks and the
patients sent to hospital. 208 minor injuries
were attended to and the patients sent home.
Details of the serious accidents are given in Appendix “J”.
Appendix “J”
Police Report – Serious Accidents
Date: 11.3.50
Park: Selly Oak Park
Name and Age: Ronald Nash (24)
Nature of Injury: Compound fracture right leg
Cause of Injury: Playing football
Special Orders
Submitted in
Appendix “L” are details of special orders which have been placed since your
last meeting. Provision for the
expenditure referred to is provided for in the current year’s Estimates, and
the Committee’s confirmation is requested.
Appendix “L”
Special orders
(From a list:-)
Selly Oak Park
9 cwts. Grass seed for football
area Ryder & Son. Ltd., £99.
0. 0.
St. Albans
Various Parks – Collection of Monies
10083 Resolved:- That approval be given to the installation of small safes, either in the walls or embedded in concrete in the floors in the case of timber buildings, at the various parks and recreation grounds at present without safes, more particularly referred to in the foregoing report, at an estimated total cost of £216. 18s. 9d.
Selly Oak Park – Proposed Carnival
Arising out of the above matter,
Councillor Gurden referred to the fact that the Committee had given permission
for a fun-fair to be held at Cotteridge Park in connection with the Kings
Norton Carnival, and he expressed the view that the Committee should grant
facilities for a fun-fair to be held in Selly Oak Park on the same conditions.
It was, therefore, moved by
Councillor Gurden and seconded by Councillor Brander –
That in connection with the proposed
carnival in Selly Oak Park as referred to in the foregoing report, permission
be granted for the holding of a fun-fair on the condition that any vehicles
entering the park in connection therewith shall be mounted on pneumatic tyred wheels
and that any damage to the turf or under-ground be made good.
Upon the vote being taken, the
foregoing resolution was defeated by 6 votes to 5.
10088 Resolved:-
That the application for permission to hold a carnival in Selly Oak Park
during the week commencing 4th June, 1950, as more particularly
referred to in the foregoing report, be granted, subject to the following
conditions:-
(a)
That only part or parts of the park be used for
a Carnival.
(b)
That no admission be charged for entrance to the
park, but only to certain enclosures therein.
(c)
That the Carnival be under the general
supervision of the Parks Department.
(d)
That the Association should submit a copy of the
accounts in connection with the Carnival after it has been held, with a view to
sympathetic consideration being given by the Committee to the making of a grant
out of any profits accruing to the Association.
(e)
That no general Fun Fair be allowed but that
side-shows be permitted upon a scale to be approved by the Parks Department on
the understanding that there is no mechanical or amplified gramophone music.
(f)
That permission be granted for certain
refreshment stalls to be erected subject to the general supervision of the Parks
Department.
Special Orders
10097
Resolved:- That the action of
the General Manager in relation to the Special Orders, as detailed in Appendix “L”
to the foregoing report, be approved and confirmed.
Refreshments – Mobile Canteens
Highbury Park
3rd July
1950 - BCC Parks Committee Minute
Alderman Denton presented the following report of the
General Purposes and Finance Sub-Committee:-
Refreshments – Mobile Canteens
The undermentioned is a list of
sites where no refreshment facilities exist at present, and which it is
considered would be best served by Mobile Canteens:-
(From a list of 10:-)
Selly Oak Park
I have to inform you that I have
contacted Mr. Newbury, Secretary of the Civic Restaurants Department, with
regard to his supplying Mobile Canteens for this purpose, and he has told me
that due to the shortage of canteens he will be unable to assist us other than
at Selly Oak and Sparkhill Parks.
However, certain enquiries have
been made from members of the pubic with regard to the catering rights in the
above parks and recreation grounds. In
the circumstances, I should be glad to know whether your Committee consider
that it would be advisable to insert an advertisement asking for tenders for
these catering rights.
Your Committee’s instructions in
this matter are requested.
Staff
(a)
Appointments
Since the last
meeting of your Committee, the appointments as set out in Appendix “D” have
been made.
Appendix “D”
Staff –
Appointments
No. 1 District
Name & Age: Eagles, J. (15)
Designation: Garden Boy
Where employed: Selly Oak Park
Date of Entering
Service: 10.4.50
Wages: £2. 0.
0.
Name & Age: Haste, W.C.
(20)
Designation: Garden Boy
Where employed: Selly Oak Park
Date of Entering
Service: 13.4.50
Wages: £4. 10.
0.
Refreshments – Mobile Canteens
10211
Resolved:- That the General
Manager be authorised to invite tenders by public advertisement for the rights
of catering by means of mobile canteens at the various sites more particularly
referred to in the foregoing report, the food provided to be in accordance with
a menu and generally on terms to be approved by the General Manager.
Staff Appointments
10223 Resolved:-
That the various appointments made to fill existing vacancies on the
manual staff, as detailed in Appendix “D” to the foregoing report, be approved
and confirmed.
Accidents in Parks
Hereon the General Manager reported
that he had been in communication with the Commissioner for the County of
Birmingham area of the St. John’s Ambulance Brigade, and it had now been agreed
at an interview, as follows:-
Memorandum of Interview
Monday – 26th June 1950 4.30 p.m.
Thursday - 29th June, 1950 3.30 p.m.
Brigadier Haine (Deputy
General Manager
County
Commissioner (Chief
Clerk
St. John’s
Ambulance Brigade (Inspector
Smith
First Aid Treatment in the Parks
Monday
26.6.50.
Mr. Allen
briefly summarised the main requirements of the Committee by way of help from
the St. John’s Ambulance Brigade. He
mentioned that previous attempts to obtain the service of the St. John’s
Ambulance men at Cricket and Football matches had not been very successful.
After general
discussion, it was agreed that the Committee’s requirements would be classed in
three degrees of priority and Brigadier Haine promised to put the requests to a
conference of the District Commanders, and to communicate with the Department
again after the conference had been held.
The three classes were as follows:-
Priority I.
August Bank
Holiday, Sunday 6th and Monday 7th August between the
hours of 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. at the following parks:- Cannon Hill, Handsworth, Perry, Perry Hall
P.F’s, Pype Hayes and Ward End.
Priority II.
During the
school holiday period from the 22nd
July until the 10th September.
Saturdays 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Sundays 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
At the parks
listed above, and in addition – Aston, Selly Oak and Sennelleys parks.
Priority III.
As Priority II.
with the addition of the following where games are played. Billesley Common, Highbury Pk, King’s Heath
Pk, King George V, Lyndon P.F’s, Summerfield Pk. and Witton Lakes.
Deputy General
Manager, Chief Clerk, Inspector Smith.
Mr. Allen stated
that the Committee would be prepared to make an appropriate refreshment
allowance to any men on duty.
Thursday,
29.6.50.
Brig. Haine
visited the office and stated that consequent upon his conference the St.
John’s Ambulance Brigade would guarantee to carry out the duties of the
Priority I parks and hoped to carry out duties of the Priority II sites,
efforts would be made to provide assistance at the Priority III parks, but this
was rather doubtful.
The Brigade
preferred a system of refreshment vouchers rather than refreshment allowances
payable to the men and it was agreed that the appropriate number of vouchers
would be forwarded by this Department to Brigade H.Q. for transmission to the
men together with their duty cards.
It was agreed that
men on duty from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. would be given two vouchers. The parks Department will make appropriate
arrangements for refreshments for the St. John’s men at those sites without a
refreshment room.
The general
arrangements agreed upon were that the Ambulance men would operate in pairs one
pair to each park, they would report on arrival and on departure to the
Officer-in-Charge or his deputy.
The volunteers
will make use of the Parks Police First Aid rooms, and they will render a
report to the Officer-in-Charge of all accidents dealt with by them.
10227 Resolved:-
That the action taken as set out in the foregoing report of the General
Purposes and Finance Sub-Committee, and by the General Manager as set out above
on the question of assistance of members of the St. John’s Ambulance Brigade in
certain of the parks during general holiday and school holiday periods be
approved and confirmed.
The General Manager submitted the following report:-
Appointments of Park
Superintendents at Cannon Hill Park and at Handsworth Park
A Staff Panel consisting of the
Chairman of the General Purpose and Finance Committee, Alderman Mrs. Hyde,
Councillor Price and Councillor Simpson, recently interviewed a selected short
list of candidates for the positions of Park Superintendents at Cannon Hill
Park and Handsworth Park. The Staff
Panel recommend the appointment of Mr. V.N. Pass (45) Park Superintendent at
Small Heath Park, to the post of Park Superintendent at Cannon Hill Park, and
they recommend the appointment of Mr. J.E. Gradwell (41) Park Superintendent,
Highbury Park, to the position of Park Superintendent at Handsworth Park.
Mr. Pass entered the service of
the Department in 1919. He was appointed
Foreman at Ward End Park in 1929 and was later transferred to a similar
position at Small Heath Park. After his
service in H.M. Forces he was appointed General Foreman at Cannon Hill Park in
1946, was made Park Superintendent at King’s Heath Park in 1948, and
transferred to Small Heath Park in 1949.
It was asked that his appointment at a salary in accordance with A.P.T.
Division V (£520 - £570 per annum) be confirmed, with effect from the 12th
June, 1950.
Mr. J.E. Gradwell ...............
Subject to your approval of these
recommendations the Staff Panel considered the filling of the vacant posts at
Small Heath Park and Highbury Park, and after interviewing candidates for
promotion, made the following recommendations:-
Name Present Appointment
Salary or Wages of
Appointment recommended new appointment
...................
Markham,
A.J. Park-keeper, Park Supt., 390 per annum,
(43) Selly Oak Pk. Highbury Park. inc.
emoluments
valued
at £70 p.a.
A.P.T.
I.
Hughes, J.E. Park-keeper Park-keeper £8
per week, inc.
(45) Bournville Pk Selly Oak Pk. emoluments
valued
at
£50 per annum.
.................
Mr. Markham’s present wage is £7.
5. 0. per week plus 3/- per week Improved Service Pay, less emoluments
consisting of house, fuel and light, valued at £50 per annum. His transfer to the Non-Manual Staff at a
salary in accordance with the minimum of the A.P.T. Division I (£390 per annum)
including emoluments valued at £70 per annum, would result in a decrease in
salary of approximately £20 per year. In
view of the fact that apart from the question of improvement in status, it is
intended that the transfer of this employee should involve also an appropriate
increase in salary, having reviewed the matter subsequent to the meeting of the
Panel, I recommend that he be transferred to the second increment stage of
A.P.T. Division I.
....................
It is asked that these
appointments be confirmed with effect from the 12thJune, 1950.
Highbury Park
10301
Resolved:- That subject to the
approval of the Establishment Committee Mr. A.J. Markham, Park-keeper, Selly
Oak Park be appointed Parks Superintendent at Highbury Park at a salary of £420
including emoluments valued at £70 per annum, in accordance with A.P.T.
Division I of the National Scales with effect from the 12th June,
1950.
Selly Oak Park
10302
Resolved:- That Mr. J.E. Hughes,
Park-keeper at Bournville Park be appointed Park-keeper at Selly Oak Park at a
wage of £8 per week including emoluments valued at £50 per annum with effect
from the 12th June, 1950.
31st July 1950 – BCC Parks Committee Minute
Alderman Alldridge presented the following report of the
Sites and Buildings Sub-Committee:-
Various Parks and Recreation
Grounds – Children’s Playgrounds
In considering the question of the
maintenance of children’s playgrounds at various sites under the control of
your Department in relation to the statutory powers granted to Local Education
Authorities under the Education Act, 1944, as I have already informed your
Committee, a survey of remaining sites in the City which may possibly come
within the scope of the financial provisions of the above mentioned statute has
been put in hand and certain preliminary information is now available.
Your Committee will remember that
the reconstruction and equipment of eleven playgrounds within the central zone
of the City were approved by the Ministry of Education sometime ago and have
now been completed, payment for which is included in the Education Committee’s
current Estimates of expenditure, and the following list of sites with areas
has been compiled, representing the whole of the remaining children’s
playgrounds throughout the various parks and recreation grounds, divided into
two groups, group “A” representing those sites wholly devoted to children’s
use, and group “B” playground areas situated within a park or recreation
ground:-
Selly Oak Park is listed in group
“B” (listing 48 sites) and is recorded as having a playground area of 310 sq.
yds.
Subject to your Committee’s
approval, it is intended to submit the foregoing list to the Chief Education
Officer for the consideration of his Committee who normally prepare their
Estimates of Expenditure in October for the following financial year. It has not been possible to submit at this
stage the estimated cost of maintenance, etc. at the playgrounds enumerated,
but this work is proceeding and the necessary details will form the subject of
a further report to your meeting in October.
In the meantime, as the list is a
formidable one, I foresee that the Education Committee may not be prepared to
accept the financial responsibility for the whole or even part of the sum
likely to be involved, and perhaps you would wish me to discuss the policy
aspect with the Chief Education Officer at this stage.
The Committee’s instructions are
desired.
Various Parks and Recreation Grounds – Children’s
Playgrounds
10364
Resolved:- That the General
Manager be instructed to submit the foregoing list of children’s playgrounds in
various Parks and Recreation Grounds to the Chief Education Officer for
consideration by the Education Committee, and that the General Manager be
authorised to discuss the question with the Chief Education Officer with a view
to reporting further thereon at the next meeting of this Committee.
The General Manager submitted the following supplementary
report:-
Various Parks - Demolition of
Band Stands
By Minute No. 9997, your Committee
instructed me to proceed with the demolition of the following bandstands, which
were considered redundant to present day requirements on account either of
their inadequacy, or general structural condition:-
Selly Oak Park was one of 7 parks
listed.
The following is a list of tenders
received for carrying out the seven demolitions, which include for carting away
all material, filling in ground where necessary, and restoring surfaces to a
satisfactory condition:-
Contractor Amount
of Tender
Divis Demolition &
Building
Contractors,
168, Irving
St., 15. £126
J.J. Gallagher & Co.,
28/36
Lea Rd., 11. £150
D. McKenzie Ltd.,
8,
St. Agnes Rd., 13 £250
Mole & Wood Ltd.,
Walsall
Rd.,
Perry Barr,
22B. £617
Holloway Bros.,
63,
Blakeland St., 9. No
tender received
G. Wimpey & Co. Ltd.,
Chester
Rd.,
Castle
Bromwich ditto
Messrs. Divis Demolition &
Building Contractors, who have submitted the lowest tender, were recommended by
the Public Works Department, having carried out demolition for them in a very
satisfactory manner.
The Committee’s instructions as to
the acceptance of a tender are desired.
Various Parks - Demolition of Band Stands
10427
Resolved:- That the tender of
Divis Demolition and Building Contractors for the demolition of the various
bandstands as more particularly set out in the foregoing report, in the sum of
£126 be accepted.
Buildings
Demolition of Bandstand. Contractor: Divis Demolition & Building Contractors. Cost: £126 Parks Comm Min. date 31.7.50; No. 10427. Remarks: For demolition at 7 parks.
2nd
October 1950- BCC Parks Committee Minute
Birmingham Battery & Metal Company Ltd – Land off
Gibbins Road
The following report of the Town Clerk was submitted:-
Report
of the Town Clerk to the Parks Committee
26th
September 1950
Birmingham
Battery and Metal Co. Ltd.
Land
off Gibbins Road
Messrs. Lee & Crowder, acting
on behalf of the Birmingham Battery and Metal Co. Ltd., have written to offer
to the Corporation a piece of land adjoining the Selly Oak Park as an addition
to the Park. This company gave 12 acres
of land to the Corporation in 1919 for the park subject to the following
conditions:-
1.
Not to use the land except as a public
recreation ground or agricultural land.
2.
Not to erect any buildings on the land except
necessary caretakers buildings, pavilions and other buildings required in connection
with the public recreation ground.
3.
To fence the land.
4.
To maintain and keep open the land as a
recreation ground during the hours fixed by the Corporation.
5.
That no beer wine spirit or other alcoholic
drink be sold or permitted to be drunk on the land.
6.
That the Corporation should have power to close
the ground on not more than 7 days in any one year and to let it for flower
shows, etc.
The Company have now offered a
further area of about 2.19 acres of land adjoining the Selly Oak Park to the Corporation
on the same terms as the original gift.
The House Building Sub-Committee of the Public Works Committee had at
one time proposed to acquire this and other land for housing, but they decided
to take the matter no further when it became apparent that the Company would
offer this land as an extension of the Park.
When the offer was first made the
Company asked that the Corporation should undertake not to use its powers of requisitioning
or compulsory purchase over the Company’s adjacent sports ground and other
land. When I explained to them that I
felt that I could not properly advise the Council to give such an undertaking
they agreed not to press for such a condition, but they expressed the hope that
the Council would not exercise its requisitioning and compulsory purchase
powers in respect of their land. I
understand from the City Surveyor that it is not now intended to acquire the
land remaining in the ownership of the Company for any Corporation purpose.
I understand that your General
Manager considers that the land would form a suitable addition to the existing
Park.
I shall be glad to know whether
your Committee wish to accept the Company’s offer.
10456
Resolved:- That, subject to any necessary
approval of the City Council, the offer of the Birmingham Battery & Metal
Company Limited to present an area of approximately 2.19 acres of land
adjoining Selly Oak Park, as referred to in the foregoing report of the Town
Clerk, be accepted with grateful thanks, and that the Town Clerk be, and he is
hereby authorised to proceed with any necessary negotiations in connection
therewith.
The following report of the General Manager was submitted:-
Plays and Entertainments in the
Parks, 1950
(The following are relevant abstracts from a very long report which
contains a number of consolidated statistics:-)
(a) Plays
ii. Amateur
Response from amateur dramatic
societies was again poor this year, and leading societies were reapproached
through the Birmingham and District Theatre Guild. Six applications were received and the Guild
recommended only The New Dramatic Company’s production of “Clutterbuck” by Benn
W. Levy and suggested that the Birmingham School of Speech Training and
Dramatic Art be approached again in view of their success in the 1949 season. Eventually the school agreed to produce “The
Lady from Edinburgh” by Aimee Stuart.
These popular plays were presented
on Saturday evenings and both productions were of a high standard. Bad weather affected a number of Saturdays
this year but fair sized audiences supported these plays as can be seen from
the attached Schedule “B”.
Schedule
“B”
Audiences
and receipts at Plays given by Local Amateur Societies
Play: “Clutterbuck”
Society: The New Dramatic Company
Park: Selly Oak
Attendance: 147 658
Receipts: £8. 2. 0. £36.
19. 0.
(b) Entertainments
The programme of entertainments
was similar to that given in recent years, and the policy of encouraging local organisations
to cooperate in the venture was continued in order to foster the community and
“old village green” nature of the entertainments. In this respect new features included the Selly
Oak Carnival, organised in conjunction with the Selly Oak Carnival Committee
and a brass band contest organised in conjunction with the Birmingham & District
Counties Amateur Bands Association.
(i) Selly Oak Carnival
A Carnival was also held at Selly
Oak Park on the 10th June, and was run on the same lines as the
King’s Norton Carnival.
A very successful day was enjoyed
by nearly 16,000 people
The Carnival Committee will be
submitting their balance sheet in the near future for your Committee’s
consideration, and with a view to making the making of a grant to the Selly Oak
“Sons of Rest”.
Voluntary Chief Marshals –
Entertainments
Voluntary Chief Marshals rendered
valuable assistance at certain parks where entertainments were given during the
past season. The following schedule of
suggested payments for subsistence and travelling, etc., is submitted for the
Committee’s consideration. Payment is
estimated at the rate of £1. 1. 0. per week for attendance at evening
performances. .................
Park: Selly Oak
Name: Mr. D. Jones
Period of Service: 4 weeks (evenings)
Suggested Payment: £4. 4. 0.
Payment last year: Not acting
The Committee’s instructions are
desired.
Voluntary Chief Marshals – Entertainments in the Parks
1950
10514
Resolved:- That approval be
given to the payment to the voluntary Chief Marshal at the entertainments in the
parks during the 1950 season, as more particularly detailed in the foregoing
report, of the following amounts:-
(From a list:-)
D. Jones £4 4s 0d
2nd
October 1950 – Parks Department (Operations Card 26 A2)
Acquisition
Area 6 – By Parks Committee Minute No. 10456 of 2nd
October 1950, and City Council Minute No. 40951 of the 17th April
1951, the offer of Birmingham Battery & Metal Co. Ltd. of this piece of
land (rear of 52-62 Gibbins Road) comprising 2.19 acres (= 0.8863 hectares) was
gratefully accepted. The Public Works
Committee had at one time decided to acquire this piece of land for housing,
but decided to take the matter no further when it became apparent that the
Company would offer the land as an extension of the Park. When the Company first made the offer, they
asked that the Corporation should undertake not to use their powers of
compulsory purchase over the Company’s adjacent sports ground and other
land. Upon being informed that such an
undertaking could not properly be given the Company agreed not to press for
such a condition. The City Surveyor
informed the Town Clerk that it was not now intended to acquire the land
remaining in the ownership of the company for any Corporation purpose. The Public Works Committee approved the
planning application for use of this area as public open space on the 22nd
January 1953 (Refer letter from the Town Clerk dated 30th January
1953 and Parks Committee Minute No. 13353 of the 2nd February 1953). (Other references – Leisure Services Min. No.
10456 dated 2nd October 1950 and Parks Committee Min. No. 11705 of 1st
October 1951) (Deed No. 261 dated 8
August 1951) (This brought the total
area of the Park to 33.34 acres (= 13.4922 hectares))
Restrictive Covenants: Area 6 – No building other than those
for use in connection therein, with none erected within 105 yards of the south
east boundary. Within three months a
boundary fence to be erected and maintained along the south-west boundary,
similar to the existing park fence, with no opening to the joining land,
or access to Gibbins Road. Games allowed
on Sundays, no intoxicating liquors.
Power reserved to close for two days continuously and seven days in any
year for Flower Shows etc. for which a rental may be charged.
In a letter from the Ministry of Education dated 2nd
October 1961, it was learnt that this Foundation area of 2.19 acres had been
entered in the Register of Charities in accordance with the provisions of
Section 4 of the Charities Act 1960.
6th
November 1950 - BCC Parks Committee Minute
Alderman Denton presented the following report of the
General Purposes and Finance Sub-Committee:-
Staff
(f) Appointments
Since the last
meeting of your Committee, the appointments as set out in Appendix “E” have
been made.
Appendix “E”
Staff –
Appointments
District No. 1
Name & Age: Shaler, J. (67)
Designation: Night Wchman.
Where employed: Selly Oak Park
Date of Entering
Service: 22.7.50
Wages: 15/3
P. Nt.
(a)
Resignations
Since the last
meeting of your Committee, the appointments as set out in Appendix “F” have
been received.
Appendix “F”
Staff –
Resignations
District No. 1
Name & Age: Shaler, J. (67)
Designation: Night Wchman.
Where employed: Selly Oak Park
Date Ceased: 20.8.50.
Special
orders
Submitted in
Appendix “L” are details of special orders which have been placed since your
last meeting. Provision for the
expenditure referred to is provided for in the current year’s stimates, and the
Committee’s confirmation is requested.
Appendix “L”
Special Orders
(From a list:-)
Selly Oak Park
6 sets Goal Nets
for Wm. Shillcock, £64.
10. 0.
Football Birmingham.
Order P.5339.
Staff Appointments
10561 Resolved:-
That the various appointments made to fill existing vacancies on the
manual staff, as detailed in Appendix “E” to the foregoing report, be approved
and confirmed.
Special Orders
10563 Resolved:-
That the action of the General Manager with relation to Special Orders,
as detailed in Appendix “L” to the foregoing report, be approved and confirmed.
Alderman Alldridge submitted the following report of the
Sites and Buildings Sub-Committee:-
Children’s Playgrounds
Upon Minutes Nos. 754 and 791 of
your Committee relating to children’s playgrounds, I am setting out herein for
the information of the Committee a list of sites under their control which, in
my opinion, exist solely for the purpose of the recreation of children of
school age, and as such may be considered potentially to attract grant for
their restoration and maintenance within the provisions of the Education Act,
1944. The schedule contains recreation
grounds which are used entirely for the purposes referred to, and also other
sites where only a portion is for children’s recreation, the remainder being
utilised for normal public open space purposes.
In the latter case, naturally only the children’s portion has been taken
into consideration.
It will be remembered that in
connection with those of your Committee’s sites in central areas, the Minister
of Education has already approved the principle of grant aid both for
restoration and maintenance; the work has been carried out, and your Committee
are now in the relationship of agents for the Education Committee on this
matter.
The schedule indicates the
approximate cost of restoration of equipment to reasonable standards and
proportionate maintenance based on a complete survey carried out by your
Department. Theoretically, there is no
difference in the principle involved in dealing with these sites to that
already approved by the Minister of Education, and the possibility of the
attraction of grant should, no doubt, resolve itself into one of degree.
In accordance with the
instructions contained in your Minute, I am submitting the schedule to the
Chief Education Officer, and this is in the nature of an interim report, in
order that you can be fully acquainted with the financial aspect involved.
It will be noted that included in
the schedule is a reference to the proposed children’s recreation ground at
King’s Heath Park referred to under your Continued Minute No. 791. In this connection I have to report that the
Allotments Committee are surrendering the site for the purpose approved by your
Committee upon the 1st January next year.
A further report will be submitted
in due course.
Playgrounds forming part of
Site
Selly Oak Park:
Area: 310
Estimated: £194
Maintenance: £95
4th
December 1950 – BCC Parks Committee Minute
Alderman Alldridge submitted the following report of the
Sites and Buildings Sub-Committee:-
Various Sites – Maintenance of Playground
Equipment
I have to report that an
inspection of the under-mentioned sites was made recently with a representative
of J. & J. Greig Ltd., Stockport, Manchester, and I give below a summary of
quotations received from this firm for the necessary repairs and replacements
essential to bring the apparatus into a satisfactory condition, together with
the amounts allowed in your current financial Estimates at each site:-
(From a list:-)
Selly Oak Park:
Quotation £94
Amount in Estimates: £150
The execution of the
above-mentioned repairs will complete the work allowed in the current year’s
Estimates, and the total amount of £1,225 has been included in the forecast of
expenditure up to 31st March, mentioned in a separate report to this
Committee.
Your Committee’s authority to
place the necessary orders with J. & J. Greig Ltd. is, therefore, desired.
Various Sites – Maintenance of Playground Equipment
10680
Resolved:- That the placing of
the necessary orders with J. and J. Greig Limited for the maintenance of
playground equipment at various sites, as referred to in the foregoing report,
in the total sum of £1,225. 0. 0d., be authorised, and that the Town Clerk be
instructed to prepare and seal any necessary contract.
In the absence of Councillor Gurden, the Chairman submitted
the following report of the Recreation and Entertainments Sub-Committee:-
Entertainments in the Parks,
1951 – Suggested Programme
Average attendances at parks where
summer theatres were erected last year were as follows:-
(From a list:-)
Selly Oak Park No. of weeks 4 Average
Attendance 201
In the light of these attendances
and experience gained in previous seasons with regard to attendances,
deployment of equipment and available resources, the following suggested
programme has been drawn up.
(From a list:-)
Park: Selly Oak
Dates: -
No. of Weeks: -
No. of Weeks 1950: 4
.............
Selly Oak Park has now operated
for two seasons, and both the early and later parts of the summer have been
tried with equally disappointing results.
It is suggested that the entertainments might be withdrawn from this
park and tried again at Lightswood Park or an experiment be made with a short
season at Summerfield Park. “Punch and
Judy” tried in the Bandstand at Summerfield Park this year attracted a average
attendance of 484.
................
The Committee’s instructions are
desired.
Festival of Britain 1 951 –
Sites for Fun Fairs and Circuses
With reference to Resolution No.
540 of your Committee, the question of sites for fun fairs and circuses in
connection with the Festival of Britain, 1951, has now been investigated.
The following sites are
available:-
(a) Circuses
and full scale Fun Fairs
Hay Barn Recreation Ground –
site used for circuses on previous occasions.
(b) Full-scale
Fun Fairs
Calthorpe Park – black patch
area.
(c) Side
Shows and Light Fun Fairs (e.g. hand operated apparatus)
(From a list:-)
Selly Oak Park
- Area near the right of way used
at Selly Oak Carnival for side shows only.
It will be remembered that in
July, 1946, a report was submitted to the Parks Committee giving particulars of
damage caused by a fun fair at King’s Heath Park, and in December, 1946, in
view of the damage caused by fun fairs at various parks the Committee made a
recommendation to the City Council that fun fairs in the parks be generally
discontinued, except that the right was reserved by your Committee in respect
of any special cases. The recommendation
was approved. Since that date permission
for holding modified fun fairs has been granted only at Cotteridge Park for the
King’s Norton Carnival, Selly Oak Park for the Selly Oak Carnival, and
Handsworth Park for the Boy Scouts’ Rally and City of Birmingham Show.
The Committee’s instructions are
desired.
Entertainments in the Parks, 1951 – Suggested Programme
10726
Resolved:- That the proposed
arrangements for the entertainments Programme in the Parks, 1951, as generally
set out in the foregoing report, be approved, except that no entertainments be
held in Lightswood Park and that a four weeks season be provided in Summerfield
Park.
Festival of Britain 1951 – Sites for Fun Fairs and
Circuses
10727
Resolved:- That on the
understanding that any concessions are made, only having regard to the Festival
of Britain, 1951, the proposals contained in the foregoing report on sites
where fun fairs and circuses might be provided, as set out in the foregoing
report, be approved; further, that any decisions on questions of detail with
regard to side shows and fun fairs be left in the hands of the General Manager,
subject to report to this Committee from time to time.
4th December
1950 - Parks Department (Operations Card 26 EF5)
Layout
Repairs to playground equipment. Contractor:
J. & J. Grieg Ltd. Cost:
£94. Parks Comm. Min., date 4/12/50, No.
10680
