The History of Selly Oak Park, 1951-1960: 1951 Clippings

Ongoing research; last updated 26 October 2014

1^st January 1951 – BCC Parks Committee Minute

Alderman Alldridge submitted the following report of the Sites and Buildings Sub-Committee:-

Provision of Green Houses – Various Parks

I have to report that the following quotations have been received from Foster & Pearson Ltd., Beeston, Nottingham, for the provision and erection of new greenhouses:-

(From a list:-)

Site Dimensions Quotation

Selly Oak Pk. 50’ x 12’ £632. 7. 6.

Each of the above-mentioned glasshouses would be constructed in well seasoned Siamese Yang, glazed with elliptically cut clear horticultural glass, and the quotations include for iron staging and complete heating installation.

.............

No provision is made in your current Estimates for any of the foregoing works, but it is anticipated that these can be carried out without exceeding the total estimates.

The Committee’s instructions are desired.

Special Orders

Since the last meeting of the Sub-Committee, the following orders over £50 have been placed:-

(From a list:-)

Selly Oak Park

1 – Timber built Vane & Schofield £82. 0. 0.

Garage 15’ x 10’ Birmingham

Order D.2726

The Committee’s authority for the above mentioned expenditure is desired.

Provision of Green Houses – Various Parks

10809 Resolved:- That the quotation of Foster & Pearson Limited for the provision and erection of new green houses at Kings Norton, Pype Hayes, Selly Oak, Salford and Rookery Parks, as more particularly referred to in the foregoing report, in the total sum of £3,794. 1. 0d. be accepted and the Town Clerk be instructed to prepare and seal the necessary contract, further that the matter be reported to the City Council as an exception to standing orders.

Special Orders

10818 Resolved:- That the action of the General Manager in relation to special orders, detailed in the foregoing report, be approved and confirmed.

1^st January 1951 - Parks Department (Operations Card 26 EF5

Buildings

New Greenhouse. Contractor: Foster & Pearson Ltd. Cost: £632 7. 6d. Parks Comm Min. date 1.1.51; No. 10809.

Timber built garage. Contractor: Vane & Schofield. Cost: £82 Parks Comm Min. date 1.1.51; No. 10818.

5^th February 1951 – 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”

Appointments

District No. 1.

Name & Age: Herrick, J.B. (15)

Designation: Gdn. Boy

Where Employed: Selly Oak Park

Date Commenced: 1.1.51.

Wages: £2. 6. 7.

Police Report – Accidents and Minor Injuries

During the month of December there were 10 serious accidents treated in the parks and the patients sent to hospital. There were also 39 minor injuries dealt with and the patients sent home. Details of the serious accidents are given in Appendix “H”.

Appendix “H”

Police Report – Serious accidents

Date: 9.12.50

Park: Selly Oak Pk.

Name & Age: Norman Slater (14)

Nature of Injury: Lacerated wound over right eyebrow.

Cause of Injury: Playing football

Staff Appointments

10889 Resolved:- That the various Appointments made to fill existing vacancies on the Manual Staff, as detailed in Appendix “D” to the attached report, be approved and confirmed.

Supplementary Report of the General Manager

National Joint Council for Administrative, Professional, Technical and Clerical Services

Scheme of Conditions of Service for Miscellaneous Classes of Officers

(This is a very long and complex report – only immediately relevant items are recorded here)

............... I now beg to set hereunder certain recommendations which have been approved by the Special Sub-Committee composed of your Chairman and the Chairman of the General Committee appointed for the purpose.

The circular states that recommendations are invited from your Committee for the transfer to the appropriate Miscellaneous Division of employees in the following Classes:-

................

(1) Other classes not previously included in the Non-manual establishment but who, by the very nature of their duties, are now recommended for inclusion in the new Scheme.

.............

The recommendations under these various headings are set out in the schedule attached to this report, and it will be seen that in all cases except one, the Miscellaneous Division has been selected which provides a remuneration approximating most closely to the present Manual wage, it being understood of course, that in no case can the employee be placed in a worse position.

Generally speaking, the advantages of being placed in the Miscellaneous Division are those of status and improved benefits of sick pay and holidays. ........................ The operative date for such transfers, if approved by the Establishment Committee, will be 1^st October, 1950.

The Committee’s instructions are desired.

Proposed Establishment

Miscellaneous Classes of Officers

Post: Park-keeper
Park: Selly Oak Pk.

Present Grade: Manual Staff Grade 2

Salary or Wage Scale: £7. 5. 0. to £8. 0. 0.

Recommended Grade

Misc. Division: Misc. Div. IV.

Salary Scale: £360 – 15 - 420

National Joint Council for Administrative, Professional, Technical and Clerical Services

Scheme of Conditions of Service for Miscellaneous Classes of Officers

10895 Resolved:- That subject to the approval of the Establishment Committee, the proposals in respect of the salaries and gradings of miscellaneous classes of officers, as set out in the attached report and schedule, be approved.

Wage Rates – Manual Staff

10897 Resolved:- That approval be given to the recommendations in respect of the wage rates of manual employees of the Parks Department, as more particularly detailed in the attached report, to take effect as from 1^st October, 1950.

The following report of the General Manager was submitted:-

Estimates 1951/52

(Relevant extracts from a long report)

................... This ......... means that as compared with the current year, a reduction in expenditure of about £40,000 has had to be made under other heads of account to maintain the net expenditure at the 1/6d rate equivalent.

The most important items deleted to effect the reduction include the following:-

Fencing

Selly Oak Park Fence to Canal boundary

Purchase of Equipment

Provision has been made in the next year’s estimates for the acquisition of the under mentioned equipment. The type and make of equipment has been found most suitable in the past and as delivery in most cases is somewhat lengthy, authority is requested for the purchases to be proceeded with in order that delivery may be effected as soon as possible after 1^st April, 1951.

Selly Oak Park

1 Ransomes Certes Hand Mower 12” £35. 0. 0.

1 Ransomes Ripper Hand Mower 14” £20. 0. 0.

Estimates 1951/52

10944 Resolved:- That the statement with regard to the Committee’s estimates for 1951/52, as submitted in the foregoing report, be approved.

Purchase of Equipment

10945 Resolved:- That having regard to the circumstances set out in the foregoing report, the General Manager be authorised to place orders for the equipment referred to in order that delivery may be effected as soon as possible after 1^st April, 1951.

5^th March 1951 – BCC Parks Committee

Alderman Alldridge submitted the following report of the Sites and Buildings Sub-Committee:-

Selly Oak Park - Sanitary Provisions in Harborne Lane Lodge

I have received a request from your Trees in Streets Foreman, Mr. C.N. Selibas, who occupies the park lodge in Harborne Lane, for the provision of a w.c. in his bathroom. At the moment, this room contains a bath and a lavatory basin only, and although the installation of a w.c. set is possible this would necessitate a re-arrangement of the existing fittings, service pipes and outlets. On the other hand, the position of the soil and vent pipe would cause only a short connection to the foul water drain serving the sink and existing w.c. in the yard.

Should your Committee agree to the request, it is intended that the work should be performed by direct labour, the cost of which, together with the necessary materials, is estimated at approximately £60.

The Committee’s instructions are desired.

Selly Oak Park - Sanitary Provisions in Harborne Lane Lodge

11032 Resolved:- That authority be given for the provision of Sanitary accommodation at the Harborne Lane Lodge, Selly Oak Park, as more particularly referred to in the foregoing report, by Departmental Labour at an estimated cost for materials of £60. 0. 0d.

Councillor Gurden submitted the following report of the Recreation and Entertainments Sub-Committee:-

Selly Oak Park – Selly Oak Carnival

Your Committee by Minute No. 10,088, granted permission for the Selly Oak Carnival Committee to hold carnival activities in Selly Oak Park on the 10^th June last, and one of the conditions was “that the Association should submit a copy of the accounts in connection with the Carnival after it had 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”.

The Carnival was successfully carried out, and the Organising Committee have now submitted a copy of their audited financial statement, which is attached, and shows an excess of income over expenditure amounting to £445-5-9. The financial; statement refers to the Carnival as a whole, which lasted for a week and included the activities in Selly Oak Park which were restricted to one day, and it is difficult to say what proportion of the profits can actually be attributed to that day.

I understand that it is the Organising Committee’s wish to distribute the £445-5-9. to local charities, including the “Sons of Rest”.

In the case of the King’s Norton Carnival held at Cotteridge Park in 1949, your Committee allowed the Organising Committee to retain the net income which was to be contributed towards the provision of a Community Centre in the King’s Norton district.

If it is the decision of the Sub-Committee to permit the Selly Oak Carnival Committee to retain the whole of the profits, it may be your wish to be supplied with details of the proposed distribution for approval.

The Committee’s instructions are desired.

Selly Oak Park – Selly Oak Carnival

11054 The Committee were informed that no further information was yet available from the Selly Oak Carnival Committee as to the Charities to which they propose to distribute an amount of £445. 5. 9d.

5^th March 1951 - Parks Department (Operations Card 26 EF5)

Buildings

Provision of Sanitary Accommodation (Harborne Lane Lodge). Contractor: Direct Labour. Cost: £60 estimated Parks Comm Min. date 5.3.51; No. 11032.

2^nd April 1951 - BCC Parks Committee Minute

Alderman Denton submitted the following report of the General Purposes and Finance Sub-Committee:-

Selly Oak Park – Selly Oak Carnival

An application has been received from the Secretary of the Selly Oak Carnival for permission to stage certain carnival activities in Selly Oak Park during the week commencing the 10^th June, 1951. The object of the carnival is to raise funds for the Bournville branch of the “Sons of Rest” and for other local charities, and it will be run on the same lines as last year with children’s sports, fancy dress parade, jazz band competitions, and side-shows of a light portable nature.

The Sub-Committee will recall that in April, 1950 permission was granted for Selly Oak Park to be used in connection with last year’s Carnival, 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.

(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 your 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 your 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 your Department.

Should your Committee grant this year’s application, it is probable that you may wish these conditions to apply again this year.

The Committee’s instructions are desired.

Staff

(a) Resignations

Since the last meeting of your Committee, the resignations as set out in Appendix “F” have been received.

Appendix “F”

Staff – Resignations

District No. 1

Name & Age: Haste, W.G. (21)

Designation: Gdn. Boy

Where employed: Selly Oak Park

Date Ceased: 16.2.51

Police Report – Serious Accidents

During the month of February there were ten serious accidents dealt with in the parks, and the patients sent to hospital.

There were also 78 minor injuries attended to and the patients sent home.

Details of the serious accidents are given in Appendix “J”.

Appendix “J”

Police Report – Serious Accidents

Date: 17.2.51

Park: Selly Oak Park

Name and Age: Dereck Harold (15)

Nature of Injury: Injury to right ankle

Cause of Injury: Playing football

Selly Oak Park – Selly Oak Carnival

11116 Resolved:- That the application for permission to hold a Carnival in Selly Oak Park during the week commencing 10^th June, 1951, 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 specified enclosures therein.

(f) That permission be granted for certain refreshment stalls to be erected subject to the general supervision of your Department.

but that the application to take a collection at the Open Air Service to be held in the Park on 10^th June, 1951, be not acceded to.

Councillor Gurden submitted the following report of the Recreation and Entertainments Sub-Committee

Selly Oak Park – Selly Oak Carnival 1950

A statement of accounts in respect of the 1950 Selly Oak Carnival was submitted to your Committee at their last meeting on the 26^th February, 1951, and it will be remembered that it was reported that one of the conditions imposed upon the Selly Oak Carnival Committee when permission was granted to use Selly Oak Park on the 10^th June last was “that the Association should submit a copy of the accounts in connection with the Carnival after it had 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”.

It was pointed out that the excess of income over expenditure amounting to £445-5-9. referred to the Carnival as a whole, which lasted for a week and included the activities in Selly Oak Park, which were restricted to one day, and it was difficult to say what proportion of the profits could actually be attributed to that day.

It was also pointed out that in the case of the 1949 King’s Norton Carnival held at Cotteridge Park, your Committee allowed the Organising Committee to retain the whole of the net income which was to be contributed towards the provision of a Community Centre in the King’s Norton district.

I was instructed to request the Selly Oak Carnival Committee to submit a prepared statement, showing in detail how they proposed to distribute the amount of £455-5-9. in order that a recommendation in this matter might be made to the General Committee. I have now been informed by the Secretary of the Selly Oak Carnival Committee (1951) that the following charities have received donations:-

St. Wulstan’s Church £25

“Daughters of Rest” £10

The Blind £5

Youth Club (Stonehouse) £5

Sons of Rest” at Selly Park

and Selly Oak received 10/-

each at Christmas £49

With regard to the remainder, the Secretary states that it is hoped to extend the “Sons of Rest” building at Bournbrook Recreation Ground in the near future, and that they are waiting to hear if plans which have been submitted to your Department and are now being considered by the Chairman of the General Committee, have been accepted.

The Committee’s instructions are requested.

Selly Oak Park – Selly Oak Carnival 1950

11160 Resolved:- That the proposals of the Selly Oak Carnival Committee with regard to donations to various Charities, as more particularly set out in the foregoing report, be approved, and that the Selly Oak Carnival Committee be informed that this Committee would gratefully accept the remainder of the sum of £445. 5. 9., as a Committee, for the purposes of the extension of the “Sons of Rest” building at Bournbrook Recreation Ground, it being clearly understood that this Committee will thereby retain complete control of the building.

7^th May, 1951 – BCC Parks Committee Minute

Communications

Report to Council – 17^th April, 1951

11222 The following report to Council as submitted on 17^th April, 1951, together with resolutions passed thereon, was received:-

Birmingham Battery and Metal Company Limited – Gift of Land off Gibbins Road, adjacent to Selly Oak Park

The Birmingham Battery and Metal Co. Ltd. have offered to the Corporation about 2.19 acres 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. The land not to be used except as a public recreation ground or agricultural land.

2. No buildings to be erected on the land except necessary caretakers’ buildings, pavilions and other buildings required in connection with the public recreation ground.

3. The land to be fenced.

4. The land to be maintained and kept open as a recreation ground during the hours fixed by the Corporation.

5. No beer, wine, spirit, or other alcoholic drink be sold or permitted to be drunk on the land.

6. The Corporation to 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 above-mentioned further area of land has been offered on the same terms as the original gift.

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 it was explained to them that the Council could not properly give such an undertaking, they agreed not to press for such a condition, but expressed the hope that the Council would not exercise its requisitioning and compulsory purchase powers in respect of their land. Your Committee understand that it is not now intended to acquire the land remaining in the ownership of the Company for any Corporation purpose.

Your Committee consider that the land, which is shown pink on the plan which will be exhibited at the meeting, would form a suitable addition to the existing Park, and have gratefully accepted this generous gift of the Birmingham Battery and Metal Company Ltd. The Public Works Committee have given approval on planning grounds to the development of the land as a public recreation ground.

The following report of the General Manager was submitted:-

Selly Oak Park – Selly Oak Carnival

It will be remembered that by your Committee’s Minute No. 11,160 it was resolved that certain donations made to charities by the Selly Oak Carnival Committee be approved, and that the Parks Committee would gratefully accept the remainder of the sum of £445-5-9. as a Committee for the purpose of the extension of the “Sons of Rest” building at Bournbrook Recreation Ground, it being clearly understood that the Parks Committee would thereby retain complete control of the building.

The following were the donations approved:

St. Wulstan’s Church £25

“Daughters of Rest” £10

The Blind £5

Youth Club £5

Sons of Rest” at Selly Park

and Selly Oak received 10/-

each at Christmas £49

The above figures were given by Mrs. M.E. Lyne, the Secretary of the Selly Oak Carnival Committee in a letter dated the 8^th March, following your Committee’s request for details of how it was proposed to dispose of the £445-5-9. which was in hand. At the same time the Secretary also stated that with regard to the remainder of the money in hand, it was hoped to extend the “Sons of Rest” building at Bournbrook Recreation Ground.

With regard to the balance of monies in hand, Mrs. Lyne has now sent a copy of a minute of the 4^th January, 1951. This states:-

“It was passed unanimously that we spend £100. on the present hut of the “Sons of Rest” in new furniture, etc., £150 in the bank for the new hut, £50 for float and £100 for local charities, and of course, we have already spent £50 on the “Sons of Rest” of both Selly Oak and Selly Park.”

Mrs. Lyne states that this Minute has been carried out apart from the £100 for local charities, and that half of this amount has been donated to date.

In view of the information now given by Mrs. M.E. Lyne, your Committee will, no doubt, wish to reconsider the question of the disposal of the surplus of income over expenditure of the 1950 Selly Oak Carnival.

With regard to the 1951 Carnival, permission has been requested for the following items:-

(a) The loan of ropes and stakes.

(b) The loan of 500 chairs for the Sunday evening service on the 9^th June, 1951.

(d) To run the heats of the sports on Friday evening, the 15^th June and for the side shows to be open.

(e) To engage trick motor-cycle riders on Saturday afternoon, the 16^th June.

It is possible to arrange for the loan of ropes, stakes and chairs, but the question arises as to whether any charge should be made for these items in view of the charitable nature of the organisation.

Your Committee have already decided that no collection shall be held at the Sunday evening service, and the selling of hymn sheets would appear to be an alternative put forward in the place of a collection. This would be a contravention of Bye-law No. 23, and it is suggested that this request be not acceded to.

There would appear to be no objection to the heats of the sports being run off on Friday evening, the 15^th June. Permission has been granted for the side-shows to operate on Saturday, the 16^th June, and there would appear to be no objection to them operating on Friday evening, the 15^th June as well.

With regard to the engaging of trick motor-cycle riders, the District Superintendent reports that there would be no objection to this, provided that activities were restricted to the sports arena.

The Committee’s instructions are desired.

Selly Oak Park – Selly Oak Carnival

11338 Resolved:- That the Committee agree to the proposals of the Selly Oak Carnival Committee for the disposal of their 1950 surplus and to the outline of their proposed 1951 programme, as more particularly set out in the foregoing report.

4^th June 1951 – BCC Parks Committee Minute

The following report of the General Manager was submitted:-

Special orders

Since the last meeting of the Sites and Buildings Sub-Committee, the following orders over £50 have been placed:-

Selly Oak Park

3 loads Staffordshire bricks Aldridge Brick & £55-0-0.

for new greenhouses. Tile Co. Ltd.

Order D.3356 Aldridge

Selly Oak Park – Selly Oak Carnival

Your Committee will remember by Minute No. 11,116, it was decided that in connection with the Selly Oak Carnival no general fun-fairs be allowed, but that side-shows be permitted upon a scale approved by your Department on the understanding there is no mechanical or amplified gramophone music.

Mr. Tom Wilson, who is providing the side-shows, has now requested to be allowed to install a roundabout on this occasion. It is felt perhaps your Committee may wish to give further consideration to this matter, as fairs are being allowed in certain other parks, but the District Superintendent has pointed out that damage might be caused to the main path as well as to the turf.

The Committee’s instructions are desired.

Special orders

11396 Resolved:- That the action of the General Manager in relation to the Special Orders, as detailed in the foregoing report, be approved, but that he be instructed to report further with regard to the fencing of Handsworth Park, and the loads of bricks delivered to Selly Oak Park.

Selly Oak Park – Selly Oak Carnival

11397 Resolved:- That the application of Mr. Tom Wilson to provide a Roundabout in connection with the Selly Oak Carnival, as referred to in the foregoing report, be not granted.

30^th July 1951 – 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 “E” have been made:-

Appendix “E”

Appointments

District No. 1.

Name & Age: Riley, J.R. (16)

Designation: Gdn. Boy

Where Employed: Selly Oak Pk.

Date Commenced: 14.6.51

Wages: £2. 18. 3.

Police Report – Accidents

During the month of June there were 22 serious accidents dealt with in the parks and the patients sent to hospital.

There were also 411 minor injuries attended to and the patients sent home. Details of the serious accidents are given in Appendix “J”.

Appendix “J”

Police Report – Serious Accidents

Date: 12.6.51

Park: Selly Oak Pk.

Name & Age: Peter O’Connell (17)

Nature of Injury: Dislocated left wrist

Cause of Injury: Slipped while playing in the public shelter

Staff Appointments

11555 Resolved:- That the various appointments to fill existing vacancies on the Manual Staff, as detailed in Appendix “E” to the foregoing report, be approved and confirmed.

8th August 1951

1^st October 1951 – BCC Parks Committee Minute

Matters dealt with by the Chairman during Vacation

Preparation of Agreement with the Birmingham Battery and Metal Co. Ltd. re Land at Gibbins Road, Selly Oak.

11705 Resolved:- That the action of the Chairman in authorising the preparation and sealing of an Agreement with the Birmingham Battery and Metal Co. Ltd, in respect of land at Gibbins Road, Selly Oak, be approved and confirmed.

The following report of the General Manager was submitted:-

Fencing – Various Sites

I beg to submit the following schedule of sites where fencing is urgently required, and for which sums of money have been set aside in the current year’s Estimates of expenditure. The quotations are for 5’6” high sawn Oak open pale fencing with gates to match where required, similar to that recently erected in Small Heath Park, Kingstanding Wood Recreation Ground and Salford Sports Stadium.

(From a list of 11 sites:-)

Site: Selly Oak Pk.

Length: 170 yds

Name of Contractor:

Rudders & Payne’s, Ltd. # £184-17-6.

J.E. Turner £187-0-0.

J. Wright & Son £202 -11-8.

Amount included in current Estimates: £130

In recent years it has been the policy of your Committee in view of the limited number of firms who are prepared to erect as well as supply fencing and the repeatedly small variation in their quotations, to divide the work equally between them. On this occasion it will be seen that although prices have generally risen during the past twelve months, J. Wright & Son’s quotations are now considerably higher than those of the other two firms. It should be borne in mind, however, that timber for this type of fencing may quite possibly become scarce, and in the circumstances, you may consider it inadvisable to exclude J. Wright & Son altogether. I suggest, therefore, that this firm be given one contract only, that for Calthorpe Park, where they carried out a considerable amount of work last year. The suggested distribution of work between the two remaining contractors is indicated by # against the quotations concerned, and upon this basis the following summary shows the total amount of contract in each case:-

Rudders & Payne’s, Ltd. £1,125-17- 6.

J.E. Turner 923-17- 0.

J. Wright & Son 417-13- 4.

£2,467- 7-10

Total amount allowed in Estimates: £2,445- 0 -0.

In order to prevent any undue delay in carrying out this work, the authority of your Chairman was obtained to the placing of official orders to these amounts, and the Committee’s confirmation of this action is now desired.

Fencing – Various Sites

11666 Resolved:- That the action taken in authorising the placing of orders in connection with fencing on various sites at a total cost of £2,467. 7. 10d. as more particularly set out in the foregoing report be approved and confirmed, and that the Town Clerk be instructed to prepare and seal the necessary Contracts with Rudders & Payne Ltd, Messrs. J.E. Turner and Messrs. John Wright & Son, where appropriate, and that the item relating to Small Heath Park be reported to the City Council as an exception to Standing Orders.

1^st October 1951 - Parks Department (Operations Card 26 EF5)

Layout

170 yds. Oak open pale fencing. Contractor: Rudders & Paynes Ltd. Cost: £184 17. 6d. Parks Comm. Min., date 1/10/51, No. 11666

5^th November 1951 - BCC Parks Committee Minute

Birmingham Battery and Metal Company – Offer of Land, Gibbins Road

On Minute No. 10456, the following report of the Town Clerk was submitted:-

Report with reference to Minute No. 10456

Gift of Land adjoining Selly Oak Park

I have to report that in connection with the above Minute I have completed a Conveyance – by way of gift – from the Birmingham Battery & Metal Co. Ltd., of 2.19 acres of land adjoining Selly Oak Park, the former gift of the Gibbins’ family in 1919, the land to be used by the Corporation for the purpose of a public recreation ground or as agricultural land and to be held upon the same terms as the original gift.

This Minute can, therefore, be discharged.

11724 Resolved:- That the foregoing report of the Town Clerk be approved and Minute No. 10456 discharged.

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 “E” have been made.

Appendix “E”

Appointments

District No. 2

Name & Age: Jones, J.B. (26)

Designation: Gdn. Lab.

Where employed: Selly Oak Pk.

Date Commenced: 4.9.51

Wage: £5.5.6.

d) Improved Service Pay

I beg to submit in Appendix “H” a list of applications received and recommended for the Committee’s approval, the payments to take effect from the dates stated.

Appendix “H”

Improved Service Pay

District No. 1

Name & Age: Hughes, H.E. (46)

Designation: O/C

Where employed: Selly Oak Pk.

Date Commenced: 31.8.31

Grant Recommended: 2/-

To date from: 31.8.51

Staff Appointments

11750 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.

Improved Service Pay

11752 Resolved:- That authority be given for the payment of Improved Service Pay to the employees named in Appendix “H” to the foregoing report, at the rates and from the dates stated therein.

Councillor Gurden submitted the following report of the Recreation and Entertainments Sub-Committee:-

Plays and Entertainments in the Parks 1951

(From a long report:-)

(a) Entertainments

(vi) Carnivals

The Selly Oak Carnival was held at Selly Oak Park on 16^th June and was organised on similar lines to the King’s Norton Carnival. A very successful day was enjoyed by nearly 13,000 people and the Carnival Committee have now submitted their accounts, which are the subject of a separate report.

(xii) Selly Oak Carnival

Permission was granted for the Selly Oak Carnival Committee to hold a Carnival at Selly Oak Park on 16^th June, 1951, and one of the conditions imposed was that the Association should submit a copy of the accounts in connection with the Carnival after it had been held, with a view to sympathetic consideration being given by the Parks Committee to the making of a grant out of any profits accruing to the Association.

The Arrangements for the Carnival were successfully carried out and the Carnival Committee have now submitted a copy of the audited accounts which is attached.

It will be seen from the accounts that the activities at the park were only part of the many events organised in connection with the Carnival and that the excess of income over expenditure amounting to £646. 19. 10. is in respect of the whole of the various activities arranged.

Last year your Committee allowed the Carnival Committee to retain the whole of the net receipts and the major portion was devoted to carrying out extensions to the “Sons of Rest” building in Bournbrook Recreation Ground. This year the Carnival Committee has requested permission to make the following allocations:-

“Sons of Rest” £350

Other Charities £100

Float for 1952 £45

With regard to the “Sons of Rest” hut at Bournbrook Recreation Ground, the Carnival Committee would like to repaint this throughout, install better lighting, new furniture and windows, and install a washbasin. If permission is granted for these improvements to be carried out the Carnival Committee have requested that the position be clarified as to whether this should be the responsibility of your Department or whether they shall arrange for local contractors to do the work. They are most anxious that the “Sons of Rest” might enjoy these extra amenities during the coming winter months.

Your rigid policy in this matter has, of course, been that the donation which it is wished to make for the “Sons of Rest” purpose should be handed to your Committee for administration. This would, of course, not mean that the donors’ wishes would not be borne in mind.

The Committee’s instructions are desired.

Selly Oak Carnival

11802 Resolved:- That the proposed allocation of the surplus funds in connection with the 1951 Selly Oak Carnival, as set out in the foregoing report, be approved, and that the Carnival Committee be requested to hand to this Committee for administration, the donation of £350 which they wish to make for “Sons of Rest” purposes, on the understanding that the donors’ wishes will be borne in mind.

3^rd December 1951 - 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 “E” have been made.

Appendix “E”

Appointments

District No. 1

Name & Age: Finch, B. (15)

Designation: Gdn. Boy

Where employed: Selly Oak Pk.

Date Commenced: 1.10.51

Wage: £2.9.6.

(b) Resignations

Since the last meeting of your Committee, resignations as set out in Appendix “F” have been received.

Appendix “F”

Resignations

District No. 1

Name & Age: Manley, J. (51)

Designation: P. Police

Where employed: Selly Oak Pk.

Date Ceased: 4.9.51

Length of Service: 3 yrs. 3 mths

d) Improved Service Pay

I beg to submit in Appendix “H” a list of applications received and recommended for the Committee’s approval, the payments to take effect from the dates stated.

Appendix “H”

Improved Service Pay

District No. 1

Name & Age: Watts, A.G. (26)

Designation: Gdnr. 2^nd Cl.

Where employed: Selly Oak Pk.

Date Commenced: 17.4.48

Grant Recommended: 2/-

To date from: 1.10.51

Rates of Pay – Officers-in-Charge – Supervisory Grades

I set out in Appendix “O” for your information and confirmation, a list of Officers-in-Charge and Foremen, etc., together with their rates of pay with effect from the 1^st April last.

Appendix “O”

Rates of Pay – Officers-in-Charge – Supervisory Grades

Park: Selly Oak

Name: J.E. Hughes

Grade: O/C

Rate: £8.5.0.

Park: Selly Oak

Name: L. Charlton

Grade: Foreman

Rate: £6.15.0.

Staff Appointments

11881 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.

Improved Service Pay

11882 Resolved:- That authority be given for the payment of Improved Service Pay to the employees named in Appendix “H” to the foregoing report, at the rates and from the dates stated therein.

Rates of Pay – Officers-in-Charge – Supervisory Grades

11885 Resolved:- That approval be given to the payment of Officers-in-Charge and Foremen etc. of the rates set out in Appendix “O” to the foregoing report, with effect from 1^st April, 1951.