Ongoing research; last updated 20 September 2014
7th
January 1952 – BCC Parks Committee Minute
Alderman Denton submitted the following report of the General
Purposes and Finance Sub-Committee:-
Mobile Canteens – Tenders
As your Committee will recall,
authority was granted at your November meeting for the acceptance of tenders
for the privilege of supplying refreshments from mobile canteens in various
parks and recreation grounds under your control.
Since that meeting the following
tenders have been received in respect of the undermentioned parks and
recreation grounds.
As these tenders were the only
ones received, they have been accepted from the dates shown, and your
Committee’s confirmation of the action is desired
(From a list, details for Selly Oak Park:-)
Name &
Address of Caterer: I.M.
Houghton, “Ridgewood”, Keepers Rd., Little Aston
Amount Offered: 5/-
p. wk.
Whether previously operated in parks: Yes
Caterer Recommended: Mr.
Houghton
Operating from: 24.11.51
Mobile Canteens – Tenders
12001
Resolved:- That the tenders for
the privilege of supplying refreshments from Mobile Canteens at Senneleys and
Selly Oak Parks and Manor Road Recreation Ground, as more particularly referred
to in the foregoing report, be accepted, with effect from the dates indicated.
12002
Resolved:- That at the
appropriate time each year, the General Manager be instructed to advertise in
the Press on the lines set out in the foregoing report, inviting offers for the
privilege of supplying refreshments from Mobile Canteens, and to place a list
of applicants before the Committee.
The following report of
the General Manager was submitted:
Fencing round Report
& Control Centres in Parks and Recreation Grounds
I have to report
that the Report & Control Centres which were constructed during the War
still exist in the following parks and recreation grounds:-
Selly Oak Park is
one of 10 parks listed.
Since the end of
the War they have fallen into disuse and have been a constant source of trouble
to the Parks Staff and Police at these sites, not only from the point of view
of trying to prevent damage by children and youths, but from the fact they
(sic) they form a dangerous playground for children who continually climb over
the mounds of earth and the concrete entrances and jump down from a height of
8/10 ft. Several children have, in fact,
sustained injury in this way.
I have been
informed by the Civil Defence Officer that these Control Centres are to be
brought back into use for the purpose of training Civil Defence personnel under
the direction of the Home Office, and following a suggestion made by this
Department, he is prepared to have these sites fenced round to prevent access
from the parks and to provide an independent entrance on the street
frontage. In this way the Control
Centres can be used after dark without the necessity of the parks or recreation
grounds being kept open to the public.
In a letter dated
14th December, the Civil Defence Officer states that his Committee
will pay for the erection of a 5’6” high sawn oak open pale fence along the
frontages shown in red on the drawings which will be available at your
meeting. The Committee will be aware
that this fence is identical with the oak fences recently erected in many of
the parks and recreation grounds.
Should your
Committee approve this proposal, the Civil Defence Officer has requested that
the necessary enquiries be sent out by this Department to our regular Fencing
Contractors and that the site work be supervised by your Technical Staff, in
order to ensure that it is carried out to the satisfaction of your Committee.
The Committee’s
instructions are desired.
Fencing round Report & Control Centres in
Parks and Recreation Grounds
12068
Resolved:- That the Civil Defence
Committee be informed that this Committee concur in the proposals for the
bringing back into use of the various Defence Report and Control Centres in
Parks and Recreations Grounds, as referred to in the foregoing report, it being
understood that the Civil Defence Committee will bear the cost of the provision
of the fencing referred to and that this Committee agree to co-operate with a view
to obtaining tenders for such fencing and in the provision and erection
thereof.
4th
February 1952 – BCC Parks Committee Minute
Alderman Denton submitted the following report of the
General Purposes and Finance Sub-Committee:-
Staff
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: Riley, J.R.
(16)
Designation: Gdn. Boy.
Where employed: Selly Oak Pk.
Date Ceased: 13.12.51
Length of Service: 6 mths
3rd March
1952 – BCC Parks Committee Minute
Alderman Denton submitted the following report of the
General Purposes and Finance Sub-Committee:-
“Daughters of Rest”
In the 18th October,
1938, by Minute No. 34,126, the City Council referred to the Parks Committee a
memorial containing about 400 signatures, and asking for the provision of a
suitable room for the “Daughters of Rest” at Nechells.
The Committee had previously been
approached with similar requests on several occasions, and in view of their
commitments in regard to the “Sons of Rest”, they had not seen fit to embark
upon a policy of making available for aged women similar facilities to those
which they had provided for aged men through the medium of the “Sons of Rest”.
Upon the inauguration of the “Sons
of Rest” Movement, one of the strongest points put forward for the sympathetic
consideration of the Parks Committee was that the erection of shelters for aged
men would provide them with a place where they could retire while their women
folk were occupying themselves with affairs of housework. This point of view was submitted in the Parks
Committee’s report to the City Council on the above memorial on the 10th
January, 1939, and the Committee’s recommendation that no action be taken was
approved.
Subsequently further requests for
facilities for the “Daughters of Rest” Movement were received, and on the 6th
November, 1950, the Parks Committee considered an application from Councillor
A.E. Southam for the allocation of a site adjoining the “Sons of Rest” hut at
Bournbrook Recreation Ground for the purposes of the “Daughters of Rest”, the
cost of the building and erection being borne from other sources, but by Minute
10,550, the Parks Committee decided that they were unable to take any action in
the matter until there was some indication of a demand for facilities for the
Movement.
I have now received the following
communication from Councillor Southam, in which he is asking for a site to be
provided for this purpose in Selly Oak Park, and he has subsequently forwarded
to me plans and detailed estimates including the type of structure which the
Local Committee have in mind erecting.
(COPY) The Bank House,
The
Green,
Bournville,
Birmingham,
30.
18th
January, 1952.
ES/DR.S/1.
The General Manager,
City of B’ham. Parks Dept.
Dear Sir,
“Daughters
of Rest” – Selly Oak
I am writing to ask if you would
kindly ask the Committee whether they would consider granting a site for a hut
in the Selly Oak Park for the use of the “Daughters of Rest”. I find that there is as much need for a hut
for the old ladies of Selly Oak as for the old men, and the number of women at
present interested in this scheme is over 60, and they are already paying a
small annual subscription.
The hut would not be a liability
on the rates, it would be put up, furnished, heated and cleaned by private
subscription, and plans would be submitted for your acceptance. The annual upkeep and maintenance would be
borne by a Committee which is now working on the project.
I cannot put the need too highly
to you and trust that you can let me know your decision as soon as possible.
Yours
faithfully,
(sd.) E.A.
Southam.
The Selly Oak “Daughters of Rest”
is non-political, non-sectarian, and we are hoping that, if you give the
necessary permission, sufficient funds will be made available to enable us to
commence building early this year.
(sd.) E.S.
I understand that considerable
efforts have been made in the locality already, on behalf of the “Daughters of
Rest”, a number of functions of various types having been provided for their
enjoyment.
It will be recollected that only recently,
as a result of locally raised funds, an extension was provided to the “Sons of
Rest” Pavilion at Bournbrook Recreation Ground in Selly Oak, and it will be
seen that Councillor Southam states that should your Committee see their way to
allocate a site in Selly Oak Park, no charge whatsoever would devolve upon the
rates in respect of the cost of the structure, the cost of annual maintenance or
any of the other usual services.
If in view of the absence of any
financial commitment in the matter, your Committee should see fit to reverse
their original policy in providing facilities for this particular group of aged
people, I think that a suitable site could be selected in Selly Oak Park,
though of course, it would have been extremely difficult in Bournbrrok
Recreation Ground which formed the subject of the original application.
The Committee’s instructions are
desired.
“Daughters of Rest”
12223
Resolved:- That, having regard
to all the circumstances set out in the foregoing report, no action be taken
with regard to the provision of facilities for the “Daughters of Rest” in Selly
Oak Park.
3rd March
1952 – Parks Department (Operations Card 26 D1)
On the 18th January 1952 Councillor A.E. Southam
submitted a request that a site be made available in Selly Oak Park for the
erection of a hut for the use of the “Daughters of Rest”. By Minute No. 12223 of 3rd March
1952, it was decided that no action be taken with regard to this matter.
27th March
1952 - Parks Department (Operations Card 26 D1)
Repairs to the Canal bridge at Harborne Lane Entrance were
carried out by the Docks and Inland Waterways Executive in March 1952 (Refer
letter dated 27th March 1952 from Docks and Inland Waterways
Executive).
2nd April
1952 – 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 8th June, 1952. The
object of the carnival is to raise funds for the Bournbrook “Sons of Rest” and
for other local charities, and it will be run on the same lines as in previous
years with children’s sports, fancy dress parades, jazz band competitions, and
side-shows of a light portable nature. Permission is also requested for a church
service to take place in the Park on Sunday, the 8th June.
The
Sub-Committee will recall that in previous years permission was granted for
Selly Oak Park to be used in connection with the Carnival, subject to the
following conditions:-
(a)
That
only part or parts of the park are to be used for a Carnival.
(b)
That
no admission is to be charged for entrance to the park, but only to certain
specified enclosures therein.
(c)
That
the Carnival events in the Park are to be under the general supervision of your
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
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
Rates
of Pay – Officers-in-Charge – Supervisory Grades
I set out in Appendix “O” a list
of Officers-in-Charge and Foremen, together with certain recommended wage
increases. These wage increases are all
within the existing Grades.
The Committee’s approval to these
increases is desired.
Appendix
“O”
Rates
of Pay – Officers-in-Charge – Supervisory Grades
Park: Selly Oak Pk.
Name: J. E. Hughes
Grade: O/C
Present Rate: £8. 12. 4.
New Rate: £8. 17. 4.
Park: Selly Oak Pk.
Name: L. Charlton
Grade: Foreman
Present Rate: £7. 2. 4.
New Rate: £7. 4. 10.
Selly Oak Park – Selly Oak Carnival
12338
Resolved:- That the application
for permission to hold a Carnival in Selly Oak Park during the week commencing
8th June, 1952, be granted, subject to the conditions more
particularly set out in the foregoing report.
Rates of Pay – Officers-in-Charge – Supervisory Grades
12352
Resolved:- That the wage
increases to Officers-in-Charge and foremen, as more particularly set out in
Appendix “O” to the foregoing report, be approved.
7th July
1952 – BCC Parks Committee Minute
Councillor Horton submitted the following report of the
General Purposes and Finance Sub-Committee:-
Staff
Resignations
Since the last meeting of your
Committee, the resignations as set out in Appendix “F” have been received.
Appendix
“F”
Resignations
District No. 1.
Name & Age: Dunham, C. (41)
Designation: P. Police
Where Employed: Selly Oak Pk.
Date Ceased: 23.5.52
Length of Service: 2yr. 11 mths.
28th
July1952 – BCC Parks Committee Minute
Councillor Horton submitted the following report of the
General Purposes and Finance Sub-Committee:-
Staff
Manual Staff – Establishment
I set out in Appendix “K” the
proposed establishment for your Department’s Manual Staff.
Appendix
“K”
Proposed
Establishment
Site: Selly Oak Park
O/C: 1
Foreman: 1
Groundsman/Gardeners: 2
Labourers: 2
Gdn Boys: 2
Parks Police: 1
Police Report
Serious
Accidents
During the month of June there
were 40 serious accidents dealt with in the parks and the patients sent to
hospital. There were also 425 minor
injuries treated and the patients sent home.
Details of serious accidents are given in Appendix “L”
Appendix
“L”
Police
Report - Serious Accidents
Date: 25.5.52
Park: Selly Oak Pk.
Name & Age: Keith Watson (5)
Nature of Injury: Injury to head
Cause of Injury: Fell from gymnasium bars
Date: 14.6.52
Park: Selly Oak Pk.
Name & Age: Tony Kensey (8)
Nature of Injury: Fractured base of skull and
lower jaw
Cause of Injury: Crushed by lorry at park
entrance (Selly Oak Carnival)
Manual Staff – Establishment
12777
Resolved:- That the proposed
establishment for the manual staff, as more particularly set out in Appendix
“K” to the foregoing report, be approved, it being understood that that it may
be necessary for such establishment to be amended from time to time in the
light of experience.
The following report of the General Manager was submitted:-
“Daughters of Rest”
On the 18th October,
1938, by Minute No. 34,126, the City Council referred to the Parks Committee a
memorial containing about 400 signatures, and asking for the provision of a
suitable room for the “Daughters of Rest” at Nechells.
The Committee had previously been
approached with similar requests on several occasions, and in view of their
commitments in regard to the “Sons of Rest”, they had not seen fit to embark
upon a policy of making available for aged women similar facilities to those
which they had provided for aged men through the medium of the “Sons of Rest”.
Upon the inauguration of the “Sons
of Rest” Movement, one of the strongest points put forward for the sympathetic
consideration of the Parks Committee was that the erection of shelters for aged
men would provide them with a place where they could retire while their women
folk were occupying themselves with affairs of housework. This point of view was submitted in the Parks
Committee’s report to the City Council on the above memorial on the 10th
January, 1939, and the Committee’s recommendation that no action be taken was
approved.
Subsequently, further requests for
facilities for the “Daughters of Rest” Movement were received, and on the 6th
November, 1950, the Parks Committee considered an application from Councillor
A.E. Southam for the allocation of a site adjoining the “Sons of Rest” hut at
Bournbrook Recreation Ground for the purposes of the “Daughters of Rest”, the
cost of the building and erection being borne from other sources, but by Minute
No. 10,550, the Parks Committee decided that they were unable to take any
action in the matter until there was some indication of the demand for
facilities for the Movement.
On the 3rd March, 1952,
the Parks Committee received a further communication from Councillor Southam,
asking for the provision of as site in Selly Oak Park, for the purposes of the
“Daughters of Rest” Movement, and stating that the number of women interested
in the scheme at that time was over 60, but it was decided by the Parks
Committee by Minute No. 12223 that no action be taken in the matter.
Upon the instruction of your
Chairman, I now have to report that a representative of the Executive Committee
of the Selly Oak “Daughters of Rest”, Mrs. S. Banner of 17, Heeley Road, Selly
Oak, has submitted a Memorial supported by 89 signatures to her local
Councillor Mrs. F. Hammond, with a request that the City Council should be
petitioned with a view to the concession previously asked for being
granted. The petition will lie on the
table at your meeting, the main points put forward being – that a properly
organised society already exists, that sufficient funds are forthcoming from a
charitable source for the erection of a suitable building and are likely to be
forthcoming for its continued maintenance, equipment, etc., and that the
Council should consider the principle of permitting such facilities for elderly
women as well as for elderly men.
Your Chairman having been informed
that such a petition was to be presented, instructed me to arrange a conference
between Mrs. Banner, Councillor Mrs. Hammond and himself in my office, with a
view to reinvestigating the situation in the light of the new turn of
events. Mrs. Banner was unfortunately
unable to be present, but Councillor Mrs. Hammond attended and confirmed that
such an organisation as was referred to in the Memorial did exist upon the
scale indicated, that it was a flourishing concern and furnished with funds
adequate to fulfil without cost to the rates the requirements contained in the
petition.
At the request of the Chairman, Councillor
Mrs. Hammond agreed to confer further with the organisation before presenting
the petition to the Council, pending the further consideration of the matter by
your Committee at this meeting.
Your Chairman will, no doubt, have
further observations to make.
“Daughters of Rest”
The Chairman explained the circumstances in which this
matter has now been brought before the Committee and stated that the Executive
Committee of the Selly Oak “Daughters of Rest” had expressed their willingness
for him to bring the matter forward as a petition to the Parks Committee
instead of it being submitted to the Council as a Memorial. He said that if the Committee were not
prepared to deal with the matter it could go forward to the Council as a
Memorial in the ordinary way.
Alderman Alldridge considered that this was rather a
dangerous procedure, as if it were considered by the Committee at this meeting
and subsequently submitted to the City Council as a Memorial, the Memorialists
would know the attitude of the Committee.
He felt that any Memorial should be referred to this Committee by the
City Council in a completely unbiased form.
Councillor Horton expressed the view that sooner or later
the Parks Committee would have to permit “Daughters of Rest” to have similar
facilities in the parks to the “Sons of Rest”.
Alderman Denton said that he was not against the proposition
in principle. He felt, however, that the
provision of facilities for these two organisations should not be the
responsibility of the Parks Committee but of the City Council as a whole, and
if it were authorised by the City Council it should be paid for out of special
funds and not from the ordinary resources of the Parks Committee. He further pointed out that if the facilities
were granted to the “Sons and Daughters of Rest”, then it would be logical for
the Committee to consider the claims of such organisations as “Darby and Joan”
Clubs, the “Old Age Pensioners’ Associations”, etc.
Alderman Mrs. Hyde referred to the contention that some
people were against the “Daughters of Rest” because old women were able
usefully to occupy their time more fully than old men. She said that she did not agree with this
contention, as many women were free in the afternoons, but were adequately
catered for by Church Meetings, Mothers’ Unions, Women’s Guilds, etc. She said that in her own district there were
probably 11 organisations for women which were not open to men.
The Deputy Town Clerk attended the meeting and expressed the
view that if the Selly Oak “Daughters of Rest” were given the use of a site in
a park and and erected a building thereon at their own expense, such building
would then become the property of the Parks Committee. Either party could then maintain the building
by mutual arrangement. He stated that it
was very doubtful whether the Parks Committee had, in fact, any power to grant
a lease for this purpose. He further
thought it would be unwise for the Committee to grant facilities to the
“Daughters of Rest” such as were now envisaged, without the prior approval of
the City Council.
12816
Resolved:- That the Town Clerk
be requested to prepare jointly with the General Manager, a report on the
question of the allocation of sites in public open spaces for both “Sons of
Rest” and “Daughters of Rest” as referred to in the foregoing report, including
the legal implications involved, and the effect of the Committee’s Delegations
in relation thereto.
Various Appointments – Parks Staff
Councillor Horton reported that consequent on the retirement
of Mr. W.V. Price, Park Superintendent at Lightwoods Park, due to take place on
7th August, it was necessary to consider certain re-adjustments of staff. He had accordingly, in company with the
General Manager, interviewed various applicants who had responded to an
advertisement which had been circulated throughout the Department. The applicants were all of a high standard
and the selection of the best men for the different posts had been no easy
matter. However, after careful
consideration, it was proposed that the appointments be offered as follows
(subject, as necessary, to the approval of the Establishments
Committee):-
J.E. Hughes – Park Keeper, Selly Oak Park – to be promoted Park
Superintendent, Lightwoods Park, at a salary in accordance with Miscellaneous
Division Grade V.
D.N.H. Hicken – Park Keeper, Calthorpe Park – to be promoted Park Keeper, Selly Oak Park, at a wage within the Manual Grades of £8. 2s. 10d. to £9. 2s. 10d. per week.
J. Middleton – General Foreman, Handsworth Park – to be promoted Park Keeper, Calthorpe Park, at a wage within the Manual Grades of £8. 2s. 10d. to £9. 2s. 10d. per week.
12849 Resolved:-
That the proposal to offer the various appointments on the lines set out
above, be approved and confirmed, and that the General Manager be instructed to
report as to the final arrangements which may be made in connection therewith,
at the next meeting.
6th
October 1952 – BCC Parks Committee Minute
The following report of the General Manager was submitted:-
Various Appointments – Parks
Staff
At the last meeting of your
Committee, it was reported that consequent upon the retirement of Mr. W.V.
Price, Park Superintendent at Lightwoods Park, due to take place on 7th August,
it had been necessary to consider certain re-adjustments of the staff. Various applicants had been interviewed, and
it was proposed to make the following appointments:-
Mr. J.E. Hughes, Park Keeper at Selly Oak Park, to be promoted to Park
Superintendent at Lightwoods Park.
Mr. D.N.H. Hicken, Park Keeper at Calthorpe Park, to be promoted to
Park Keeper, Selly Oak Park.
Mr. J. Middleton, General Foreman at Handsworth Park, to be promoted to
Park Keeper at Calthorpe Park.
Your Committee approved these appointments, but before they were put
into effect, a communication was received from Mr. J.E. Hughes, stating that
after further inspection of the living accommodation at Lightwoods Park, he
wished to withdraw his application and remain at Selly Oak Park. The attention of all the candidates had
previously been drawn before the appointments to the type of accommodation
available. The matter was referred to
the Chairman of the General Purposes and Finance Sub-Committee, who granted the
request and authorised the appointment of the next most suitable applicant, Mr.
D.N.H. Hicken, as Park Superintendent at Lightwoods Park
.........................
14th
October 1952 - Parks Department (Operations Card 26 D1)
On the 14th October 1952, Councillor Mrs. Hammond
presented a memorial to the City Council from members of the Selly Oak
“Daughters of Rest” asking for the allocation of a suitable site in Selly Oak
Park upon which the organization might erect a permanent shelter, the cost of
which would be borne from private resources.
3rd
November 1952 – BCC Parks Committee Minute
Councillor Horton submitted the following report of the
General Purposes and Finance Sub-Committee:-
Staff
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: Billingham, J. (43)
Designation: P. Police
Where Employed: Selly Oak Pk.
Date Commenced: 20.7.52
Wages: £6. 5. 6.
Name & Age: Burgis, H. (50)
Designation: P. Police
Where Employed: Selly Oak Pk.
Date Commenced: 29.7.52
Wages: £6. 5. 6.
Resignations
Since the last meeting of your
Committee, the resignations as set out in Appendix “F” have been received.
Appendix
“F”
Resignations
District No. 1.
Name & Age: Billingham, J. (43)
Designation: P. Police
Where Employed: Selly Oak Pk.
Date Ceased: 25.7.52
Length of Service: -
Staff - Appointments
13020
Resolved:- That the various
appointments made to fill existing vacancies, as detailed in Appendix “E” to
the foregoing report, be approved and confirmed.
Alderman Mrs. Hyde submitted the following report of the
Recreation and Entertainments Sub-Committee:-
Plays and Entertainments in the
Parks 1952
(Relevant extracts from a long report:-)
Carnivals
The Selly Oak Carnival was held at
Selly Oak Park on Saturday, 14th June, 1952, and was organised on
similar lines to the King’s Norton Carnival.
It is estimated that approximately 18,000 people enjoyed the attractions
provided, and a comprehensive report will be submitted upon receipt of the
accounts from the Carnival Committee.
The following supplementary report of the General Manager
was submitted:-
3rd November, 1952
3rd November, 1952
PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL
PARKS
COMMITTEE
SUPPLEMENTARY
REPORT OF THE GENERAL MANAGER
“Sons of Rest” and “Daughters
of Rest”
As a result of an application
received from the Selly Oak “Daughters of Rest” for site facilities for a
shelter in Selly Oak Park upon a similar basis to those provided elsewhere for
the “Sons of Rest” Movement, it will be remembered that considerable discussion
took place at your last meeting, and I set out hereunder an extract from your
Minutes which is relevant thereto:-
“On Minute No. 12,816, the
following report of the Town Clerk was submitted:-
(See
interleaved No. 37)
Discussion took place on this matter,
during which it was pointed out that if the Committee acceded to the granting
of facilities for “Daughters of Rest” in the parks, similar applications might
be expected from the Old Age Pensions Association and the Darby and Joan Clubs,
etc.
Councillor Horton suggested that
the “Daughters of Rest” had the same rights as the “Sons of Rest” as far as having
the use of sites in the City Parks was concerned. He said the Committee had the land available
and pointed out that the application of the Selly Oak “Daughters of Rest” which
had given rise to the preparation of this report of the Town Clerk would
involve no financial commitments to the Committee if it were acceded to.
Councillor Mrs. Tomlinson,
speaking as a member of the Welfare Committee, said that she had always felt
that the Welfare Committee should accept responsibility for the upkeep of “Sons
of Rest” premises.
The General Manager reported that
he had had a word with the Deputy Town Clerk pointing out that the Committee
reserved certain areas in parks for very small children, and had asked whether
such a reservation might not be considered just as illegal as the reservation
of areas for the “Sons of Rest”. The
General Manager suggested that if it was the desire of the Committee to allow
facilities for the “Daughters of Rest” and possibly other organisations in the
parks, a clause might be included in the next Corporation Bill to be submitted
to Parliament to promote such items.
12888 Resolved:-
That consideration of the question of allowing “Daughters of Rest” to
have the use of sites in the City Parks be deferred until the next meeting and
that, in the meantime, the General Manager be instructed to confer with the
Town Clerk and the Chief Welfare Officer thereon.”
In accordance with the terms of
the Resolution quoted, I have to report that a conference took place in the
Deputy Town Clerk’s office on the 31st ultimo between the Deputy
Town Clerk, the Chief Welfare Officer and myself.
The Town Clerk’s report dated the
6th October, 1952, referred to is attached to your Agenda for this
meeting.
(Compiler’s note – this report is reproduced below.)
As a result of the conference, the
following joint opinions of the three officers involved emerged:-
(1). That so
long as existing or future “Sons of Rest” shelters are regarded purely as
shelters upon public open spaces under the control of your Committee, provided
in conformity with the delegations which your Committee have received from the
City Council and conferring no exclusive right upon any particular member or
members of the public, then the provision of such shelters cannot be considered
illegal. The attached report of the Town
Clerk upon this point is clear, and indeed your Committee have always recognised
that access could not legally be denied at any time to the general public, such
recognition being confirmed by Minute Nos. 8731 of the 28th October,
1929 and 8898 of the 3rd March, 1930.
(2). Such conditions regarding public access being
legally imposed upon your Committee, it is obvious that neither by any action
on your part not by inference is it desirable that public attention should be
focused upon the fact that undue favour is being shown to any particular
section of society whether young or aged, male or female.
(3). From the Committee’s point of view, therefore,
the question of the extension of the policy of providing shelters designed and
equipped in such a manner as to lend themselves particularly convenient to a
club type of user whether in favour of the “Sons of Rest”, the “Daughters of
Rest”, or indeed any particular cause whatsoever, can only resolve itself into
a matter of Committee policy, having due regard to their obligations as
custodians of the rights which the public are entitled to enjoy. In this connection, you may feel that, having
provided in the sites under your control facilities for very young children,
for older children for the enjoyment of sports and recreation by the Youth
Movement and middle aged, that there is justification for the special
consideration being shown generally to the older generation. Therefore, subject to your permanent control
and the limitations previously mentioned, your Committee may fell that there
can be little public reaction against providing shelters of a type particularly
attractive to the age group under review, regardless of sex, politics or
religious denomination.
(4). In regard to the question of financial
assistance for the service now being provided and for such services as may be
contemplated in the future, the limitations referred to above are of paramount
importance. That is to say, that it is
questionable if your Committee can associate itself with either the “Sons of
Rest” or “Daughters of Rest” Movement in any other way, except as an amenity
incidental to the control of your parks and recreation grounds. If this ruling is accepted, it will be
obvious that it would probably be illegal to obtain from other public funds
financial assistance for purposes which it is outside the powers of your
Committee to foster.
The conference which took place
upon officer level considered this aspect fully, with particular reference to
Section 31 of the National Assistance Act, 1948, which reads as follows:-
“Contribution to Old Peoples’
Organisations”
A Local Authority may make
contributions to the funds of any voluntary organisations whose activities
consist in or include the provision of recreation or meals for old people.”
For the reasons stated so far in
this report, it is therefore doubtful if your Committee could associate itself
with a definite welfare project as such in any way, and it will be seen from
the above section of the National Assistance Act that the Welfare Committee
themselves are only empowered to make direct contributions to the organisations
concerned, if they deem that such a course is reasonable. It would, therefore, be impossible for that
Committee to reimburse the amount allowed for in your annual Estimates for any
“Sons of Rest” or “Daughters of Rest” Movement.
(5). In conclusion, it appears that unless further
legislation can be made affective in so far as the Movement affects any of the
sites under your control, it cannot proceed upon any more definite lines than
those existing at the present time.
In this connection, the following Memorial submitted to the
City Council on 14th October, 1952 was submitted:-
“Councillor Mrs. Hammond presented
a memorial from a number of members of the Selly Oak “Daughters of Rest” asking
for the allocation of a suitable site in Selly Oak Park upon which the
organisation may provide a permanent shelter for the use of their members.
It was moved by Councillor Mrs.
Hammond, seconded, and
41,894 RESOLVED:-
That the memorial be received and referred to the Parks Committee.”
Copy.
My Lord Mayor,
We the undersigned members of the
Selly Oak “Daughters of Rest” do pray and petition the Council of the City of
Birmingham as follows:-
1.
That it may be made known to the Council that
there exists an organisation known as the Selly Oak “Daughters of Rest”, being
properly constituted with a responsible organising Committee with appropriate
officers and possessing a membership of 115 elderly women.
2.
That the organisation has been formed to provide
comfort and companionship to its members in the form of facilities already
provided by the Council for elderly men through the medium of the “Sons of
Rest” movement.
3.
That the organisation having no permanent
shelter, but having received from charitable and public spirited sources
sufficient funds amply to furnish, equip and annually maintain, without rate
aid, such facility, do petition for a suitable site to be allocated to them in
Selly Oak Park in such a position and in such a manner as the Council may
decide.
4.
That in submitting this petition the hope is
expressed that the Ladies and Gentlemen of the Council may appreciate the
commensurate need of this petition by the comfort and companionship already so
generously provided by the Council for a similar age group of the opposite sex.
Here follow 89 signatures.
The Committee also considered the following report of the
Town Clerk which had previously been submitted at the meeting on 6th
October, 1952:-
The Council
House,
BIRMINGHAM,
1.
REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK TO THE
PARKS COMMITTEE
6th
October, 1952
Minute
No. 12816
“Sons
of Rest” – “Daughters of Rest”
--------------------------------------------------
By the above Minute, I was
requested to prepare jointly with the General Manager a report on the question
of the allocation of sites in Parks for both ”Sons of Rest” and “Daughters of
Rest”, and as to the effect of the Committee’s delegations in relation thereto.
The position of public open spaces
owned by a local authority is, in law, that after a park has been thrown open,
the public acquire certain rights over it, although those rights are not capable
of precise definition. The practical effect
of this principle is that a local authority may only grant the exclusive use of
a park or a part thereof for a purpose which is specifically authorised by
Statute.
A local authority may set aside
portions of a park for the purpose of games, but the public may only be
excluded from those parks while they are actually in use for games; they may
provide reading rooms, pavilions, etc, and may charge for admission thereto
(subject to a limitation in the case of reading rooms that such a charge may
not be made on more than 12 days in one year nor more than 4 consecutive days);
they may provide refreshment rooms and they may let them to any persons for a
term not exceeding three years; and they may enclose part of the park for the
provision of entertainments and may let such parts to any person.
All these powers are without
prejudice to any covenant or condition contained in any gift or lease of the
land to the authority and restrictions is such gift or lease must be observed.
In the case of the “Daughters of
Rest” whose request gave rise to the Committee’s resolution, I understand the
proposal to be that the organisation should arrange and pay for the erection of
an appropriate building upon a piece of land in one of the public parks, and
that in return the Parks Committee should grant the “Daughters of Rest” the
exclusive use of both land and building, whether by leasing the land to them or
by simply excluding other persons. If the
building were to be erected in a park it would, unless it were of a light and
moveable type, become annexed to the land and would belong to the Corporation. From my earlier observations it will readily be
appreciated that the Corporation have no power to grant a lease or tenancy of
any part of a public park, and any attempt to do so would be void and of no
effect. Neither would the Corporation
have the right to grant the exclusive use of any part of the park to any
particular group of persons, except for the limited and specific purposes previously
mentioned, and, as before, any attempt to do so would be void and could be
restrained a by a ratepayer’ action.
The position with regard to the
“Sons of Rest” pavilion is, as I understand it, that the Corporation have
allowed to be erected buildings in the nature of shelters under their statutory
powers, and have encouraged members of the organisation known as the “Sons of
Rest” to use these facilities. At the
same time, however, the Corporation have not themselves taken any steps to
exclude other members of the public and when asked to prevent the public from
entering (as they have been from time to time), the Corporation have been
careful to point out that the buildings are, strictly, for the benefit of the
public at large and that the Corporation cannot grant exclusive use to a
particular section of the Community.
So far as concerns the Committee’s
delegations, all the enactments concerning public parks and pleasure-grounds
are delegated to the Parks Committee but, of course, since the Council itself
is not empowered to grant the exclusive use of any part of a park for the
purpose suggested, there is no such power which can be delegated. If it were decided that, notwithstanding the
legal position, a part of a park should be set aside for use by the “Sons” or
“Daughters of Rest” it would be necessary to comply with the delegation No. 2,
to observe Council Minute No. 25433 which is as follows:-
“That it be an instruction to the
Parks Committee that proposals which in any way restrict the rights and
liberties of the community shall be submitted, with full details, to each of
the local Councillors representing the area affected by such proposals at least
one month before the same are finally approved by the Parks Committee.”
Doubtless the aim of the above
statutory and other provisions relating to parks and open spaces is to ensure
that as far as possible the land is left open for the use of the public at
large, and to deter a local authority from restricting the public in their full
use of a park.
Bearing this in mind the Committee
may wish to consider whether the granting of facilities exclusive to the
“Daughters of Rest” will create a further precedent which will make it
increasingly difficult to refuse similar requests by other bodies which may perhaps
have equally strong qualifications for similar facilities.
There is also a further point as
to whether the grant of facilities in parks exclusive to old people is somewhat
outside the duties of your Committee. It
will be known that the Welfare Committee under the national Assistance Act 1948
have a duty to provide residential accommodation for persons who by reason of
age or infirmity are in need of care and attention, further that Committee have
power to make contributions to the funds of voluntary organisations whose
activities include the provision of recreation or meals for old people.
It is quite certain that your
Committee would wish to deal sympathetically with the need for recreational
facilities for old ladies, and I would suggest in the first instance that
representatives of your Committee confer with representatives of the Welfare
Committee.
As the Welfare Committee are so
closely concerned with the welfare of old people and have fairly wide powers in
relation thereto such a Conference might result in a mutually satisfactory
solution to the problem.
The General Manager has been good
enough to read through a draft of this report, and to say that he concurs with
its contents.
The Deputy Town Clerk attended the meeting and emphasised
that, in granting facilities to the “Sons of Rest” in the Parks, the Committee
did not thereby grant the exclusive use of shelters to the “Sons of Rest”. They were only empowered legally to provide
shelters in the Parks for the use of the public in general. He emphasised that, since 1929, the “Sons of
Rest” had always been made aware that the public could not be excluded from
their shelters and were at liberty to enter if they so wished. He said that if the Committee continued to
grant facilities to the “Sons of Rest”, on the same lines as hitherto, they
would not be contravening the law. It
was now for the Committee to decide whether they were prepared to accept the
principle of providing shelters for the “Daughters of Rest” in the Parks, and
also to grant further facilities to the “Sons of Rest”.
Alderman Mrs. Hyde enquired whether there was any reason why
the “Daughters of Rest” should not have joint use of shelters with the “Sons of
Rest”. Councillor Gurden said that a
similar suggestion had been made by the public and he felt that it would be
rather incongruous for one building to be erected for the “Sons of Rest” and
another, possibly adjacent, for the “Daughters of Rest”.
Alderman Denton said it seemed to be generally accepted that
the “Sons of Rest” would not admit anyone to their shelters unless they were in
possession of a membership card or medallion.
Councillor Horton suggested that, as a matter of principle, and subject
to the general legal position, the “Daughters of Rest” had the same rights as
the “Sons of Rest”. Accepting the fact
that the public had the right to enter shelters preserved for old people, the
public nevertheless appeared to offer courtesy to these old people by not
demanding entry to the shelters. He
himself had been to one or two of the “Sons of Rest” shelters, and his right of
entry had never been challenged by the members.
His view was that the “Daughters of Rest” were entitled to the same
facilities as the “Sons of Rest”.
Alderman Alldridge said that his view had always been that
the “Sons of Rest” in the Parks were illegal, but that the Committee had been
continuing an accepted and established practice from year to year, in spite of
this. He was of opinion that no action should be taken for the extension of
facilities either to the “Sons” or “Daughters of Rest”. He thought that notices should be displayed
outside the shelters to the effect that the public had the right of entry
thereto and setting out the legal position in respect thereof. He went on to ask whether the Parks Committee
would be acting legally in building shelters for the “Sons of Rest” with a
notice outside indicating that they were “Sons of Rest” shelters.
The Deputy Town Clerk explained that the Committee were
acting perfectly legally in providing a shelter for the use of the general
public but that if a notice were displayed excluding the public from the
building, this would be illegal.
The Chairman pointed out that the Committee had agreed, in
principle, to provide four more shelters for “Sons of Rest” out of the A,W.
Keep Bequest.
Alderman Mrs. Hyde reminded the Committee that, on previous
occasions, discussions had taken place as to the necessity for the provision of
facilities for “Daughters of Rest”, and that some members of the Committee felt
very strongly that such facilities were not needed. She then went on to enumerate the
organisations at which old women could attend, and said that there were no
similar facilities for old men. An old
man when he retired did not want to be in the house all day and in the way,
while his wife was doing the housework.
It was highly desirable for him to have a place at which he could meet
old men of the same age. She was confident that, when requests were originally
received from the “Daughters of Rest” for facilities in the Parks, the
Committee had come to the conclusion that there was no need for such
facilities. Councillor Worthers said
that the position appeared to be that the Committee were quite legally
providing facilities for the “Sons of Rest” in the Parks, but it appeared that
present facilities were not sufficient to cater for requirements. He asked what the long term policy of the
Committee would be, and pointed out that restrictions were likely to be imposed
from the Town Planning aspect. He then
went on to point out that, if facilities were granted to “Daughters of Rest”,
then applications would most certainly be received from Darby and Joan Clubs,
the British Legion, Community Associations and other similar organisations who
were already known to be watching the situation very carefully. He felt that the consideration of the present
application of the “Daughters of Rest” for permission to erect a shelter at
Selly Oak Park was not the immediate problem, but that the question of long
term policy and how far the Committee was prepared to go in granting facilities
for any one section of the public who might require them, was the most serious
one.
Councillor Gurden suggested that the decision of the
Committee should be that the shelters in the various Parks were there for the
use of the “Sons of Rest” and any other similar bodies and that the buildings
might be altered to provide accommodation for all such bodies.
Alderman Alldridge suggested that the answer of the
Committee with regard to the Memorial now received should be that all buildings
erected in Parks are open to the general public and therefore the Committee
cannot accept the Memorial. Councillor
Horton, seconded by Councillor Mrs. Tomlinson, proposed that facilities be
granted to the “Daughters of Rest” at Selly Oak Park as requested in the
Memorial. This proposition was declared
lost by 6 votes to 4. It was finally –
13084 Resolved:- That the City Council be informed that, as
the Corporation are unable to grant exclusive use to any particular section of
the public of shelters in Parks (except when specifically authorised by
Statute), this Committee cannot see their way to grant facilities in shelters
in Parks to “Daughters of Rest”.
(This resolution was
carried by 6 votes to 4)
3rd November
1952 - Parks Department (Operations card 26 D1)
On the 3rd November 1952 the Parks Committee
passed a resolution (no. 13084) refusing the application, but by Min No. 13616
of the 16th March 1953 they reversed their decision and decided to
grant the “Daughters of Rest” the use of a site in Selly Oak Park. (For further details refer “Daughters of
Rest” card – No. Miscellaneous 81)
1st
December 1952 – BCC Parks Committee Minute
Councillor Horton submitted the following report of the
General Purpose and Finance Sub-Committee:-
Police Report
Serious Accidents
During the month of October there
were eighteen serious accidents dealt with in the parks and the patients sent
to hospital. There were also eighty
minor injuries treated and the patients sent home. Details of serious accidents are given in
Appendix “L”
Appendix
“L”
Police
Report - Serious Accidents
Date: 17.10.52
Park: Selly Oak Pk.
Name & Age: David Stephens (14)
Nature of Injury: Fractured right leg
Cause of Injury: Playing Football
Special Orders
Submitted in Appendix “N” 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
“N”
Special
Orders
Selly Oak Park
Annual Supply of Mr.
R. Scott, £51. 19. 6.
Roses (273) Earlswood.
Orders P.1496-7.
Special Orders
13135
Resolved:- That the action of
the General Manager in relation to Special Orders, as detailed in Appendix “N”
for the foregoing report, be approved and confirmed.
Alderman Alldridge submitted the following report of the
Sites and Buildings Sub-Committee:-
Keep Bequest – Provision of
Seats
In accordance with the instructions
contained in your Minute No. 13,039, following the allocation of a further
£2,500 for the provision of Teak seats under the A.W. Keep Bequest, I have to
inform your Committee that an official order has been placed with Barlow, Tyrie
& Co. Ltd., Leytonstone, London, E.11.for the supply and delivery of Teak
seats of the same pattern as those previously purchased from this firm.
Your District Superintendents have
each been consulted in the matter of allocation, as a result of which the
following sites have been suggested as requiring further seats, subject to your
approval:-
No. 1 District
Selly Oak Park 7
(Total for District – 15 sites) 48
(All Districts – 41 sites) 193
As in the previous allocation,
small metal memorial plaques will be provided, and an official order has been
placed with J.R. Pearson (Birmingham) Ltd., Porchester Street, Birmingham, 19. for
their production, in Anodized Aluminium to Bronze finish at a total cost of
£48.
It will be recalled that, in my
report to your last meeting, it was stated that the £2,500 allocation would
provide for 192 seats, but it is found that this sum would in fact, provide for
193 seats, and your confirmation is accordingly desired to the placing of an official
order for this higher number.
Keep Bequest – Provision of Seats
In this connection the following report of the General
Manager was submitted:-
Keep Bequest – Provision of
Seats
Following my report to the recent
meeting of your Sites and Buildings Sub-Committee upon the suggested further
allocation of Teak seats, I was requested to submit a list of the sites covered
by the previous allocation under this Bequest.
The following is a composite list
of sites and number of seats supplied, and to be supplied out of the two
allocations under the Bequest in each district:-
No. 1 District 1st
Allocation 2nd
Allocation
Selly Oak Park 2 7
(Total for District – 15 sites) 79 48
(All Districts – 41 sites) 190 193
The Committee’s further
instructions are desired.
13158
Resolved:- That the reports of the
General Manager with regard to the allocation of seats at various Parks and
Recreation Grounds be approved and that authority be given for the purchase of
small metal plaques in respect of the second allocation, from Messrs. J.R.
Pearson (Birmingham) Ltd. at a cost of £48.
Alderman Mrs. Hyde submitted the following report of the
Recreation and Entertainments Sub-Committee:-
Coronation Celebrations
At your meeting on the 7th
July last, I submitted a list of ten applications received for the use of parks
on Coronation Day by organisations wishing to hold Children’s Parties and
similar events. By your Minute No.
12,730, permission was granted for these events to take place, and I was
authorised to deal with any other applications at my discretion, subject to my
reporting to your Sub-Committee on the various applications which might be
received from time to time.
I have to submit in Appendix “A” a list of such applications
which have been received. These requests
have all been granted, as it is not considered likely that the events will
interfere with any major civic celebrations which might be promoted in the
parks.
The Committee’s confirmation of the action taken is required.
At the last meeting of the Parks Committee, I was instructed to insert
a notice in the local Press that all applications for the use of parks must be
submitted to me by the 31st December, 1952. Since that date the following applications
have been received:-
Park: Selly
Oak Pk.
Organisation: Durley Dean
C.P.
Organiser: Mr. A.L. Wood,
143 Durley Dean Road, Selly Oak, 29.
Remarks: Races and Sports
The Committee’s instructions are
required.
Appendix
A
Coronation
Celebrations
Park: Selly
Oak Pk.
Organisation: Fladbury
Grove
Organiser: Mr. A.N.
Eden, Fladbury Grove, B’ham 29.
Remarks: Children’s Party
Park: Selly
Oak Pk.
Organisation: Reservoir
Road C.P.
Organiser: Mr. E.G.
Pratt, 98 Reservoir Rd, Selly Oak, 29.
Remarks: Children’s Party
Park: Selly
Oak Pk.
Organisation: Gatley Grove
C.P.
Organiser: Mrs. D.
Boyd, 101 Gibbins Rd, Selly Oak, 29.
Remarks: Children’s Party and erect a marquee
Park: Selly
Oak Pk.
Organisation: Woolacombe
Lodge Rd. C.P.
Organiser: Mr. S.
Ridding, 90 Woolacombe Rd, Selly Oak.
Remarks: Children’s Party and erect a marquee
Entertainments in the Parks,
1953
(Relevant extracts from a long report)
Suggested
Programme
Average attendance at parks where
Summer Theatres were erected last year was as follows:-
(From a list of 7)
(From a list of 7)
Park: King’s Heath
No. of Weeks: 6
Average 1952: 199
Average 1951: 235
In the light of these attendances
and experience gained in previous seasons with regard to attendances,
deployment of equipment and also available resources for 1953, the following
suggested programme has been drawn up:-
(From a list of 7 definite and 3 alternatives)
Park: King’s Heath
Dates: 15th June – 11th
July
No. of weeks 1953: 4
No. of weeks 1952: 6
Park: Victoria Common or
Sparkhill or Selly Oak
Dates: 13th July – 8th
Aug
No. of weeks 1953: 4
No. of weeks 1952: Not
operating
......................... The season at King’s Heath Park has been
reduced by two weeks in view of the somewhat disappointing attendances last
season. ............... The reductions in the seasons at King’s
Heath and Small Heath Parks would make it possible to stage a four week season
at a park not included in last year’s programme. Three parks are suggested and of these
Sparkhill and Selly Oak have been dropped from the programme in recent years
but it is felt that the return of one of these after a lapse of time might
result in good attendances as happened at Summerfield Park. Victoria Common has not had an Entertainment
Season for some years, although a Summer Theatre was erected by the local Carnival
Committee for one week last year and the talent night and some variety shows
were fairly well attended. Aston Park
was reduced to four weeks last year and there was a substantial increase in
attendances. It is felt that four
weeks is an ideal length of season at this park as the previous drop in
attendances came about when the season was extended to more than four
weeks. (Compilers note – there is then no further commentary about Selly Oak
Park.) ..................
In addition, it is suggested that
horse shows, carnivals, fetes, etc., be organised at as many parks as possible
in conjunction with local organisations, as in previous years.
The Committee’s instructions are
desired.
Coronation Celebrations
13204
Resolved:- That the action taken
in granting requests for the use of various parks and recreation grounds in
respect of Coronation Celebrations, 1953, as more particularly set out in
Appendix “A” to the foregoing report be approved and confirmed.
13205
Resolved:- That the various
applications for the use of parks and recreation grounds in connection with the
Coronation Celebrations 1953, as more particularly set out on page 2 of the
foregoing report, be granted, ...................
Entertainments in the Parks 1953
Suggested Programme
13211
Resolved:- That entertainments
be provided at the following parks during the 1953 Season in accordance with
the programme suggested in the foregoing report, namely:- King’s Heath,
Rookery, Ward End, Small Heath, Sparkhill, Aston, Summerfield and Handsworth
and that open-air entertainments be provided at the following parks in
accordance with the suggestions contained in the foregoing report, namely,
Muntz, Lightswood, Cannon Hill and Sparkhill Parks.
13212
Resolved:- That horse shows,
carnivals, fetes, etc., be organised at as many parks as possible in
conjunction with local organisations during the 1953 Season on the lines of
previous years.
1st
December 1952 - Parks Department (Operations Card 26 EF5)
Layout
7 teak seats (2nd. Allocation, Keep
Bequest). Contractor: Messrs. Barlow & Tyric & Co.
Ltd. Parks Comm. Min., date 1/12/52, No.
13158.
