Ongoing research; last updated 1 January 2014
7th February 1944 – Parks Committee
The General
Manager submitted the following report:-
Manual Employees – Improved Service Report
With reference to your Minute No. 5259, I beg
to submit a schedule (which is laid on the table) of applications received and
recommended for the Committee’s approval:-
Name Where Designated Date of Improved Service
Employed Post entering
service Grant recommended
Healey, H.V King’s
Heath Park-keeper 21.5.28 2/-
Evason, H.W. do. Foreman 29.11.34 1/-
Abbey, A. do. Gardener
Labr. 12.3.25 2/-
Hancox, W. do. do. 11.9.21 2/-
Dafforn, S. do. Gardener 22.6.31 2/-
Manual
Employees – Improved Service Report
5278 Resolved:-
That the Improved Service pay of workmen, as shown in the list attached
to the General Manager’s report, be approved, such increases to take effect from 1st January 1944.
6th March
1944 – BCC Parks Committee Minute
The General
Manager submitted the following report:-
Refreshment Room Tenancies
Attached is a list of he refreshment room tenancies which expire on 25th
instant. The list includes the tenancies
usually granted for the period of three years prior to the war, and those usually
granted for one year only. It is assumed
the Committee will not yet revert to the pre-war practice of advertising for
tenders.
The various tenants have, therefore, been approached with a view to
ascertaining whether they are prepared to continue their present tenancies for
one year only, and on what rent they are prepared to offer.
……………..
It was usual prior to the war for the tenants to enter into a formal agreement
in the case of three year tenancies, but owing to the abnormal times, the Town
Clerk suggested two years ago that as
the offers and their acceptance were in writing, this would be sufficient to
set up the new tenancies and he did not think it necessary to go to the expense
of preparing fresh Agreements. The
Committee also decided that all the tenancies should be for one year only.
It is recommended if your Committee agree to renew the present tenancies
at the rents offered and on the same conditions, that a similar procedure be
followed this year.
List of Refreshment Tenancies
expiring on the 25th March 1944
Park King’s
Heath
Present Tenant Miss Grace
Summers,
Kings Heath House,
King’s Heath Park, 14.
Usual period of Tenancy 3 years
Pre-war Rental per annum £70
Present rental per annum £60
Rent offered for year
commencing 26.3.1944 £60
Manual Staff Wages
I submit for the Committee’s consideration the
undermentioned recommendations for increases in wages of Manual Staff, viz;-
Name Park
Present Wages Increase Remarks
(including
19/6d. per Recommended
week
War Bonus)
Healey, H.V.. Park
Labr. £6-1-0d. 7/- p.wk. 21/- p. wk.
(King’s Heath deducted
for
Pk.) House,
fuel, light.
Refreshment
Room Tenancies
5311 Resolved:-
That the General Manager be authorized to renew the Refreshmnet Room
tenancies, on the terms set out in the list attached to his report, for a
further period of 12 months, ending on 25th March, 1945.
Staff –
Wages and Appointments
5312 Resolved:-
That the increases in wages, as set out in the General Manager’s report,
be approved.
22nd March 1944 - Parks Department (Operations Card 55 M1)
£10.0.0. sent to C.T. for use of dressing rooms by H.G. March quarter 1944.
4th November 1944 – Birmingham News
Combined Services - Probably the last combined church parade of the Home Guard, Civil Defence Services and the N.F.S. will be held tomorrow (Sunday) at King’s Heath Methodist Church. More than four hundred members of these services will assemble at King’s Heath Park at 10 a.m. and march to the church. After the service there will be an official march past at the Kingsway Cinema when Colonel J.C. Pigott (Home Guard) will take the salute.
18th November 1944 – Birmingham News
The Week’s News from the Districts
King’s Heath
Combined Parade - Probably the last combined Civil Defence, Home Guard and National Fire Service church parade in the district was held at King’s Heath Methodist Church last Sunday. The parade was under the command of Major D. Craig-Browne and assembled at King’s Heath Park. Included were detachments from “D” Company, 51st Warwick. Home Guard, under Lieut. C.S. Ellis, 2nd Birmingham (King’s Heath) Army Cadets, under C./Capt. J.S. Kennedy, No. 493 Squadron A.T.C., under Flt./Lieut. H.S. Goodby, No. 118 Unit W.J.A.C., under Unit Comdr. J.G. Gibbs, “E” Division N.F.S. under Company Officer Allcock, “K” Sub-Division Wardens’ Service, under Div. Warden J.A. Gillies, British Legion, under Mr. A.V. Allen, and British Red Cross Nurses, under Mrs. Wilkinson. “B” Company, 27th Batt. Home Guard band, under Lt./Q.M. Cutler, led the parade.
The minister (the Rev. John Talbot) took the service and preached on religion as the criticism of life, and a plea for the maintenance of standards in our personal and social life based on the Christian Faith.
The salute was taken at the march past after the service by Col. J.C. Piggott, C.-in-C. Birmingham Home Guard, and Lieut.-Col. A.H. Sayer outside the Kingsway Cinema.
3rd April
1944 – BCC Parks Committee Minute
The General
Manager submitted the following report:-
Ten Acres and Stirchley Co-operative Society,
Ltd. - Centenary Celebrations
Ths Society has applied for permission to use King’s Heath Park,
Billesley Common Playing Fields, and King’s Norton Park on the 15th
Juy next, and Muntz Park, Cofton Park, Victoria Common, Northfield, and Shenley
Fields Recreation Ground on the 22nd July next, for children’s galas
in celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the Foundation of the
Co-Operative movement.
I understand the galas would consist mainly of children’s sports and
amusements and an open air tea.
The sites in the various parks that have been provisionally selected for
use in connection with the “Brighter Birmingham” programme would be available
and suitable for the purpose required, and the dates specified are outside the
periods of the special “Brighter Birmingham” programmes in the zones
concerned. The three first mentioned
parks come within Zone 7, and the other four in Zone 8.
I understand Councillors for the Wards concerned were communicated with
by the Co-Operative Society in the first instance, and that there is no
objection so far as they may be concerned.
The Lord Mayor has informed me that, as the local Council
representatives have been advised of the proposals and they will not affect
their Ward programmes for “Brighter Birmingham”, he will fully concur, if this
Committee decides to grant the Society the necessary facilities.
…………………
The Committee’s decision is desired.
Ten
Acres and Stirchley Co-operative Society, Ltd. - Centenary Celebrations
5336 Resolved:-
That permission be granted to the Ten Acres and Stirchley Co-operative
Society, Ltd., for the use of King’s Heath Park, Billesley Common Playing
Fields, and King’s Norton Park on the 15th July next and Muntz Park,
Cofton Park, Victoria Common and Shenley Fields Recreation Ground on 22nd
July next for the purpose of Children’s Galas, on the conditions referred to in
the foregoing report.
5th June
1944 – BCC Parks Committee Minute
The following
reports of the General Manager were received:-
Use of Parks
The use of parks has been granted
as follows since your last meeting:-
Date Park Organisation Purpose
14.6.44 King’s Heath Mr.
R.G. Parsons Open air evangelistic
91,
Colebourne Rd. meetings from
3.15 p.m.
King’s
Heath. to 4.15 p.m.
3rd July 1944 – BCC Parks Committee Minute
Referring to my report on the 1st May last with which I
submitted a copy of the Revised Conditions of Service of Parks and Cemetery
employees, it will be remembered that the revised schedule provides for
increases in the wages of Grave-diggers and Cemetery Labourers, Park Gardeners
and various other employees, including Juniors.
The total cost to your Department of the increases thus involved is
£4,103-0-4d.
In the case of trained Gardeners, the increases amount to approximately
6/- per man per week, and in the case of unskilled men to about 3/- per man per
week.
In view of these increases, it seems to be essential that consequential
increases should be granted to the higher grades of employees, viz. –
Park-keepers and Foremen. I have
accordingly prepared and submit herewith a schedule of suggested consequential
increases, which are recommended for the Committee’s approval. The total of such consequential increases
amounts to £890-18-8d.
If this recommendation is approved, it will result in the wages provided
for in the Committee’s Estimates of Expenditure for the current Municipal year
being increased by the sum of £4,993-19-0d.
The Committee will, however, remember that the revised classification
and grading scheme approved by the West Midlands Joint Industrial Council was
designed in order to improve the status of the gardening staffs of Municipal
parks, etc.
The Committee’s instructions are desired upon the recommendation now
submitted.
Name Park Designation Present Increase
Wages recommended pw
Evason, Harold Walter King’s
Heath Foreman £3. 7. 0d. 6s. 0d.
Healey, Harold Victor do. Park-keeper £4. 7. 6d. 5s.
0d.
(plus
emoluments valued at 21/- p. week)
“Brighter Birmingham”
(a)
King’s Heath Park
The Moseley and King’s Heath Ward Committee propose
holding a Horse Show in this park on Saturday, 8th July, and want to
make a charge for admission after 1 p.m.
They also want to erect a portable grand stand
seating approximately 600 people. The
site proposed to be used includes the two Cricket pitches, so that four clubs
will thus be deprived of their Saturday afternoon’s Cricket. The organisers state, however, that the
Cricket pitches will be protected.
I have informed the organisers that if this
Committee accedes to their request, exceptions will have to be made in regard
to the admission charge in respect of the following:-
i.
Persons
living in the Park.
ii.
Allotment
holders renting allotment plots in the Park.
iii. Persons
visiting the Park to play Bowls and Tennis, and to use the Putting Green.
iv. Members
of the Warwickshire Beekeeper’s Association visiting the Apiary.
v. Members
of the “Sons of Rest” organisation who have their Headquarters in the Park.
General
I think it incumbent upon me to point out the
matters referred to above, particularly as in many cases the Committee will
suffer a loss of revenue, which was not anticipated when the Estimates for the
current year were prepared.
Staff - Appointments
The following appointments have
been made in order to fill vacancies:
Name Heath, J.O.
Park King’s Heath
Nature of employment Pk. Police
Commencing date 6.6.44
Wages £3-19-6d.
5424 Resolved:-
That the increase in wages of Foremen, Park-keepers, etc. recommended by
the General Manager in consequence of the increases granted to Gardeners, etc.
as laid down by the West Midlands Joint Industrial Council, be approved, with
effect as from 3rd April, 1944.
“Brighter
Birmingham”
After a
long discussion, it was –
5426 Resolved:-
(a) that permission for the holding of a Horse
Show at King’s Heath Park on Saturday, 8th July, 1944, and making a
charge for admission after 1 p.m. be granted, subject to the conditions set out
in ther foregoing report; ………………
The following
reports of the General Manager were received:-
Use of Parks
The use of parks has been granted
as follows since your last meeting:-
Date Park Organisation Purpose
19.7.44 King’s Heath Mr.
R.G. Parsons Open air evangelistic
91,
Colebourne Rd. services from
3.15 p.m.
King’s
Heath. to 4.15 p.m.
9.7.44 King’s Heath Birmingham
Open Open air religious
Air
Workers. services.
31st July 1944 – Parks Committee
The following
reports of the General Manager were submitted:-
Staff - Appointments
The following appointments have
been made in order to fill vacancies:
Name Styles, J.G.
Park King’s Heath
Nature of employment Pk. Police
Commencing date 24.7.44
Wages £3-19-6d.
Name Dare, F.
Park King’s Heath
Nature of employment Pk. Police
Commencing date 31.7.44
Wages £3-19-6d.
Use of Parks
The use of parks has been granted
as follows since your last meeting:-
Date Park Organisation Purpose
23.8.44 King’s Heath Mr.
R.G. Parsons Open air evangelistic
Services.
6.8.44 King’s Heath Birmingham
Open Open air religious
Air
Workers, services.
Southern
Section.
Staff – Resignations of Employees
Name Heath,
J.O.
Park King’s
Heath
Nature of employment Pk.Police
Left
own accord, 14.7.44.
2nd October 1944 – BCC Parks
Committee Minute
The General
Manager’s report to this Committee meeting and a Minute (No 5477) record the
appointment of a Temporary Park Keeper at Small Heath Park – a vacancy arising
due to retirement. A schedule attached
to the General Manager’s report gives details of the 10 candidates who applied
for the post in response to internal advertisement within the Department.
The
following details are recorded for two of the unsuccessful candidiates.
Name: Healey,
Harold Victor
Designated
Post & where employed Park-keeper,
King’s Heath Park
Age 41
Date
entered Service 21.5.28
Present wages £5-18-6d.
(including War Bonus and 2/- Improved Service), plus emoluments valued at 21/-
per week.
Particulars of experience Appointed
Foreman at Perry Park on 21.5.28 and Park-keeper at Bournville Park on
13.12.28. Appointed Park-keeper at
King’s Heath Park on 1.1.38. Has been in
the horticultural profession since he left school. Previous experience four years at the Manor
House Gardens, Northfield, two years at Wenvoe Castle Gardens, Cardiff, and
three years at Wychbold Hall Gardens, Droitwich. Obtained R.H.S. Certificate (General
Examination) in 1931, and the Horticultural Correspondence College Certificate
in 1932.
Name: Evason,
Harold Walter
Designated
Post & where employed Foreman,
King’s Heath Park
Age 41
Date
entered Service 29.11.34
Present wages £4-14-0d.
(including War Bonus), plus 1/- Improved Service Pay.
Particulars of experience Has had 23
years’ experience in all branches of gardening. 9 years at Oakly Park Gardens,
Ludlow, where he held the poition of inside Foreman. Previous to entering the service of the Corporation
he was employed at West Heath House as a Single-handed Gardener. He entered the service of the Department on
29.11.34 as a Gardener Labourer at Brandwood End Cemetery, and was appointed
Foreman at King’s Heath Park on 14.8.39.
The General Manager submitted the
following reports:-
Wages of Park-keepers and Park Foremen
Referring to your Minute No. 5424 approving of
special increases to Park-keepers and Foremen consequent upon the regrading of
Gardeners, etc. by the West Midlands Joint Industrial Council, attention has
been called to the fact that some of such increases still leave the wages of
the men concerned below the specified rate for the highest grade of trained
Gardeners. In order to correct such
discrepancies, certain further increases, as specified on the attached list are
recommended to take effect from the 3rd April last.
Name Park Designation Basic Wage Increase Further
as
at 3rd already Increase
April,
1944 Approved Recommended
Evason, H.W. King’s Heath Foreman £3- 6-0. 4/- 5/-
Wages of
Park-keepers and Park Foremen
5476 Resolved:-
That the additional increase in the wages of Foremen, Park-keepers,
etc., as set out in the list appended to the General Manager’s report
consequent on increases granted to Gardeners, etc. as laid down by the West
Midlands Joint Industrial Council, be approved, as from 3rd April,
1944, and that Minute No. 5424 be amended accordingly.
Staff – Resignations of Employees
Name Dare,
F.
Park King’s
Heath
Nature of employment Pk.Police
Left
own accord, 14.8.44.
The Week’s News from the Districts
King’s Heath
Combined Services - Probably the last combined church parade of the Home Guard, Civil Defence Services and the N.F.S. will be held tomorrow (Sunday) at King’s Heath Methodist Church. More than four hundred members of these services will assemble at King’s Heath Park at 10 a.m. and march to the church. After the service there will be an official march past at the Kingsway Cinema when Colonel J.C. Pigott (Home Guard) will take the salute.
4th December 1944 – BCC Parks
Committee Minute
The General Manager submitted the
following reports:-
Dangerous Trees
I beg to report that there are a number of dead and dangerous trees in
some of the parks, short particulars of which are as follows, viz:-
King’s Heath Park
17 large Elms, approximately 70 ft. high on the Avenue Road
frontage. Several trees are dead, and
the remainder have been rendered dangerous through the recent gales. Six of the dead trees are only fit for
firewood.
…………..
An offer of £89-15-0. has been made by Mesrs. Gregory Bros., Timber
Merchants, of Netherton, near Dudley, for the trees mentioned, they to fell and
remove. They will obtain the necessary
licences and make good any damage. It is
recommended that this offer should be accepted.
………………..
Dangerous Trees
5565 Resolved:-
That the offer of Messrs. Gregory Brothers of £89.15.0. for the
purchase, felling and removal of trees in various parks, referred to in the
foregoing report, be accepted.
