Ongoing research; last updated 9 February 2011
2nd January 1928 – Parks Committee
(There is interleaved with the minute of this meeting a report of the Parks Committee for presentation at a meeting of the Council on Tuesday 7th February 1928. The following item occurs in that report:)
Seating Accommodation in the parks
The Council will recollect that by Minute No. 28,095 the Parks Committee were instructed to prepare and submit to the Council a report as to the seating accommodation in each park. A census of the seating accommodation has therefore been taken, and the schedule set out at the end of the report gives the particulars so obtained.
It should be mentioned that the Committee are fully alive to the fact illustrated by these figures, namely, that the provision made for seating accommodation in the Parks and Recreation grounds is quite inadequate having regard to the extent of these areas and to the numbers of the public using them. While every opportunity is taken to effect improvements in this direction, the very limited financial resources at the disposal of the Committee for matters of this character prevent any considerable additions being made to the existing seating accommodation.
The following figures for Selly Oak Park have been extracted from the “Schedule of Seating Accommodation in Parks - 1St June 1927”: -
Plank seats 25
Teak lath seats 4
Pitch pine seats on cast-iron brackets 25
Seating accommodation in shelters 68 persons
Total seating accommodation (approx) 400
2nd April 1928 – Parks Committee
Councillor Longford submitted the following report of the Finance Sub-Committee[1]:
Damage by storm
Your Sub-Committee have to report that further expenditure has been incurred as a result of storm damage, and the total payments made up to the 7th March are set out: -
(includes:)
Selly Oak Park £71 4s. 6d.
7836 Resolved:- That the report of the Finance Sub-Committee be approved.
14th May 1928 – Finance Sub-Committee
The following report of the City Treasurer was presented:-
Summary of receipts and payments for the quarter ended 31st March 1928,
in respect of properties managed by the Estates Committee.
The Lodge, Selly Oak Park
Arrears brought forward from Dec. 1927 nil
Rent due at Mar. 1928 £1: 7: 6
Cash received £1: 7: 6
Amount written off nil
Arrears carried forward to mar. 1928 nil
Rates, taxes, etc. nil
Repairs £5: 19: 8
Commission and Supervision 1s 4d.
Total expenses £6: 1: 0
Balance due to Parks Department nil
Balance due from Parks Department £4: 13: 6
21st May 1928 - Administration Sub Committee
Selly Oak Park – Application for use by Mr. Pat Collins
A letter was submitted from Mr. Pat Collins asking if the Committee would grant him the use of Selly Oak Park for amusement catering purposes, for a weekend in July, upon payment of the sum of £25.
4833 Resolved:- That the Secretary be instructed to inform Mr. Collins that it is regretted that they are unable to grant the use of the park for this purpose.
4th June 1928 – Parks Committee
Mr. Councilor Gelling presented the following report of the Administration Sub- Committee:
Use of Parks, etc., by Outside Bodies
Your Sub-Committee have also received an application from Mr. Pat Collins asking if he could be granted the use of Selly Oak Park for amusement catering purposes, for a weekend in July, for which he offers to pay the sum of £25.
As this would be contrary to the policy of the Committee in granting the use of Parks, etc., Mr. Collins has been informed that it is regretted his application cannot be granted.
7926 Resolved:- That the report of the Parks Administration Sub-Committee be approved.
25th June 1928 - Administration Sub-Committee
The Secretary submitted the following report:-
Police Report- Various Accidents
H. Taylor, 21, of 39, Nawne Lane, Smethwick, concussion, Selly Oak Park.
9th July 1928 – Finance Sub-Committee
The following report of the City Treasurer was presented:-
Income and Expenditure 1927/28
Selly Oak Park
Estimated 1927/28 Actual for year
Income £80 £82. 9. 3.
Expenditure £852 £874. 7. 8.
25th June 1928 - Administration Sub-Committee, reported on
14th July 1928 – Parks Committee
Councillor Gelling presented the following report of the Administration Sub-Committee:
Use of Parks by various Organisations
Your Sub-Committee have to report that the use of the following parks and Recreation Grounds has been granted to the several Organizations named on the dates and for the reasons stated:-
Park Date Society Purpose
Selly Oak Saturday. Selly Oak & Bourn- Annual Children’s Party.
July 14th Brook Children’s Pk. closed to public fr. 2 – 5pm.
Party Fund
7984 Resolved:- That the use of the several Parks granted to the respective various Organisations on the dates detailed in the foregoing report, be approved and confirmed.
21st July 1928 – Birmingham News
The Weeks’ News from the Districts
Selly Oak
Selly Oak Festival – Three thousand children participated in the twenty-fifth annual Selly Oak and Bournbrook children’s festival at Selly Oak Park on Saturday.
The procession, headed by Elliott’s Band, comprised the scholars from Raddlebarn Road, Tiverton Road, and St. Mary’s Schools, and Woodgate Band and the Maypole, followed by the scholars of St. Wulstan’s and St Edwards schools, and children who attend schools outside the district; next came Girl Guide Rangers, and the Bournville Ambulance Brigade brought up the rear. The kiddies assembled in Coronation Road, and proceeded to the park via Harrow and Bristol Roads, the route being lined with parents and friends.
The fancy dress parade attracted about 140 entries, prizes being awarded to the following dresses:
Boys – 1, “Going to the Dogs”; 2, “’Arry and ‘Arriett”; 3, Bricklayer; 4, Indian; 5, Spaniard; 6, Policeman
Girls – 1, Salad; 2, Rose; 3, Bisto Kids; 4, Orange and Lemon; 5, Poppy.
“Dolly” won a prize offered to girls’ under eight years for the best homemade dress; and a “Tailor” for one costing not more than half a crown.
“Aeroplane” and “Maypole” won the tableaux prizes.
Dancing displays were given by the girls of St. Mary’s, St. Wulstan’s, Raddlebarn Road, and St. Edward’s schools, and a net-ball display by St. Mary’s girls.
Teams from the various boys’ departments entered a tug-of-war competition, the winning team being that of Raddlebarn Road.
One hundred children, trained by Mrs. Chambers, participated in the maypole display, which again attracted considerable attention. The festival concluded with dancing in the marquee.
Officers present were Messrs. A. West (chairman), W.C. Clarke (vice-chairman), H. Roberts (treasurer), W.C. Baldwin (secretary), and A. Butler (assistant secretary). Mr. C.H. Harbun (president) was unable to be present owing to his serious illness.
Mr. A. West was the chief marshal, and the fancy dress judges were Mr. Cooper (“Uncle Jack” of the B.B.C.) and Mrs. Cooper, Mr. and Mrs. Oakton, and Mr. and Mrs. White.
24th September 1928 – General Purposes Sub-Committee
The Secretary submitted the following report:-
Football in the Parks 1928/9
I beg to report that in view of the approach of the football season, the allocation of clubs to parks football pitches was dealt with at the end of July last. …………….
Up to the present 204 clubs have been allocated pitches, and there is still accommodation for clubs as follows:-
Selly Oak Park – 1
24th September 1928 – Finance Sub-Committee
The following report of the City Treasurer was presented:-
Summary of receipts and payments for the quarter ended 30th June 1928,
in respect of properties managed by the Estates Committee.
The Lodge, Selly Oak Park
Arrears brought forward from Mar. 1928 nil
Rent due 30/6/28 £5: 19: 2
Cash received £5: 19: 2
Amount written off nil
Arrears c/ forward 30/6/28 nil
Rates, taxes, etc. nil
Repairs £12: 8: 0
Commission and Supervision 6s 0d.
Total expenses £12: 14: 0
Balance due to Parks Department nil
Balance due from Parks Department £6: 14: 10
26th November 1928 – Finance Sub-Committee
The following report of the City Treasurer was presented:-
Summary of receipts and payments for the quarter ended 30th September 1928,
in respect of properties managed by the Estates Committee.
The Lodge, Selly Oak Park
Arrears b/fwd from June 1928 nil
Rent due at Sept. 1928 £5: 19: 2
Cash received £5: 19: 2
Amount written off nil
Arrears c/ forward at Sept. 1928 nil
Rates, taxes, etc. nil
Repairs nil
Commission and Supervision 6s 0d.
Total expenses 6s 0d
Balance due to Parks Department £5: 13: 2
Balance due from Parks Department nil
[1] This detail was also reported at the Finance Sub-Committee meetings dated 23rd April, 14th May and 11th June 1928.
