1957 Clippings

Ongoing Research - Last updated 6 February 2015
 
 
7th January 1957 – BCC Parks Committee Minute
 
Rate Estimates 1957/58
 
The following report of the special Sub-Committee on Rate Estimates was submitted:-
 
From a very long and complex report the following specific items were listed for Kings Heath Park:-
 
New equipment
·         1 – 17” Greens Motor Mower - £67 – Replacement of obsolete 22” Atco.
 
Maintenance of Drives, etc – Urgent & Essential Works
·         Surfacing extension of playground - £300
 
Fencing
·         Repair boundary fencing and renew about 50 posts - £100 - To prevent further deterioration.
·         School of Horticulture – 50 yds close boarded fence to boundary near new King Edward School and gates to front garden - £120 – Prevention of unauthorised access to fruit garden.
 
Maintenance & Restoration
·         Strip, repair and retile roof of hard court store - £185 – Structural timbers perished and roof covering in poor condition.
·         Renew sliding sashes and frames to three windows - £95 – In Park House – existing frames & sashes perished. 
 
New Improvements
·         Water main to bottom Bowling Green 220 yds. long in plastic - £25 - Purchase of material only.
 
Replacement or Repair of Dilapidated & Unserviceable Greenhouses
·         Blinds, pulleys, etc. for 2 – 75’ x 8’ houses and for conservatory - £250 - “Summercloud” not effective.
 
Pit Lights and Cold Frames
·         6 concrete lights and frames - £50 – Replacement of dilapidated timber lights
 
Electric Installations
·         Electric light to potting shed and stokehold - £15 – No provision at present
·         Electric cable to new Potting Shed - £105 – For new soil sterilizer
 
Tennis Courts – Resurfacing
·         Repairs to 3 hard courts - £50 – To make good worn places
 
 
Items considered but deleted before submission of report:-
·         240 yds. iron fencing 3’0” high around pool - £440 - Protection to children
·         New ablution block for sports purposes - £2,200
 
 
In the absence of Councillor Mrs. Tomlinson, the Chairman (Councillor Wothers) presented the following report of the General Purposes and Finance Sub-Committee:-
 
Officers-in-Charge, Foremen and Parks Police – Grading and Conditions of Service
(From a very long report the following proposed remuneration emerges:-)
 
List of Salaries of Non-Manual Staff and Recommendations for Increases to take effect from the 1st April, 1957
 
Name:                                                            Whiteley, AA.
Present Designation:                                     Park Supt.
Age as at 1st Apr. 1952:                                 59
Length of service as at 1st Apr. 1952:            25
Present Grade:                                               APT. II(Max)
Present salary (incl. emoluments if any):       £711-17-6
Value of emoluments (if any):                        £65
Min. & Max. of Grade:                                    £629-17-6. - £711-17-6.
Increment Appropriate to Grade:                    -
Salary recommended:                                    £711-17-6
 
 
4th February 1957 – BCC Parks Committee Minute
 
Councillor Mrs Tomlinson presented the following report of the General Purposes and Finance Sub-Committee:-
 
Staff – Appointments and Resignations
 
Regradings
I have to recommend the regradings as set out in Appendix “H” for the approval of the Committee, to take effect from the dates indicated.  The services of the employees recommended have been satisfactory.
 
Appendix “H”
Regradings
 
District No. 2
Name & Age:                      Luton, A. (20)
Where employed:               Kings Heath Park
Grading & Wages
Present:                         Gdn. Lab.         £8.3.0.
Recommended:             Gdn. 2nd cl.        £8.10.4.
Date commenced:             18.4.55
To date from:                     10.12.56
 
 
Departmental Establishment
(From a very long report the following proposed remuneration emerges:-)
 
Horticultural Section
 
Post:                                   Pk. Supt. K. Heath
Grade:                                Misc. VIII
Holder:                               A.A. Whiteley
Salary (1.4.57)                   £712- 7- 6. - £763-12- 6.
 
 
Staff – Regradings
 
18590   Resolved:-   That the staff regradings as set out in Appendix “H” of the foregoing report, be approved and confirmed with effect from the dates shown in each case.
 
 
Departmental Establishment
 
18568   Resolved:-   That the proposals referred to in this report and as more particularly set out in detail in the General Manager’s report and in the report of the Special Sub-Committee in connection with the re-organisation of the Parks Department, be approved, ..............
 
that the Establishment Committee be recommended to approve and confirm the foregoing adjustments to the departmental establishment; and that subject thereto the posts be filled in accordance with the recommendations contained therein from 1st April, 1957.
 
 
4th March 1957 – BCC Parks Committee Minute
 
Councillor Mrs Tomlinson presented the following report of the General Purposes and Finance Sub-Committee:-
 
Staff – Appointments and Resignations
 
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. 2
Name & Age:                     Battison, D.R. (24)
Designation:                      Gdn. Prop.
Where employed:              Kings Heath Park
Date commenced:             4.1.54
Grant recommended:        2/-
To date from:                    4.1.57
 
Name & Age:                     Jephcott, C.T. (21)
Designation:                      Appr. Gdr.
Where employed:              Kings Heath Park
Date commenced:             21.9.53
Grant recommended:        2/-
To date from:                    23.4.57
 
 
Regradings
I have to recommend the regradings as set out in Appendix “J” for the approval of the Committee, to take effect from the dates indicated.  The services of the employees recommended have been satisfactory.
 
Appendix “J”
Regradings
 
District No. 2
Name & Age:                      Johnson, N.S. (23)
Where employed:               Kings Heath Park
Grading & Wages
Present:                         Gdn. 2nd cl.        £8.10.4.
Recommended:             Gdn. 1st cl.        £8.17.8.
Date commenced:              13.6.55
To date from:                      14.1.57
 
 
Officers-in-Charge and Foremen – Grading and Conditions of Service
I have received official intimation from the Establishment Officer that your Committee’s proposed revised rates of pay for Manual and Non-Manual Staff engaged as Officers-in-Charge and Foremen, as decided by your Minute No. 18470 of 7th January have been approved by the Establishment Committee, such proposals to take effect from 1st February, 1957.
Arrangements have been made for the Officers-in-Charge and Foremen to work the revised hours of duty with effect from today, for an experimental period of six months.
The Committee will recall that the proposals include the regrading of Non-Manual Officers-in-Charge and the transfer to the Non-Manual Staff of all Manual Officers-in-Charge within Grade III.  In this connection I set out in Appendix “A” a schedule giving a suggested increment stage and salaries within the new grades of the Officers-in-Charge concerned.
The Committee’s approval is requested.
 
Appendix “A”
 
Name:                                                       Whiteley, A.A.
Park:                                                         Kings Heath
Present Annual Remuneration:                £711-17-6
Present Grade:                                         A.P.T. Div. II
New Grade as approved by
Establishment Committee:                 Misc. Div VIII (£712-17-6 - £763-12-6 p.a.)
Increment Stage Recommended:             £727-15-0 (1st Inc.)
 
 
Staff – Regradings
 
18685   Resolved:-   That the details submitted in Appendix “H” to the foregoing report in respect of improved service pay, be approved and payments made with effect from the dates and in respect of the names specified therein.
 
 
Staff – Regradings
 
18686   Resolved:-   That the staff regradings as set out in Appendix “J” to the foregoing report, be approved and confirmed to have effect from the dates shown in each case.
 
 
Officers-in-Charge and Foremen – Grading and Conditions of Service
 
Hereon the following resolution No. 5246 of the Establishment Committee was submitted:-
 
Parks Committee – Rates of Pay and Hours of Duty – Parks Superintendents, Officers-in-Charge and Foremen
 
5246   Resolved:-             (i)  That having considered the submissions made by the representatives of the Parks Committee, approval be given to the proposal to adopt, with effect from 1st February, 1957, revised rates of pay for Parks Superintendents, Officers-in-Charge and certain manual staff employed in the Parks Department as set out in Appendix “L” of the report of the Parks (General Purposes and Finance Sub-) Committee attached to Minute No. 18470 of the Parks Committee; also to adopt revised hours of duty for Parks Superintendents, Officers-in-Charge and Foremen within the current conditions of working an average 44-hour week throughout the year as set out in the foregoing report of the Parks (General Purposes and Finance Sub-) Committee on the understanding that such revised hours of duty will be operated for an experimental period of six months in the first instance and that no change shall be  made in the existing hours of duty worked by Officers-in-Charge at single-handed and smaller recreation grounds and also Parks Police who carry out duties under similar conditions;
(ii)   That the Parks Committee be informed that this Committee are of opinion that the existing values placed upon emoluments in respect of accommodation etc. provided for Superintendents and Officers-in-Charge of Parks should be examined in view of the anomalous situation which has arisen as the result of their present valuation.
 
18687   Resolved:-   That the Supplementary Report of the General Manager referring to the recommendations of the full Committee by Minute No. 18470 in respect of revised rates of pay for manual and non-manual staff engaged as Officers-in-Charge and Foremen as approved by the Establishment Committee from 1st February 1957, be approved; and the Officers detailed in Appendix “A” thereto be placed in the new grades stated and at the incremental stages set out therein; that the arrangements made for the Officers-in-Charge and Foremen to work revised hours of duty from 18th February as referred to in the foregoing Minute, for an experimental period of six months, be noted; further, that the observations on emoluments in respect of accommodation etc., be noted and dealt with in accordance with Minute No. 18680.
 
 
Councillor Haynes presented the following report of the Sites and Buildings Sub-Committee:-
 
Tennant Street Depot – Essential Lighting – Employment of Electrical Services by Direct Labour
 
In this item it is reported that the Bowls Pavilion and Dressing Rooms in Kings Heath Park were not provided with electricity.
 
 
There is a report of the need to reduce the Parks Department’s Rate Estimates 1957/58 by £75,000.
 
To achieve the savings the following specific items were deleted from the original allocation for Kings Heath Park:-
 
Fencing
·         Repair boundary fencing and renew about 50 posts - £100 - To prevent further deterioration.
 
New Improvements
·         Water main to bottom Bowling Green 220 yds. long in plastic - £25 - Purchase of material only.
 
Replacement or Repair of Dilapidated & Unserviceable Greenhouses
·         Blinds, pulleys, etc. for 2 – 75’ x 8’ houses and for conservatory - £250 - “Summercloud” not effective.
 
Electric Installations
·         Electric light to potting shed and stokehold - £15 – No provision at present
·         Electric cable to new Potting Shed - £105 – For new soil sterilizer
 
 
The following report of the General Manager which had been circulated was submitted:-
 
D.R. Battison – Release from Departmental Training Scheme
I have received a request from D.R. Battison, who is employed as a Gardener R.H.S. at King’s Heath Park, to be allowed to terminate his services with your Department with effect from the 22nd April, 1957.
In October, 1954, Mr. Battison was accepted for advanced training under the Departmental Training Scheme, and accordingly signed an agreement from the 1st October, 1954.  He has now been offered a position as a landscape gardener with a private employer which he wishes to take up, partly to gain experience in that field.
There would appear to be little point in retaining the services of an unwilling employee, and your Committee may, therefore, see its way to granting Mr. Battison’s request.
The Committee’s instructions are desired.
 
 
D.R. Battison – Release from Departmental Training Scheme
 
18753   Resolved:-   That in the circumstances reported, the General Manager be authorised to release Mr. D.R. Battison, Gardener R.H.S., at Kings Heath Park from employment with the Corporation and from the terms of his agreement as a trainee, and that his service be terminated on 22nd April.

 
1st April 1957 – BCC Parks Committee Minute
 
In the absence of Councillor Mrs. Tomlinson, Councillor Wothers presented the following report of the General Purposes and Finance Sub-Committee:-
 
Purchase of Equipment, 1957-8 Estimates
In accordance with the provisions made in your Department’s estimated expenditure for the financial year 1957-8, authority is sought for the purchase of the undermentioned essential equipment.  The types and makes of the detailed equipment have been found by past experience to be the most desirable and efficient for use by your Department:-
 
(From a long list:-)
Kings Heath Park
1 – 17” Green’s Motor Mower                                  £67
To replace obsolete 22” machine.
 
 
Horticultural Training Scheme – Proposed School “Open Day”
It may be recalled that on the 4th February last, the Committee authorised me to make arrangements for an “Open Day” at the Departmental Training School on Saturday, 1st June, with the object of inviting school teachers and similar persons who advise school leavers on the choice of careers.
Accordingly, my Senior Horticulturist has discussed the matter with officers of the Education Department, and it is felt that possibly the occasion might be extended a little to include a visit to the Departmental Central Depot at Tennant Street and perhaps the green houses at Cannon Hill Park, so as to achieve a greater impression of the size and scope of your Department’s activities.
The Education Department are prepared to publicise the event in their fortnightly Bulletin to Schools, and it is anticipated that approximately 40 teachers would wish to avail themselves of the occasion.  It s suggested that they might assemble at say 9-30 a.m. at the Civic Centre and be transported to King’s Heath Park via Tennant Street and Cannon Hill, returning to the Civic Centre at 12-30 p.m.  The cost of a private ‘bus for this journey would be approximately £6, and if coffee were provided at Cannon Hill Park there would be a further expenditure of perhaps £1. according to the size of the party.
The Committee may feel that, in view of the benefit that may accrue from such an excursion as this that the expenditure may be authorised.
The Committee’s instructions are desired.
 
 
Purchase of Equipment – 1957-8 Estimates
 
18778   Resolved:-   That with the exception of ........, the purchase of the remaining items of equipment referred to in the report at a total cost of £8,330 be approved, expenditure thereon to be met from the 1957-8 estimates; ...............
 
 
Horticultural Training Scheme – Proposed School “Open Day”
 
18794   Resolved:-   That the proposal contained in the foregoing report to arrange a visit for teachers to the Departmental Mechanical Repairs Depot, the greenhouses at Cannon Hill Park and the Horticultural Training School at Kings Heath Park, with a view to publicising the facilities available under the Departmental Horticultural Training Scheme, be approved, and that authority be given for the Department to incur the requisite expenditure thereon as stated.
 
 
6th May 1957 – BCC Parks Committee Minute
 
Councillor Mrs. Tomlinson presented the following report of the General Purposes and Finance Sub-Committee:-
 
Staff - Regradings
I have to recommend the regradings as set out in Appendix “H” for the approval of the Committee, to take effect from the dates indicated.  The services of the employees recommended have been satisfactory.
 
Appendix “H”
Regradings
 
District No. 2
Name & Age:                      Jephcott (21)
Where employed:               Kings Heath Park
Grading & Wages
Present:                         App. Gdn.         £7-19-11d.
Recommended:             Gdn. 1st cl.        £8-17-8d.
Date commenced:              21.9.53
To date from:                      23.4.57
 
 
Staff – Regradings
 
18898   Resolved:-   That the staff regradings as set out in Appendix “H” to the foregoing report be approved and confirmed, to have effect from the dates shown in each case.
 
 
3rd June 1957 – BCC Parks Committee Minute
 
The following report of the General Manager which had been circulated was submitted:-
 
Annual Inspection of Parks
At the last meeting of your Committee, it was decided to hold the Parks Inspection this year on Friday, 26th July.  I now set out hereunder a list of sites that it is recommended that the Committee should visit:-
 
Leave Council House at 10 a.m.
 
Central Depot, Tennant Street
Calthorpe Park (Centenary visit)
Cannon Hill Park
Horticultural Training School, King’s Heath Park
 
Lunch at the “Billesley Arms” Hotel
 
Manor Farm
Quinton Nurseries
Lickey Hills
 
Tea at the “Rose & Crown” Tearooms
 
It should be noted that it is suggested that the usual practice of congregating at Cannon Hill at the first stop is to be deviated from.
 
Last year the undernoted persons were invited to form the official party at the Annual Inspection of Parks:-
 
(There then follows a list of more than 30 guests)
 
The total cost of last year’s Inspection, including hospitality and transport amounted to £75-5-1d., and you may wish an application to be made to the General Purposes Committee for authority to incur a similar expenditure this year.
The Committee’s approval of the sites suggested and instructions in regard to the guests to be invited are requested.
 
 
Annual Inspection of Parks
 
18995   Resolved:-   That the itinerary set out in the General Manager’s report for the Annual Inspection of this Committee to be held on Friday, 26th July 1957 and as authorised by Minute No. 18977, be approved; and that the General Purposes Committee be requested to provide the money required for hospitality in this connection on the same basis as last year, when the total amount of £75-5-1 was expended.
 
 
 




 

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