| Description | Minutes indexed. The minutes are handwritten and printed and signed by the committee chairman. Minutes BCC/1/AF/7/1/1 - 3 are in the volumes entitled 'Mentally Defective Sub-Committee'. Minutes BCC/1/AF/7/1/4 are in the appropriately dated combined sub-committee minute volume (see BCC/1/AF/11/1). The minutes include memoranda of the Town Clerk for the Asylum Committee (BCC/1/AF/1) and the Mentally Defective Sub-Committee concerning their duties under the provisions of the Mental Health Act, 1913, the minutes of conferences in Birmingham and elsewhere concerning the treatment of the four classes of mentally ill patient as detailed in the act, and other additional information as it related to buildings and accommodation, hospital staff and patients (including names and sensitive medical data) and finances. The minutes also detail controversial cases of schoolchildren with mild learning and behavioural difficulties deemed 'mentally defective' on the report of the Education Committee and children committed to Monyhull Colony, which treated younger people with mental health problems. There is often extremely sensitive information in these minutes and reports about the children's family backgrounds. |