Bank Committee: January 21st 1924
1617 The following Minute of the City Council, passed at their meeting on the 8th January last,
on presentation of the Committee’s report was received:
It was moved by Mr Councillor Appleby, seconded by Mr Councillor Gelling,
and
Resolved: 26,654. That the proposed purchase of the freehold property, No 24, High Street, Aston, for Bank purposes, for the price
of £1,800, be approved, and the cost defrayed out of the funds of the Bank.
On Minute No 1567 the following report of the Town
Clerk was presented as to the completion of the purchase of property No 24, High Street, Aston:
January 15th 1924
Glass
to the Corporation.
24, High Street, Aston.
I have to report that the purchase of the above property has now been completed in
accordance with your instructions.
I have made the following payments:
Purchase Money £1800. 0. 0.
Less deposit £180. 0. 0. £1,620. 0. 0.
Apportionments & Legal Charges £24. 10. 0.
Stamp Duty £18. 0. 0.
1621 RESOLVED:- That the report be approved and that the Town Clerk be authorised to give the tenant of these premises notice to quit.
General Purposes Sub-Committee: April 14th 1924
The General Manager presented the following report containing particulars of the tenders received for the extension of the Aston Branch premises:
Extension of Aston Branch.
Tenders are submitted for the extension of this Branch according to plans approved by the Chairman. The tenders are as follows:
F J Briley £1558
T Elvins & Sons £1574
S Surman & Son £1575
R Fenwick Ltd £1590
W Sapcote & Sons £1625
P W Cox £1650
The Committee will remember that the original alteration was only undertaken as a temporary measure, costing £616, and in the present scheme of alterations the Architect has provided for a proper mess-room and satisfactory strong room accommodation.
The attention of the Sub-Committee was called to the fact that after the tenders had been opened by the Chairman and General Manager, a communication had been received from Messrs Surman & Son stating that owing to reduction in the price of materials they wished to be allowed to alter the amount of their tender from £1,575 to £1,505. Mr McMichael appeared before the Sub-Committee and intimated that in his opinion the statement made by Messrs Surman was quite correct and in view of all the circumstances the Sub-Committee were convinced that the explanation was satisfactory. It was accordingly.
516 RESOLVED:- That the General Committee be recommended to accept the tender of Messrs S Surman & Son, at the sum of £1,505 for the carrying out of the necessary extension of the Aston Branch premises, and to instruct the Town Clerk to prepare and affix the Corporate Seal to the requisite Contract.
Bank
Committee: April 28th 1924
On Minute No 1621, the Town Clerk presented the following report as to giving the tenant of No 24,
High Street, Aston, to quit:
March 24th 1924
24, High Street, Aston.
I have to report that in accordance with your
instructions I have given notice to Messrs Smith and Turner to quit the premises at the back of the above property on the 24th June
next.
1722 RESOLVED:- That Minute No 1621 be discharged.
1727 The following report of the General Purposes
Sub-Committee was presented:
Extension of Aston Branch Premises.
Your Sub-Committee report that tenders have been received for the required alterations for the extension of the Aston Branch premises at High Street, Aston, the lowest tender being that of Messrs S Surman & Son at the sum of £1,505.
They recommend that the tender of Messrs S Surman & Son be accepted and the
Town Clerk be instructed to prepare and affix the Corporate Seal to the necessary contract.
1731 RESOLVED:- That the tender
of Messrs S Surman & Son for the required extension of the Branch Bank premises at High Street, Aston, at the sum of £1,505, be
accepted and that the Town Clerk be instructed to prepare and affix the Corporate Seal to the necessary Contract.
Bank Committee:
October 20th 1924
On Minute No 1731, the following report of the Town Clerk was presented as to the completion and sealing of
a contract with Messrs Surman & Son for alterations etc at premises in High Street, Aston:
September 23rd 1924
Alterations and Additions to Premises in High Street, Aston.
I have prepared, completed and affixed the Corporate Seal to a Contract with
Messrs S Surman and Son for the carrying out of the above work.
1855 RESOLVED:- That Minute No 1731 be discharged.
The
General Manager reported that the following tenders had been received for the heating at the new Lozells Branch and at 22, High Street,
Aston:
Lozells Branch Gas Department £117. 6. 6.
22, High Street, Aston " " £82. 4. 6.
1893 RESOLVED:- That the tenders above mentioned be accepted.
Finance Sub-Committee: January 12th 1925
The General Manager reported that in connection with the carrying out of the alterations at the premises 22 High Street, Aston, considerable inconvenience had been occasioned to the tenant of the living accommodation for the second time in two years. The Sub-Committee were of opinion that the tenant should be compensated for the discomfort borne by him and his family, and it was:
311 RESOLVED:- That the Chairman of the General Committee and the General Manager be authorised to make such payment to the tenant of 22, High Street, Aston, as they may deem suitable.
General Purposes Sub-Committee: February 9th 1925
The General Manager informed the Sub-Committee as to the position in regard to the carrying out of the works in progress for Branch Bank purposes. He called special attention to the position of the work at the Aston Branch where the Contractors stated that they would require another three months to complete. The Architect had been consulted as to the advisability of taking the work out of the Contractors' hands and making other arrangements, but Mr McMichael was of opinion it would not be desirable to do so in view of the stage which had been reached in the alterations.
682 RESOLVED:- That the General Manager be directed to again discuss the matter with Mr McMichael with a view to some suitable arrangement being arrived at.
General Purposes Sub-Committee: March 9th 1925
690 On Minute No 682 (Delay in carrying out contract for extension of Aston Branch), the Sub-Committee were informed that the Chairman of the General Committee had interviewed Messrs Surman & Son and informed them that the Bank would be prepared to render them assistance by authorising the architect to pay more frequent instalments with a view to facilitating the carrying out of the work.
General Purposes Sub-Committee: April 6th 1925
713 On Minutes Nos 682 and 690 (delay in carrying out extension to Aston Branch) the General Manager reported that he had interviewed the Trustees appointed on behalf of the creditors of Messrs Surman & Sons, with a view to expediting the carrying out of the extension, and that arrangements had been made for the work to proceed under the direction of Mr Surman (Architect) and the Trustee appointed.
General Purposes Sub-Committee: May 11th 1925
733 On Minutes Nos 682 and 690 (Delay - Extension of Aston Branch) the Sub-Committee were informed that the Trustee appointed on behalf of the creditors of Messrs Surman & Sons had now ceased to act, and that Mr Surman, Architect, was acting in the matter. The General Manager stated he would again interview the latter with a view to the work being expedited.
Finance Sub-Committee: May 11th 1925
On Minutes Nos 311 and 322 (22, High Street, Aston - Compensation to tenant) the Sub-Committee were informed that Mr Tafft, the tenant in question, had now taken up residence at the new premises at Saltley. The question was considered of the payment of a sum in addition to the grant of £10 already made in respect of the inconvenience and discomfort borne by Mr Tafft and his family during the carrying out of the alterations at 22, High Street, Aston, covering in all a period of over twelve months. It was felt that under the circumstances and in view of the manner in which Mr Tafft has assisted the Bank under trying conditions a substantial sum should be paid in consideration thereof. It was accordingly:
351 RESOLVED:- That the sum of £40 in addition to the £10 already sanctioned be paid to Mr Tafft.
Report of Finance Sub-Committee: May 18th 1925
Compensation to Tenant - No 22 High Street, Aston.
The Committee will be aware that the tenant of No 22 High Street, Aston (Mr Tafft) has been subjected to considerable inconvenience and discomfort in consequence of the alterations which have been carried out at this Branch on two occasions, covering long periods in each case, the first occasion being alterations of the original premises, and the second in connection with the extension of the Branch.
Mr Tafft and his family have been living under difficult conditions and he has incurred expense through illnesses the cause of which have been contributed to as a result of the conditions. Your Sub-Committee therefore feel that under the circumstances and in view of the manner in which Mr Tafft has assisted the Bank under these trying conditions, a substantial sum should be paid to him in consideration thereof.
They have, therefore,
authorised that in addition to a grant of £10 already paid to Mr Tafft, a further sum of £40 be awarded to him.
General Purposes Sub-Committee: June 8th 1925
748 On Minute No 733 (extension, Aston Branch) the General Manager reported that the Bank were now in occupation of the premises and it was anticipated that the alterations would be finally completed shortly.
General Purposes Sub-Committee: December 14th 1925
On Minutes Nos 682/690/733 (extensions - Aston Branch) and Minutes Nos 683/691 (extension of Hockley Branch) the General Manager reported that the alterations at these branches had now been completed.
817 RESOLVED:- That Minutes Nos 682/690/733 and 683/691 be discharged.
Finance &General Purposes Sub-Committee: January 11th 1926
The General Manager presented the following report as to statements made by Mr J S Surman with reference to delay which had taken place in the payment of moneys due to him for work at Aston and Hockley, and as to a request made by him for increased payments over and above the amounts due under the Contracts:
Aston and Hockley Contracts
Mr J S Surman, Contractor, has seen the General Manager with reference to payment in respect of the above contracts. He states that he rendered his final account to Mr McMichael (Architect) in August last but up to the present has not been able to obtain settlement. In regard to Hockley, the final account as being sent in this weekend, having been delayed through a small alteration being required to a gulley. Roughly there is £160 on Aston contract and £190 on Hockley due to him.
Mr Surman finds that both jobs have come out very badly for him and that instead of obtaining a profit of roughly 10% on the jobs (which he contends is a reasonable profit) he will get nothing at all, and he appeals to the Committee to meet him in the matter. He complains that he has throughout had to incur considerable expense over and above what would normally have been the case, owing to the Architect insisting upon certain sub-contractors doing work, and such sub-contractors having let him down badly through not fulfilling their obligations within a reasonable time, and that this trouble coming at a time when he was financially embarrassed created an impossible situation with him.
Mr Surman further appeals to the Committee to hasten settlement of the accounts or, alternatively, to pass forward sums on account so that Mr Lane (who is winding-up his affairs) can pay certain creditors who have been expecting payment for some months and are pressing him. If a sum of £200 was paid to Mr Lane promptly matters would be eased for the moment.
49 RESOLVED:- That the request of Mr Surman for increased payments over the amounts due under the Contracts in question be not acceded to: but that with reference to the complaints made as to the delay in making payments under the Contracts, the General Manager be directed to ask Mr McMichael to act more expeditiously in regard to issuing his certificates for work completed, and also in regard to other matters where delay has occurred under Bank Contracts supervised by him.