Bank Committee: December 17th 1928

3262 The following Report of the General Purposes Sub-Committee was presented:

Surplus Land at Erdington.

In June 1923 the Public Works and Town Planning Committee agreed to land and buildings being acquired at the corner of Gravelly Hill North and Wood End Lane. The Public Works Department effected a considerable widening at this point, and on a portion of the rest of the land the present Erdington Branch Bank and flats were erected.

The whole of the land, comprising 2,076 square yards, was purchased for the sum of £2,000, and, after taking the land required for widening purposes, the area transferred to the Bank was 994 square yards. An account was duly presented to the Bank Committee in respect of the 994 square yards on the basis of the purchase price per yard, which account was discharged by the Bank.

At the time the Bank Committee contemplated dealing with the surplus land, and a proposal for the erection of dwellinghouses, and another proposal for the erection of garages were considered. In July 1925, however, the City Surveyor submitted proposals for the erection of a public lavatory, and the Committee ultimately agreed thereto, on the understanding that the surplus land was repurchased.

The question has been raised by the Public Works Department as to the price to be paid for the repurchase of the land, the view being taken that the land is not now worth the amount which was originally paid, and the suggestion made that a lower rate should be paid for the re-transfer. Your Sub-Committee do not consider that the representations made by the Public Works Department are reasonable as the Bank Committee never questioned the value of the surplus land when it was transferred to them. Your Sub-Committee therefore recommend that the General Manager be instructed to inform the Public Works Department that the re-transfer of the land must take place on the same basis as the original transfer.

3264  RESOLVED:- That the General Manager be instructed to inform the Public Works Department that the re-transfer of the land at the corner of Gravelly Hill North and Wood End Lane, Erdington, taken back from the Bank by that Department for the erection of a Public Lavatory, should be on the basis of the purchase price per yard paid by the Bank to the Public Works and Town Planning Committee on the original transfer of this and other land.

Tenders for painting at certain Branches.

Estimates have been accepted as follows for the painting of the undermentioned branches: 

General Purposes Sub-Committee: January 14th 1929

On Minute No 1331 (Nuisance in connection with public lavatories adjoining Erdington Branch) the General Manager reported that the Public Works Department had now rectified the nuisance complained of in a satisfactory manner.

1344   RESOLVED:- That Minute No 1331 be discharged.

1349 The Sub-Committee were informed that the Public Works and Town Planning Committee had now agreed to the re-transfer of the surplus land adjoining the Erdington Branch, amounting to approximately 555 square yards at the sum of £548. 9. 3 the price per ratio paid by the Bank Committee on the original transfer.

Bank Committee: January 21st 1929

3302   RESOLVED:- That, subject to the sanction of the City Council, the re-transfer to the Public Works and Town Planning Committee of the area of approximately 555 square yards of land at the corner of Wood End Lane and Gravelly Hill North, Erdington, at the price of £548. 9. 3. be approved.

Finance Sub-Committee: March 11th 1929

311 The General Manager intimated that a complaint had been made of an alleged nuisance created by a Fish and Chip Saloon in the vicinity of the Erdington Branch. He had conferred with the Solicitors to the Fentham Trust who explained they had no power to prevent the use of the premises for the purposes indicated. That being so the General Manager had informed the complainant that the Bank Committee could take no action. The course taken by the General Manager in the matter was confirmed.

The General Manager reported that the tenant of the Second Floor Flat at Erdington had expressed his desire to renew his tenancy but the General Manager reported that trouble had been experienced in regard to the collection of rent from this tenant, and the Sub-Committee decided that the Tenancy Agreement should not be renewed.

After considering what course should be taken with regard to the re-letting of the flat, it was

313     RESOLVED:- That, with a view to considering the question of combining the letting of this flat with the First Floor Flat, the General Manager be directed to confer with the tenant and report in due course to the Sub-Committee.

Finance Sub-Committee: April 8th 1929

323 On Minute No 313, the General Manager stated that he had been unable to ascertain the views of the Lessee of the first floor flat at Erdington in regard to the proposal to combine the letting of the two flats, as the Lessee was at present in a Nursing Home. It was arranged that the matter be accordingly deferred.

Finance Sub-Committee: May 13th 1929

On Minute No 313, the General Manager submitted the following report as to the letting of flats at the Erdington Branch:

Flats at Erdington Branch.

The tenant of the top flat has secured an appointment in Gloucester and will be relinquishing his tenancy at the end of June when the lease expires. He has been paying a rental of £50 per annum, plus rates, but there has been considerable difficulty in obtaining the rent each quarter.

The arrangement of two tenancies for these flats has been most unsatisfactory from the beginning. There is only one entrance to the flats, and the security of the premises has been so often jeopardised that I have had to keep a special watch upon the entrance door as it has been found open late at night.

The bottom flat is occupied by Mr Norman Haines, Dentist, who resides on the premises and is a very satisfactory tenant. The lease with Mr Haines is for 7 years at £80 per annum, plus rates, with an option to renew for another 7 years at £90 per annum, plus rates. Mr Haines has not sufficient accommodation to meet his requirements, and would be prepared to take over both flats on reasonable terms.

The Rating Authorities assessed the top flat at £45 gross and £35 rateable, and suggest that the fair figures would be £35 gross and £26 rateable. It is unlikely that we can obtain another tenant for the top flat at the rental charged to the present tenant.

I, therefore, submit the following proposal, which will be a more satisfactory arrangement:

1. That the present lease with Mr Haines be determined.

2. That a new lease be entered into with Mr Haines for a 14 years' tenancy of the two flats, the rental for the first 4 years (which represents the unexpired portion of the original 7 years) to be £110 per annum, plus rates, and the rental for the remaining 10 years to be £120 per annum, plus rates, the tenancy to commence as and from the next quarter day.

331     RESOLVED:- That the foregoing report of the General Manager be approved and that the General Committee be recommended accordingly.

Finance Sub-Committee: June 10th 1929

332 The Sub-Committee were informed that the City Surveyor was looking into the question of dealing with the delivery of coal etc at the Erdington Flat  and would submit proposals at a later date.

Finance Sub-Committee: July 8th 1929

On Minute No 332 (Erdington Flat) the General Manager stated that the City Surveyor had re-considered the question of the arrangement for the delivery of coal etc at the premises and had now submitted the rope and pulley scheme at a cost of £25.

343    RESOLVED:- That the arrangement above referred to be approved, and the necessary action taken to put the scheme into effect.

General Purposes Sub-Committee: December 9th 1929

A letter was received from Mr G S Brownsmith, a resident at Erdington, suggesting that the Bank should provide a clock at their Erdington branch.

The Sub-Committee not considering it desirable that the suggestion should be complied with, it was:

1474   RESOLVED:- That no action be taken in the matter.

Finance Sub-Committee: December 14th 1931

The Sub-Committee discussed the question of improving the appearance of the doors at the Branches. Mr Wilde had discussed the matter with various decorators and had recommended that the doors at the Handsworth, Harborne, and Erdington Branches should be treated with a special preparation of varnish at an estimated cost of 35/-, 12/- and 32/- respectively.

615    RESOLVED:- That this work be carried out by way of experiment, the General Manager to report the results to this Sub-Committee in due course.

Finance & General Purposes Sub-Committee: December 31st 1931

4276 The following report of the Finance Sub-Committee was presented:

Tenders for Painting, etc at Branches.

Your Sub-Committee recommend that the action taken in accepting the following tenders for painting, etc at the undermentioned Branches be confirmed:

Outside and Inside

Outside only

4277  RESOLVED:- That the action taken in accepting tenders as indicated in the foregoing report, for painting etc. at the branches therein mentioned, be confirmed.

General Purposes Sub-Committee: October 17th 1932

Defective Electrical Installations.

Your Sub-Committee have had under consideration the question of defects in the electrical installations at Lozells and Erdington Branches, which had been inspected by Mr Councillor Lewis, who reported that at Lozells the materials were of inferior quality, and at Erdington wires had been put in without covering tubes and in such a way that the load could not be carried.

Councillor Lewis advised that the only way to ensure satisfactory work being carried out in connection with electrical installations would be to place the contracts with reliable firms who are members of the Electrical Contractors Association. It was also considered that a further safeguard would be the adoption of a satisfactory specification to ensure high class manufacture and material being utilised.

Your Sub-Committee were informed that the question of such specification was receiving the consideration of the Electric Supply Committee, and until settlement of this question it was decided that the current Bank requirements for electrical installations be placed with firms selected from the list recently prepared for the Bank.

Bank Committee: March 20th 1933

The following report of the General Purposes Sub-Committee was presented:

Erdington Branch: Clock in Turret.

Your Sub-Committee have considered a scheme prepared by the City Surveyor for providing a clock in the turret of the Erdington branch, with the object of adding to the amenities of the district and improving the aspect of the premises. It is estimated that the cost, including electrical operation and lighting of the clock, would be approximately £150, and subject to an inspection of an imitation in plywood being satisfactory, your Sub-Committee propose to obtain tenders for carrying out the work.

4685   RESOLVED:- That the arrangements made for the provision of a clock in the turret at the Erdington Branch be confirmed and that the General Purposes Sub-Committee be authorised to obtain tenders for carrying out the work.

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