General Purposes Sub-Committee: May 8th 1922
The Manager reported that Mr Wilde had drawn attention to certain premises at Witton which were up for sale on the 23rd May.
102 RESOLVED:- That Mr Councillor Gelling and the Manager be
requested to inspect the premises above-mentioned and report as to their suitability for Bank purposes.
General Purposes Sub-Committee: June 12th 1922
With reference to Minute No 102 (Premises at Witton) the Sub-Committee were informed that an opportunity had occurred of acquiring suitable premises at Witton (viz: 407, Witton Road). The premises, which were freehold, had been inspected by the Chairman of the General Committee and Mr Councillor Gelling, who were satisfied that the same would be suitable to the needs of the Bank in this District. The property was put up for sale by auction, and on the authority of the Chairman of the General Committee, was purchased by Mr Frank Wilde for the sum of £900.
The following report of Mr Frank Wilde with regard to the property was submitted:
Daimler
House,
Paradise Street,
Birmingham.
25th May 1922
Re The Square, Witton.
I beg to report that on Tuesday evening last I attended the Sale at the Grand Hotel and purchased Lot 5, being No 407 Witton Road, for the sum of NINE HUNDRED POUNDS (£900).
I enclose herewith the Contract, and shall be glad to have a refund of the Deposit of £90-0-0 paid by me, at your convenience.
I regret I was unable to obtain more than one of the Shops, as the price realized was beyond my instructions. The others were purchased by the Tenants, as under:
Lot 2 No 401 £1500
Lot 3 No 403 £1000
Lot 4 No 405 £1000
Lot 6 No 409 £975
Yours faithfully
(sd) Frank Wilde.
110 RESOLVED:- That the General Committee be recommended
to ask the Council to approve of the purchase of Premises No 407, Witton Road at the sum of £900.
Bank Committee: June 19th 1922
Report of the General Purposes Sub-Committee:
Purchase of Premises 407, Witton Road.
Your Sub-Committee report that an opportunity recently arose of acquiring suitable premises for Branch Bank purposes in the Witton district. The premises (No 407 Witton Road) were offered for sale by auction on May 23rd and on the authority of the Chairman of your Committee the property (which is freehold) was acquired by Mr F Wilde at the sum of £900. In view of the favourable situation of the property, your Sub-Committee consider the purchase price a reasonable one. The premises are at present occupied by a hairdresser; but it is hoped that no difficulty will arise in obtaining possession when required for Bank purposes.
They now ask that the action taken in the matter be confirmed, and that the Council be asked to approve of the acquisition of 407, Witton Road for Branch Bank purposes at the cost of £900, and that, subject to such approval, the Town Clerk be instructed to enter into and attach the Corporate Seal to any requisite document in the matter.
1163
RESOLVED: That the Council be asked to approve the purchase of freehold property No 407 Witton Road for Branch Bank purposes at the
sum of £900, and that, subject to such approval, the Town Clerk be instructed to prepare and attach the Corporate Seal to any necessary
documents in the matter.
Bank Committee: October 16th 1922
On Minute No 1163 (Purchase of 407, Witton Road) the Town Clerk presented the following report as to the completion of the purchase of this property.
October 6th 1922
407, Witton Road.
Brown’s Trustees to the Corporation.
I have to report that the purchase of this property has been completed in accordance with your instructions.
I have made the following payments:
Purchase Money, less deposit £810. 0. 0. Balance on Apportionment Account £11. 17. 9. Stamp
Duty £9. 0. 0.
1333 RESOLVED: That Minute No 1163 be discharged.
General Purposes Sub-Committee: January 8th 1923
233 With reference to premises 407, Witton Road, the General Manager reported that it was not probable that possession
could be obtained of these premises in the near future.
General Purposes Sub-Committee: March 10th 1924
The General Manager reported that he had been informed by Mr Wilde that premises No 226 Witton Lane, were in the market and in view of the improbability of securing possession of the premises already purchased in Witton Road, the Sub-Committee agreed that enquiries should be made as to the possibility of disposing of the latter if suitable premises could be secured in Witton Lane in substitution.
506 RESOLVED:- That the matter be referred to the Chairman of the General Committee and the General Manager in conference with Mr Wilde,
to make further enquiries and report their recommendations thereon.
General Purposes Sub-Committee: April 14th 1924
On Minute No 506, the General Manager presented the following report regarding negotiations for the acquisition of Nos 226 and 228 Witton Lane, Aston:
Re 226 & 228, Witton Lane, Aston.
The above property is now in the market, Mr Frank Wilde having been instructed to dispose of same.
The property comprises 2 dwelling houses which have been converted into shops, and is situate in the marketing area of Witton and near to the shop and dwelling house in Witton Road already purchased by the Bank. The frontage, including an entry which becomes between the two houses, measures 28 feet. The price asked for the property, which is freehold, was £1150 with vacant possession of the shop only of No 228. The present rentals are 15/6d and 15/- per week inclusive of rates.
Councillors Appleby and Gelling with the General Manager and Mr Wilde have inspected the property, which appears to be in fair condition, and were of opinion that negotiations should take place with a view to acquiring same. Mr Wilde was directed, therefore, to approach his client with a view to reduction in price. He now offers the property, subject to vacant possession of the shop portion of No 228, at £1000.
Having regard to the fact that Mr Wilde is acting for the other side, the General Manager asked Messrs A R Collins & Son for a valuation. This valuation is given at £750 with vacant possession of the shop portion of No 228, or £850 with vacant possession of the whole of No 228.
Mr Wilde has conferred with his client but he will not sell for less than £1000.
The Committee, in considering this matter, should understand that there is no likelihood of obtaining possession of the property in Witton Road so long as the Rent Acts apply, and that the choice of position and property is extremely limited in this area. If the property now offered to the Bank is purchased Mr Wilde is of opinion the property in Witton Road can be satisfactorily disposed of.
Mr Wilde's client insists on a decision being arrived at before Easter, as several other people are after the premises including some multiple shop firms.
513 RESOLVED:- That the General Committee be recommended to instruct the Town Clerk to complete
the purchase of freehold property Nos 226 and 228 Witton Lane, Aston, for Branch Bank purposes at the sum of £1,000 subject to the
approval of the City Council, and to prepare and affix the Corporate Seal to any necessary documents.
Bank Committee: April 28th 1924
1727 The following report of the General Purposes Sub-Committee was presented:
Property, Nos 226 and 228, Witton Lane, Aston.
In view of there being no likelihood of the property purchased at No 407, Witton Road becoming available for Bank purposes for some time, your Sub-Committee have considered the question of acquiring other property in the neighbourhood.
Nos 226 and 228, Witton Lane being in the market, negotiations have taken place for the acquisition of these premises. The property, which is freehold, comprises two dwellinghouses, which have been converted into shops; the present rentals being 15/6d and 15/- per week inclusive of rates. It is situated in the marketing area of Witton and is near to the shop and dwellinghouse in Witton Road already acquired by the Bank. The price originally asked for the property was £1150 with vacant possession of the shop part only of No 228, but this figure has now been brought down to £1,000.
Your Sub-Committee, in view of the fact that possession of the property in Witton Road cannot be obtained, and that the choice of position of property in this neighbourhood is extremely limited, recommend that the Council be asked to agree to the purchase of Nos 226 and 228, Witton Lane, Aston for the sum of £1,000.
Your Sub-Committee are informed that there should be little difficulty in disposing of the property already purchased in Witton Road, and that there is every likelihood that possession of the whole of No 228, Witton Lane, can be obtained.
It is intended that an evening branch should be set up in the first instance, and expensive structural alterations will not be needed for some time to come.
1728 RESOLVED:- That the Town Clerk be instructed to complete the purchase of freehold property Nos 226 and 228 Witton Lane, Aston, at the sum of £1,000, subject to the approval of the City Council, and to prepare and affix the Corporate Seal to any necessary documents in the matter.
Bank Committee: June 16th 1924
1772 The following Minutes of the City Council passed on June 3rd were received:
It
was moved by Mr Councillor Appleby, seconded by Mr Councillor Gelling, and Resolved:
26,829. That the Bank Committee be, and they are
hereby, authorised to acquire the freehold property Nos 226 and 228, Witton Lane, for the purpose of a Branch Bank at the price of
£1,000, the purchase money being defrayed from the funds of the Bank.
26,830. That the Bank Committee be, and they are hereby, authorised to dispose of the property No 407, Witton Road, purchased for the purpose of a Branch Bank but not now required.
On Minute No 1728 (Purchase of 226 and 228, Witton Lane) the Committee considered the question of the disposal of the property, 407, Witton Road.
1776 RESOLVED:- That the General Manager be authorised to take necessary steps to sell the property at the sum of £950.
Bank Committee: July 7th 1924
The General Manager submitted the following report with reference to the property belonging to the Bank Committee, No 407, Witton Road, to the disposal of which the City Council has given their consent:
Witton Property.
Mr Frank Wilde has agreed, on behalf of the Bank, to sell No 407 Witton Road, which is surplus to the requirements of the Bank, for the sum of £900 and the Town Clerk has been instructed to prepare contract for sale. The purchaser is Mr Edwin Smith for whom Messrs E S Taylor and Son, Solicitors, 35, Newhall Street are acting.
This price is £50 below that fixed by the Committee as the sale price, but is the same amount as the Bank paid for the property. The offer of Mr Smith was the only one received, and he insisted upon an immediate acceptance or refusal. The Chairman and General Manager felt it would be inadvisable to allow the offer to pass, and being advised by Mr Wilde that the figure of £900 was as much as the Bank could expect to get for the property, it was decided to close.
1811 RESOLVED: That the action of the Chairman and the General Manager in accepting the offer of Mr Edwin Smith to purchase the freehold
property No 407, Witton Road, from the Bank at the sum of £900, be confirmed, and that the Town Clerk be instructed to prepare and,
if necessary, affix the Corporate Seal to any required document in the matter.
General Purposes Sub-Committee: July 14th 1924
The General Manager thought it would be desirable to open the proposed branch at Witton on Mondays and Saturdays from 6 to 8pm.
578 RESOLVED:- That the proposed days and times of opening for the Witton Branch be approved.
Bank Committee: July 25th 1924
On Minute No 1728, the following report of the Town Clerk was received as to the completion of the purchase of Nos 226 and 228, Witton Lane, Aston.
July 10th 1924
Minute No 1728.
I have to report upon the above Minute that the Conveyance by Mr A L Hawkins to the
Corporation of Nos 226 and 228 Witton Lane, Aston, has been completed. I am informed that there is no Tithe Rent charge or Land Tax
payable in respect of these premises.
I have made the following payments herein:
Purchase money and interest £1001. 6. 9. Stamp
duty £10. 0. 0.
1818 RESOLVED: That Minute No 1728 be discharged.
Finance Sub-Committee: October 14th 1924
The General Manager presented the following report:
Repairs to Witton Premises.
Mr Richard Hunt has been instructed to repair and decorate the premises now vacant, and to make the front room suitable for an Evening Bank. His tender of £53 for the necessary work has been accepted.
282 RESOLVED: That the action taken in accepting the tender of Mr Richard Hunt at the sum of £53 for the carrying out of the necessary alterations, repairs and decorations at the Witton Lane premises, be approved.