Finance Sub-Committee: May 11th 1925
On Minutes Nos 334 and 343 (Bearwood Branch - Overcrowding) the General Manager stated that
Mr Councillor Daniels had intimated that there did not appear to be any premises available in the Bearwood district within the City
which would be an improvement on the existing branch premises. In this connection the Chairman (Councillor Appleby) stated that
the Mayor of Smethwick was very desirous that something should be done for affording saving facilities for the inhabitants of Smethwick,
and as it did not appear likely that Smethwick would be able to obtain separate powers, he had suggested that a conference should
be held with Birmingham representatives with a view to ascertaining if any steps could be taken for Birmingham to obtain powers to
open branches of the Municipal Bank in areas outside the City. The Sub-Committee were reminded that a similar desire had been expressed
by public representatives of West Bromwich.
352 RESOLVED:- That in view of the delegations to the Bank Sub-Committees the above question be brought before the General Purposes Sub-Committee for consideration.
General Purposes Sub-Committee:
October 12th 1925
The General Manager reported that negotiations had been carried out for the purchase of property, No 177 Sandon
Road, Edgbaston, and submitted the following report of Mr Frank Wilde, the Bank's Valuer, on the matter:
18, Bennett's Hill,
Birmingham.
6th
October 1925.
Dear Sir,
re No 177 Sandon Road, Edgbaston.
Referring to our recent conversations on the above matter. The above
Property has been offered to me at the sum of £650 with a Lease having Fifty years unexpired from the 29th September last. The Ground
Rent on the six houses amounting to £24. 12. 0. is payable by the Owner of No 177 who collects the Sub-Ground Rents of £4. 2. 0. per
House from the other tenants.
Although at the moment I cannot purchase any of the adjoining shops I do not think an opportunity
such as this of acquiring the one you occupy should be missed, particularly having regard to the fact that your Lease expires in September
of next year.
I have had some correspondence with the Solicitors acting for the Owner in order to keep the matter over until
your next Meeting, and I should therefore be glad if you will let me have your immediate decision after such Meeting.
Yours faithfully,
(Sd.) Frank Wilde.
799 RESOLVED:- That the General Committee be recommended to instruct the Town Clerk to complete
the purchase of the property referred to at the sum of £650 subject to the approval of the City Council being obtained.
Bank
Committee: October 19th 1925
The following report of the General Purposes Sub-Committee was presented:
Purchase of Bearwood
Premises.
An offer has been received to sell the property No 177 Sandon Road, Bearwood, at present on lease to the Bank, for
the sum of £650.
The property is leasehold, having 50 years unexpired from the 29th September last.
Having regard to the
fact that the lease to the Bank expires in September 1926, your Sub-Committee feel that the opportunity should not be lost of acquiring
these premises, and if it is not possible to acquire the adjoining property they consider that the premises in question should be
altered so as to give more accommodation for banking business by taking in a portion of the rear buildings now used by the tenant.
Your
Sub-Committee recommend that the Town Clerk be instructed to complete the purchase of this leasehold property at the sum of £650 subject
to the approval of the City Council being obtained, and to enter into any necessary agreement, affixing the Corporate Seal thereto.
2153 RESOLVED:- That the Town Clerk be instructed to complete the purchase of the Leasehold property No 177 Sandon Road, Edgbaston, at
the sum of £650, subject to the approval of the City Council, and to enter into any necessary agreement, affixing the Corporate Seal
thereto.
Report to the City Council: December 1st 1925
PURCHASE OF PROPERTY - 177, SANDON ROAD, EDGBASTON.
The development
of the Bearwood Branch has resulted in the existing accommodation becoming totally inadequate, both as regards the convenience of
Depositors and the requirements of the Staff. The premises are underleased to the Bank for a period expiring in September next, and
comprise a front room on the ground floor which is used by the Bank, and living accommodation at the rear and above.
The very
cramped condition under which the business of the Bank is being carried on, aggravated as it is during periods of bad weather, renders
it imperative for the Committee either to secure other premises or to take advantage of an opportunity which has arisen of purchasing
the present premises in the hope of being able to relieve the congestion by internal structural alterations. Numerous endeavours have
been made to obtain other premises, but without success, owing to the fact that this area is on the edge of the boundary and any available
or likely sites or buildings are outside the City.
The Committee have, therefore, agreed to purchase the present premises for the sum
of £650. The property, which is leasehold with about 50 years unexpired, and the ground rent is £4 2s. 0d. per annum.
Your Committee
are satisfied, after obtaining professional advice, that the purchase price (£650) is reasonable, and accordingly ask the Council
to approve the purchase at this sum, which will be defrayed out of the funds of the Bank.
General Purposes Sub-Committee: December
14th 1925
The attention of the Sub-Committee was again drawn to the difficulty experienced at the Bearwood Branch in attending
to depositors owing to the extremely limited space available for the public at this branch, and the General Manager pointed out that
it was desirable to make a temporary enlargement.
The City Surveyor had recommended that alternative accommodation should be
obtained for the tenant (a police man) and it was suggested that until it was known whether the adjoining premises could be obtained,
or not, it would be inadvisable to re-let.
828 RESOLVED:- That the matter be left in the hands of the
General Manager with authority to make the best arrangement possible on the lines above indicated.
Bank Committee: December 21st
1925
The following Minutes of the City Council passed on the presentation of the report of the Committee on 1st December last
were received:
It was moved by Mr Alderman Lovsey, seconded by Mr Councillor Daniels, and
Resolved: 27,547. That the proposal of the Bank Committee to purchase, for Bank purposes, the leasehold property, No 177, Sandon Road, Edgbaston, at the price of £650, be, and the same is hereby, approved and confirmed, the purchase money being defrayed from the funds of the Bank.
General Purposes
Sub-Committee: January 11th 1926
The attention of the Sub-Committee was called to a circular letter from the Estates Department,
calling attention to land in Willow Avenue which was for disposal.
849 RESOLVED:- That the land in question
not being suitable for Bank requirements, no action be taken in the matter.
Bank Committee: January 18th 1926
On Minute
No 2153, the Town Clerk presented the following report as to the completion of the purchase of property No 177 Sandon Road, Edgbaston:
December
28th 1925
Minute No 2153: 177, Sandon Road, Edgbaston.
As instructed by the above Minute I have completed the purchase from Mrs J S
H Halford of 177 Sandon Road, Edgbaston for the sum of £650.
The purchase involved the Assignment to the Corporation of the premises
Nod 167 to 177 Sandon Road for the residue of a Lease for 99 years expiring on the 29th September 1975 subject to a ground rent of
£24. 12. 0. per annum and subject to Underleases for a same term less three days of Nos 167 to 175 Sandon Road bringing in a
rental of £20. 10. 0. In addition to the purchase money of £650 I have paid £6. 10. 0. stamp duty upon the Assignment.
I ask
that this Minute be discharged.
2223 RESOLVED:- That Minute No 2153 be discharged.
General Purposes Sub-Committee:
February 8th 1926
On Minute No 828 (Alterations, Bearwood Branch) the General Manager stated that the City Surveyor had prepared
a plan for altering the premises to meet the present needs of the branch, the estimated cost of such alterations being between £800
and £900.
The General Manager pointed out that it would be necessary for the business of the branch to be conducted during the
progress of the alterations and suggested that in view of the difficulties in this case bills of quantities should be dispensed with,
and that the contractor for the work should act under the supervision of the City Surveyor.
868 RESOLVED:-
That the recommendations of the General Manager be adopted and that the Chairman of the General Committee be authorised to accept
a suitable tender for the carrying out of the work.
General Purposes Sub-Committee:- March 8th 1926
On Minutes Nos 828 and
868 (alterations - Bearwood Branch) the following tenders for the carrying out of the required work were received and opened as follows:
|
R
E Couchman |
£917 |
|
J T Harris |
£837 |
|
Maddocks & Walford |
£982 |
884 RESOLVED:- That the General Committee be recommended
to accept the tender of Mr J T Harris at the sum of £837. 0. 0. and to instruct the Town Clerk to prepare and seal any necessary contract
in the matter.
Bank Committee: March 15th 1926
The following report of the General Purposes Sub-Committee were presented:
Bearwood
Branch Alterations.
Your Sub-Committee have carefully considered the steps that should be taken to improve the accommodation at the
Bearwood Branch, where as the Committee are aware, considerable inconvenience is occasioned to depositors, and the staff by the restricted
accommodation.
Tenders for the necessary work have been considered by your Sub-Committee, who now recommend that the lowest tender
received, that of Mr J T Harris at the sum of £837. 0. 0. be accepted for the carrying out of the work, and that the Town Clerk be
instructed to prepare any necessary contracts, affixing the Corporate Seal thereto.
2303 RESOLVED:- That the tender
of Mr J T Harris at the sum of £837. 0. 0. for the carrying out of the required alterations at the Bearwood Branch, (No 177, Sandon
Road, Bearwood) be accepted, and that the Town Clerk be instructed to enter into the necessary contract, affixing the Corporate Seal
thereto.
Bank Committee: May 15th 1926
On Minute No 2303 the Town Clerk presented the following report as to the completion
of the contract for the carrying out of alterations at the Bearwood Branch:
Bearwood Branch.
I have to report that I have
prepared, completed and affixed the Corporate Seal to a contract with Mr J T Harris Ltd for the carrying out of alterations to the
premises in Sandon Road Edgbaston known as the Bearwood Branch of the Birmingham Municipal Bank.
I ask that the Minute be discharged.
2352 RESOLVED:- That the report be approved and Minute No 2303 discharged.
Bank Committee: November 15th 1926
Contract for Bearwood
Alterations.
The Contractor has written to the City Surveyor to the effect that in his schedule of prices when quoting for this
work he erroneously entered £5 for Contingencies in mistake for £50. He has produced his figures to the City Surveyor, and asks that
the Bank Committee should favourably consider his application to correct this error.
The tenders received for this work were
as follows:
|
Mr Goodman |
£917 |
|
Maddocks & Walford |
£982 |
|
Mr R Hunt |
£1,194 |
|
Mr Harris |
£837 |
The City Surveyor, while stating that the
clerical error is entirely a matter for the Committee to deal with, points out that the amount of the other tenders should be taken
into account.
In connection with this contract, the final certificate has been received from the City Surveyor, and on examining
the detailed account, the General Manager discovered that a sum of £24 was charged as compensation paid to the tenant for disturbance
and taking lodgings elsewhere for two months. The Contractor had no authority from the Bank or the City Surveyor to incur this expense,
although the fact that the Tenant by vacating his house enabled the work to be finished in a shorter time. The General Manager pointed
out this expense to the City Surveyor, and the latter is in communication with the Contractor thereon. The Committee may desire to
take note of this matter in considering the request of the Contractor to correct the clerical error in his quotation.
Bank Committee:
December 20th 1926
The Committee were informed that the Chairman and Alderman Lovsey had considered the representations made
by the Contractor and had authorised reimbursement of the amount paid to the tenant, but had not agreed to any alteration being made
in the Contract.
General Manager's Annual Report for the year ended 31st December 1926
STRUCTURAL ALTERATIONS AND NEW BUILDINGS.
A very busy year has passed in connection with extending existing branches, and new erections. The new buildings at Erdington and at Northfield, and the altered premises at Ward End were opened during the year, and the enlargements at Aston Cross and Bearwood completed.
Finance
Sub-Committee: March 14th 1927
The General Manager reported that possession had been obtained of the living accommodation at
the Bearwood premises, and that he had let the same to a member of the Bank staff, Mr W James, on the same terms as heretofore, namely,
12/6d per week inclusive of rates.
57 RESOLVED:- That the General Manager's action in the matter be confirmed.