Finance & General Purposes Sub-Committee: October 1st 1920

On Minute No 266, the Manager reported that, with the authority of Mr Councillor Appleby steps had been taken to insure the contents of the Head Office and Branch Bank premises in a following amounts:

Head Office               £1,000

Daily Branches        £200

Evening Branches  £100

283     RESOLVED:- That the above arrangements be confirmed and Minute No 266 Discharged.

Finance & General Purposes Sub-Committee: November 19th 1920

The Manager presented the following report:

Fire Arms Act, 1920.

The Manager reports that he has arranged with the Chief Constable to issue certificates under the above Act in respect of the revolvers in the possession of the Branch Superintendents, and has paid the necessary fee of 2/6d. in each case.

Evening Branch Assistance.

Owing to the failures on the part of evening branch assistants to attend at their Branches, and the inability to provide staff from Head Office to carry on, the Manager suggests that a reserve of these clerks should be created, who could fall into the breach when required; and that in consideration of their agreeing to do so, a sum of £5 per annum should be paid to each man on the understanding that they be required to give two evening attendances to make themselves conversant with the work. For their attendance in the absence of the regular clerk, the clerk in question would pay them his remuneration at the rate of 5/-d. per attendance.

Cash at Branches.

The Manager has gone carefully into the question of the amount of cash to be held in hand at Branches, and has finally drawn up regulations relating thereto.

Finance & General Purposes Sub-Committee: December 13th 1920

On Minute No 354 the Manager presented the following Report:

HEATING & LIGHTING OF BRANCHES.

This matter has been carefully looked into by the Chairman, Councillors Gelling and Ward, who have visited the various branches. The position is summarised below with the recommendations:

Sparkbrook.

These premises very cold owing to their construction and the position they occupy. The present electric radiator gives out only sufficient heat to warm the lower part of the premises in its immediate vicinity, and the constant opening and closing of the door to admit the public nullifies the effect of the radiator. In view of the alterations at this Branch, it is recommended that the architect be requested to advise upon the matter, and that, in the meantime, suitable oil stoves be obtained to carry over the winter. To introduce gas radiators at the moment would cost £21. 19. 6d.

Small Heath.

These premises are somewhat protected, and while the electric radiator is a satisfactory one in the general office, its effect is to give a local heat. Having regard to the fact that these premises cannot be regarded as permanent premises, it is recommended to continue the electric heating and to supply an additional heater. To introduce a gas radiator at the moment would cost £12. 18. 6d. The question of supplying an outer gate or arranging a vestibule is important, as the premises have a closed appearance during hours of business. It is recommended that a suitable gate be fixed.

Aston.

The improvement effected by alteration of doorway will contribute towards making the premises warmer, but the electric radiator is not satisfactory. It is recommended that gas heating be introduced here, and that a vestibule be fixed at a cost of £21.

Lozells.

These premises are very cold owing to their construction, but the alteration in the position of the counter has taken away the direct draught. The electric radiator is no use here, and it is recommended that gas heating be introduced.

Rotton Park.

These premises, while not being so cold as others by construction are too cold for work to be carried on with the door open. The door opens within a yard of the counter. It is recommended that the door be brought to the front, and a vestibule arranged at a cost of £26. 10. 0d, also that a gas radiator be substituted for electric radiator.

Ladywood.

These premises are at a bleak corner, and owing to the large quantity of glass it has the effect of being very cold in winter and very hot in summer. The electric is not of much use here with the opening and shutting of the door. It is recommended that a vestibule be arranged here at a cost of £21, and that gas radiators be introduced.

Balsall Heath.

The electric heater here would be sufficient were it not for the fact of the constant opening and shutting of doors. As these premises are inadequate, and not in a satisfactory position, it is recommended that as a temporary measure for the winter suitable stoves should be supplied.

Hay Mills.

The doors of this Branch open to within a yard of the counter and render the premises cold. It is not proposed to alter these doors, but the question of placing the counter in another position should be considered. A gas radiator will be an improvement here, and it is recommended that such be provided.

Aston Cross.

It is recommended to fix a vestibule here at a cost of approximately £21.

Handsworth.

Nothing needed here. Ordinary fire available.

Saltley.

This hut is warm enough as it is, but as extensions are contemplated here, the necessary means to keep the premises warm can be arranged with the alterations.

Duddeston.

The heating by gas radiator is satisfactory, but to indicate that the premises are open a vestibule should be arranged at a cost of approximately £21.

Evening Branches.

No steps have been taken to investigate the heating of these premises, but if any additional means of heating is required this winter, it is suggested that oil stoves be used.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the general conclusions arrived at are:

1. That electric heating is not a satisfactory method, having regard to the nature of the business.

2. That it is necessary to give the impression that the Bank is open during business hours, and to do this the outer door should be opened and vestibules arranged.

3. That where the premises are only in the nature of temporary premises or are otherwise fairly satisfactorily heated, additional warmth should be procured by oil stoves.

A statement was submitted showing the comparative costs of electric lighting and heating and gas, and while it was found that during the Christmas and Lady Day quarters last year the electric lighting and heating cost £26 at Sparkbrook and £21 at Lozells, gas lighting and heating at Duddeston and Saltley combined only worked out at £3. 14. 0d. The hours of business at these branches during the periods taken were the same.

The electric wires and fittings are on the hire purchase system, the installation becoming the property of the Bank at the expiration of 3 years.

The electric radiators are on the permanent hire system, and the agreements are for 3 years. It is recommended that the Electric Supply Department be asked to content to the cancellation of the agreements in the cases where it is advisable to substitute gas heating.

The gas radiators (except in the cases of Aston Cross and Bearwood) are on the permanent hire system and the agreement are for 2 years. It is recommended that Gas Department be asked to consent to the cancellation of the agreements in the cases now on the permanent hire system, and to substitute fresh agreements on the hire purchase system.

367     RESOLVED:- That the Report be approved and the General Committee recommended to adopt the recommendations therein contained.

Bank Committee: December 20th 1920

691 The following Report of the Finance & General Purposes Sub-Committee was presented:

Heating etc: of Branches.

An exhaustive inspection has recently been made of the Branches by certain Members of your Sub-Committee and the Manager, with a view to ascertaining their requirements as regards heating and lighting. Several Branches are in urgent need of improvements in these respects, and at their last Meeting your Sub-Committee had before them a Report of the Manager containing a summary of the improvements proposed as a result of the inspection referred to.

From the information before them your Sub-Committee arrived at the following general conclusions:

(1) That electric heating is not a satisfactory method, being found to be less economical than gas and having regard to the nature of the business.

(2) To obviate certain Branches appearing closed during business hours that vestibules should be constructed and the outer door left open.

(3) That where the premises are only in the nature of temporary premises or are otherwise fairly satisfactorily heated, additional warmth should be provided by oil stoves.

Your Sub-Committee now, therefore, recommend that the following steps be taken at the Branches indicated:

(1) That the Architect (Mr McMichael) be requested to advise on the question of heating at Sparkbrook Branch, in view of the alterations now being carried out, and that in the meantime suitable oil stoves be installed to carry over the Winter.

(2) That gas heating be introduced at Aston, Lozells, Rotton Park; Ladywood & Hay Mills, Small Heath.

(3) That oil stoves be installed at Balsall Heath these being in the nature of temporary premises.

(4) That vestibules be fixed at Aston (estimated cost £21) Rotton Park (estimated cost £26. 10. 0) Ladywood (£21) Aston Cross (£21) & Duddeston (£21) and that an outer gate be supplied at Small Heath.

(5) That the heating of the Saltley premises be arranged when the extension of same is carried out.

(6) That oil stoves be introduced into such of the Evening Branches as require additional heating.

(7) That the Electric Supply Department be asked to consent to the cancellation of the agreements in cases where it is advisable to substitute gas heating.

(8) That the Gas Department be asked to consent to the cancellation of the permanent hire agreements and to substitute the hire purchase system.

694 RESOLVED:- That the recommendations of the Finance & General Purposes Sub-Committee as regards the Heating of Branches and other improvements thereto, as set out in the foregoing Report be adopted, and that the Manager be instructed to take the necessary steps for giving effect thereto.

Bank Committee: May 23rd 1921

The Manager reported that the Dunlop Rubber Co had again approached him with regard to a Thrift Scheme being instituted in conjunction with the Bank. The Scheme was identical with the one proposed twelve months ago, but the Company were not now prepared to add anything to the interest allowed by the Bank.

827 RESOLVED:- That the Dunlop Rubber Co be informed that the Bank have established numerous Branches in the City and propose to still further develop on these lines, that in the Committee's opinion such facilities are meeting the requirements of the general public; and that they could not see their way to undertake the working of such a scheme as that now proposed.

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