General Purposes Sub-Committee: March 23rd 1925
The General Manager presented the following report as to the proposal to extend the Balsall Heath premises.
Balsall Heath Branch Premises.
The necessity for obtaining more accommodation at this branch has become acute, and enquiries have been made with a view to obtaining adjoining premises.
The present premises were purchased in December 1921 for £1100 freehold. Attached is living accommodation, which is let off at 12/6d per week, inclusive of rates. At the time of purchase there was no prospect of obtaining adjoining premises.
Since the date when structural alterations were made and the premises formally opened, viz: September 1922, the Branch has made considerable progress, and latterly its development has been most marked. The Staff has been increased from two to three and later from three to four. The attached table shows the development on the Savings Bank side.
The available space for the public is 15 feet by 10 feet, and more cannot be given. The particularly narrow width makes it exceedingly difficult to work and affords no privacy whatever.
The increase in new accounts to the extent of 45 per week (which is the average for the last 12 months) cannot go on indefinitely, without reaching the stage when depositors begin to be dissatisfied and close their accounts. That we must try to avoid. The transactions show how well the Branch is patronised.
Unfortunately for the Bank, the adjoining premises which we are now seeking to procure were offered to the present owner (Mrs Marshall) by the then owner (Mr Bates) a few days before Mr Bates intimated his willingness to sell to us at £1200 if Mrs Marshall did not take up the offer. This was on the 29th January 1924. Mrs Marshall, however, did so with the result that we were cut out. She has intimated her willingness to sell, but is asking too high a figure. She asked £2,000 inclusive of fittings and fixtures. We refused to consider such a figure, but intimated that we would pay £1200, (which was the price she paid) plus a reasonable sum for fittings and fixtures. These fittings would be no use to us, and would fetch little under the hammer, but to an ingoing party for a similar trade, they are of course valuable.
If we are unable to come to terms and have to look elsewhere for premises, we shall incur much more expense, and probably not improve our situation.
I recommend that negotiations be continued and power be given to purchase at £1200, plus a maximum of £300 for fittings and fixtures.
705 RESOLVED:- That the General Committee be recommended to authorise the continuance of the negotiations for the purchase on No 528 Moseley
Road and to empower this Sub-Committee to agree to purchase the property at a sum of £1,200 plus a maximum of £300 for fittings and
fixtures.
General Purposes Sub-Committee: April 6th 1925
721 The following communication from the General Committee was received as to negotiations for the purchase of property No 528 Moseley Road:
2029. RESOLVED:- That negotiations for the purchase of property No 528 Moseley Road be continued and that the General Purposes Sub-Committee be empowered to agree the purchase thereof at a sum of £1,200 plus a maximum sum of £300 in respect of fittings and fixtures.
The General Manager reported that the negotiations were proceeding.
General Purposes Sub-Committee: July 13th 1925
On Minute No 721 (Negotiations for the purchase of No 528 Moseley Road) the General Manager intimated that negotiations had been suspended for several weeks, the owner requiring £1,750, and the Bank's authority to Mr Wilde being for a maximum of £1,500. The urgency was pointed out of more accommodation being provided for the Balsall Heath Branch, the opinion being expressed that No 528 Moseley Road must either be acquired on the best terms possible, or fresh premises obtained. Under the circumstances it was:
767 RESOLVED:- That the General Committee be recommended to authorise their Chairman and General Manager to purchase the premises No 528 Moseley Road on the best terms possible.
Bank Committee: July 20th 1925
2125a The following report of the General Purposes Sub-Committee was received:
No 528, Moseley Road.
The Committee, on the 16th March last, empowered your Sub-Committee to continue negotiations for the purchase of property No 528 Moseley Road which adjoins the existing bank premises, and authority was given to acquire the property at a sum of £1,200 plus a payment of £300 in respect of fittings and fixtures. The owner was not prepared to sell on these terms and required the sum of £1,750.
The question of additional accommodation at the Balsall Heath Branch has become very pressing and it is therefore necessary either to acquire No 528 Moseley Road, or to seek premises elsewhere.
Your Sub-Committee have therefore authorised the Chairman of your Committee and the General Manager to continue negotiations with a view to the acquisition of the property on the best terms obtainable.
2126 RESOLVED:- That the action of the General Purposes Sub-Committee in regard to the negotiations for the acquisition of No 528 Moseley Road be confirmed.
General Purposes Sub-Committee: October 12th 1925
795 On Minutes Nos 721 and 767, the General Manager reported that it had not been possible to agree terms for possession of 528 Moseley Road, the tenant not being willing to vacate the premises except on the condition that alternative accommodation is provided in a similar situation to the premises in question. Negotiations are being continued in the matter.
Bank Committee: November 16th 1925
The General Manager reported as follows, with reference to the arrangements made for the purchase of No 528, Moseley Road:
re - 528 Moseley Road.
Mr Wilde has now been able to arrange for the purchase of this freehold property for the sum of £1,200 and a payment of £550 for goodwill and vacant possession of the whole of the premises.
Mrs Marshall, the present owner, has arranged to purchase another business in Moseley Village, but cannot obtain possession of same until the 1st February, and as the living accommodation is insufficient for her family she has agreed to purchase a house No 28 St Paul's Road. To enable her to deal with this transaction she requires payment of the £550 before the 1st February, and her Solicitors, Messrs Beale and Co suggest that the matter could be amicably arranged and covered in a legal manner by documents which they have prepared.
Mrs Marshall has a mortgage with the Bank in respect of the dwelling accommodation of the premises she now occupies, and it is suggested that an undertaking should be given by Mrs Marshall and her husband to give vacant possession of the whole of their present premises on the 1st February, and that the sum of £550 should be paid by instalments to them enabling them to complete the purchase of the house in St Paul's Road with the ordinary assistance from the House Purchase Department of the Bank, and also enable Mrs Marshall to pay a deposit on the business premises she is buying in Moseley Village. Further, that the advance of £550 may be secured by way of second mortgage on the existing loan with the Bank.
The necessary documents have been examined by the Town Clerk who sees no objection legally to the arrangements being entered into.
2185 RESOLVED:- That the arrangements made for the purchase of the freehold property No 528 Moseley Road, at the sum of £1,200, and for the payment of £550 to Mrs Marshall (the tenant) in respect of goodwill, subject to vacant possession being given on the 1st February next, be approved; that the financial arrangement made with Mrs Marshall as outlined in the foregoing report, be confirmed; and that the Town Clerk be instructed to complete the purchase of the property 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 - 528, MOSELEY ROAD.
The rapid development of the Balsall Heath Branch situate at 528, Moseley Road, has rendered it necessary to secure additional accommodation.
Negotiations have taken place with a view to acquiring the adjoining property, No 528, Moseley Road, comprising a large shop and dwelling house, and your Committee have been able to arrange for the purchase of this freehold property at the sum of £1,200. Arrangements have also been made for vacant possession to be given on the 1st February next.
The property is shown by blue colouring on the Plan "C" accompanying this report, and the adjoining property already owned by the Bank is shown by pink colouring on the plan.
The Council will appreciate the urgency of providing further accommodation when it is realised
that the present counter space is approximately 15 feet, and a study of the following figures, which show the development of the Branch,
will indicate the inadequacy of the present accommodation:
|
|
No of Open A/cs |
No of Transactions |
Deposits £
s. d. |
Repayments £ s. d. |
|
7 m'ths ended 31st March, 1920 |
909 |
5,316 |
12,399 15 3 |
1,958 9 4 |
|
Year " " 1921 |
1,598 |
11,608 |
30,360 8 11 |
11,711 15 10 |
|
" " " 1922 |
2,406 |
16,216 |
36,101 6 4 |
19,681 11 3 |
|
" " " 1923 |
4,075 |
25,679 |
75,811 4 7 |
29,826 2 9 |
|
" " " 1924 |
5,772 |
39,140 |
121,524 14 0 |
53,594 16 5 |
|
" " " 1925 |
7,170 |
49,094 |
138,746 16 0 |
79,375 18 10 |
|
7 m'ths ended 31st Oct., 1925 |
7,646 |
30,949 |
83,399 17 7 |
58,530 5 6 |
Your Committee, being satisfied, after obtaining professional advice, that the purchase
price is reasonable, accordingly ask the Council to approve the purchase at the sum of £1,200, this amount to be defrayed out of the
funds of the Bank.
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
Gelling, and
Resolved: 27,459. That the proposal of the Bank Committee to purchase, for Bank purposes, the freehold property, No 528,
Moseley Road, at the price of £1,200, be, and the same is hereby, approved and confirmed, the purchase money being defrayed from the
funds of the Bank.
General Purposes Sub-Committee: February 8th 1926
The General Manager reported that the advertisement for tenders for alterations at Balsall Heath would be published the following day, and stated that the Architect, Mr McMichael, had inserted in the General Conditions 9 months as the period for the completion of the work. The General Manager stated that in his opinion this time limit was too long, and, after consideration, it was:
877 RESOLVED:- That a time limit of 5 months be inserted in the General Conditions for the completion of the work in question.
The General Manager also reported that the adjoining tenant had asked for the provision of an entry between her shop and the Bank premises.
878 RESOLVED:- That the application be not acceded to.
Bank Committee: February 15th 1926
On Minute No 2185 the following report of the Town Clerk was presented with reference to the completion of the purchase of No 528, Moseley Road:
February 2nd 1926.
Minute
No 2184
528, Moseley Road.
I have to report that I have completed, as instructed by the above Minute, the purchase from Mr H P Marshall of the freehold premises Nod 528 Moseley Road, and of the goodwill of the business carried on there. Vacant possession of the premises was given on the 1st inst.
I have made the following payments herein:
Purchase money £1,200
Price of goodwill 550
Stamp duty 12
I ask that this Minute be discharged.
The General Manager presented the following report with reference to the proposed extension alterations at the Balsall Heath Branch:
Tenders for Balsall Heath Extensions.
The General Purposes Sub-Committee at their meeting on Monday last examined the Conditions of Contract and Tender forms in connection with these extensions. They found that Mr McMichael had inserted nine months as the period for completion of the work, but this the Committee considered to be an unreasonably long time having regard to the period of the year and the extent of the alterations, and decided that five months should be inserted. Mr McMichael was acquainted accordingly, but states that the work cannot be completed in the time stipulated.
A figure of £500 as the lowest certificate was inserted by Mr McMichael, but after consulting the City Surveyor's Department the amount was reduced to £300, which is in conformity with what the City Surveyor has sanctioned for other Contracts. This question of inserting a larger figure has been objected to by several builders who have worked under Mr McMichael.
The
General Manager informed Mr McMichael that in response to the advertisement notifying tenderers, only four firms had sent in applications,
viz:
Messrs W & J Webb, 257 Great King Street,
Messrs Housing Ltd, Station Road, Blackheath,
Mr Henry Morgan, 271
Bradford Street,
Mr F H Smith, 418 Moseley Street.
Mr McMichael said that none of these firms were acceptable to him, and that he could not carry work out without a builder upon which he could rely, and that he would request certain builders to send in applications.
Mr Fenwick, of Messrs Richard Fenwick Ltd saw the General Manager on Friday morning last concerning the deposit in respect of alterations which the firm are undertaking for the Bank at Aston Cross, and the General Manager expressed surprise that they had not made any application to tender for Balsall Heath as they had carried out the first alterations. Mr Fenwick stated that the matter had not been overlooked, but he had some hesitation in again applying, but in the end agreed to send in an application.
The General Manager notified Mr McMichael to attend this meeting so that appropriate directions may be given him.
2287 RESOLVED:- That the report be approved, and that the question of obtaining Tenders and the insertion of a suitable time limit in the General Conditions be left in the hands of the General Manager.
2259 RESOLVED:- That Minute No 2185 be discharged.
|
Deposits
(£)
|
Withdrawals
(£)
|
No of
Transactions
|
No of
Accounts Opened
| |
| Seven months ended March 31st 1920 |
12,400
|
1,958
|
5,316
|
919
|
| Year Ended March 31st, 1921 |
30,360
|
11,712
|
11,608
|
967
|
| " " " 31st, 1922 |
36,101
|
19,682
|
16,216
|
1,101
|
| " " " 31st, 1923 |
75,811
|
29,826
|
25,679
|
2,130
|
| " " " 31st, 1924 |
121,525
|
53,595
|
39,140
|
2,444
|
| Eleven months ended Feb. 28, 1925 |
126,829
|
72,345
|
44,192
|
2,103
|