Report of the Bank Committee to the City Council: October 18th 1921:
NEW PREMISES FOR SMALL HEATH.
Your Committee have been
in negotiation for permanent premises to serve the needs of this district, and have been successful in securing property which they
feel can be satisfactorily adapted for this purpose, and the same is shown coloured pink on the plan annexed to this Report. The property,
which is situate at 479, Coventry Road, is freehold, and consists of a dwelling house with grounds attached which will admit of additions
and alterations to meet the needs of the Bank, and in accordance with No 10 of the Bank Rules they ask for the approval of the Council
to their action. The lease of the present temporary premises at No 417, Coventry Road, expires on the 29th September, 1922, and it
is proposed to have the new premises ready for occupation by that date.
Bank Committee: November 14th 1921
957 The following
Minute of the City Council passed on the 18th October last, on presentation of the Committee Report was received:
It was moved
by Mr Councillor Appleby, seconded by Mr Alderman Sanders, and
RESOLVED:- 25,607. That the Bank Committee be, and they are hereby, authorised to complete the purchase of No 479, Coventry Road, Small Heath, as premises for a Branch Bank, at the price of £1,100, such sum to be defrayed out of the funds of the Bank.
Finance & General Purposes Sub-Committee: December 12th 1921
544 The Manager reported as follows:
Small Heath Premises.
The lease on the present premises expires on the 29th September next,
and it is important that the new premises recently purchased should be ready for occupation by that date. The Manager recommends that
Mr McMichael be instructed to examine the property and prepare a plan of his proposals in collaboration with Mr Wilde, who conducted
the negotiations for purchase, and that the internal repairs promised to the tenant and which form part of the agreement for taking
over two rooms be dealt with in the contract which will be subsequently decided upon.
The Manager further asks the Committee
to recommend entering into an agreement of tenancy with Mrs Neale (the present tenant) for 7 years with option to renew for a further
period of 7 years, at a rental of £30 per annum, plus rates, and that compensation for disturbance of business be paid to Mrs Neale,
the amount of such compensation to be fixed by Councillor Appleby.
561 RESOLVED:- That the Manager be instructed to arrange for
Mr McMichael, Architect, to examine the premises at No 479 Coventry Road, Small Heath in collaboration with Mr Wilde, and to prepare
and submit a plan and particulars showing proposals for adaption as a permanent Branch to this Sub-Committee, the alterations to include
the internal repairs arranged to be carried out to the portion of the premises to be occupied by Mrs Neale.
562 RESOLVED:- That
the General Committee be recommended to enter into an agreement for the tenancy of Mrs Neale (tenant of portion of No 479 Coventry
Road) on the terms referred to in the Manager's report, and to instruct the Town Clerk to prepare any necessary documents in the matter
also to agree to such compensation being paid to Mrs Neale for disturbance of business as may be considered reasonable by the Chairman
of the General Committee and Manager, in conjunction with Mr Wilde.
Bank Committee: December 19th 1921
On Minute No 918 the Town Clerk presented the following report:
November 15th 1921
479, Coventry Road.
Troman to the Corporation.
I have to
report that the purchase of the above property has been completed in accordance with your instructions.
The property is at present
let to Mr J H Neale at a rental of £49. 12. 0.
I have made the following payments:
Purchase Money, less deposit £990. 0. 0. Apportionments £1.
6. 0. Stamp Duty £11. 0. 0.
978 RESOLVED:- That the Minute No 918 be discharged.
1004 RESOLVED:- That
such sum as compensation for disturbance of business be paid to Mrs Neale (tenant of 479 Coventry Road) as the Chairman and Manager,
in conference with Mr Wilde, deem reasonable.
Bank Committee: December 19th 1921
1005 RESOLVED:- That the Town Clerk be instructed to enter into, and if necessary attach the Corporate Seal to a tenancy agreement with Mrs Neale for the agreed portion of No 479 Coventry Road, on the lines indicated in the foregoing report.
General Purposes Sub-Committee: January 9th 1922
On Minute No 561 (479, Coventry Road premises) the Manager presented the following Report and submitted plan therein referred to:
Coventry Road Premises.
The Manager submits a plan of the proposed alterations to these premises to make the same into a permanent Bank. The alterations involve taking the dining and sitting rooms from the present tenant, and bringing them into the Bank, and making suitable alterations to the kitchen and other small adjustments for the comfort of the tenant. The only suggestion the Manager has to make beyond what are indicated by the plan, would be to provided a strengthening pillar at the point marked "A", as the distance from front to back of the Bank at this point would be 16' 0", and a support would be advisable. The Architect concurs in this view. If the Committee approve the plan as submitted, and providing the Public Works Committee will sanction the extension shown by the plan, the Manager will obtain tenders and submit same to the next meeting of the Committee.
14 RESOLVED:- That, subject to the proposals meeting the views of the Public Works Committee, the plan above referred to, with the amendments as suggested in the Manager's Report, be approved, and that the Manager be instructed to obtain tenders for the carrying out of the work and to submit same to the next meeting of this Sub-Committee.
General Purposes Sub-Committee: February 13th 1922
On Minute No 14 (Alterations, 479, Coventry Road) the following communication from the Public Works and Town Planning Committee was received:
15582. RESOLVED:- That the Bank Committee be informed that this Committee approve of the proposed extensions to their premises situate at the corner of Coventry Road and Langley Road, Small Heath, as shewn on Deposited Site Plan No 234, conditional upon the Bank Committee agreeing to remove such additions at their own expense and without any claim to compensation in respect thereof when the land is required for the purpose of widening the main road, and subject also to the rounding of the corner being effected to the satisfaction of the City Surveyor.
The Manager pointed out the urgency of the required alterations, and it was:
40 RESOLVED:- That the Manager be instructed to obtain Tenders for the carrying out of the required alterations to 479, Coventry Road,
and that the General Committee be recommended to authorise the Chairman and Mr Councillor Appleby with the Manager to accept the most
suitable Tender, reporting their action in due course.
Bank Committee: February 20th 1922
The Following report of the General
Purposes Sub-Committee was presented:
Alterations 479, Coventry Road.
Your Sub-Committee have had before them a plan of
the required alterations at 479, Coventry Road to adapt same as a permanent Branch Bank. This plan has now been approved and your
Sub-Committee have instructed the Manager to obtain tenders for the carrying out of the work. In view of the urgency of the required
alterations, they recommend that the Chairman and Mr Alderman Lovsey be authorised to examine the tenders and accept the one most
suitable, reporting their action in the matter in due course.
1071 RESOLVED:- That the General Purposes Sub-Committee be empowered to accept tenders for the required alterations to premises 526, Moseley Road and 479, Coventry Road, reporting their action in due course to this Committee, and that the Town Clerk be authorised, when suitable tenders have been accepted, to prepare, and if necessary attach the Corporate Seal to the requisite Contracts.
General Purposes Sub-Committee: March 13th 1922
On Minutes Nos 14 and 40, tenders were submitted for the required alterations to No 479, Coventry Road, Small Heath:
Messrs Sapcote & Son £1,288 F J Briley £1,286 Messrs R Fenwick Ltd £1,307 Messrs Baker & Son £1,327 Messrs H Taylor & Son £1,495 J
T Harris £1,650
70 RESOLVED:- That the tender of Mr F J Briley at the sum of £1,286
for the carrying out of the alterations at 479, Coventry Road, in accordance with the plan and specification submitted, be accepted;
and that the Town Clerk be instructed to prepare and affix the Corporate Seal to the necessary Contract, as empowered by Minute No
1071 of the Bank Committee.
General Purposes Sub-Committee: March 20th 1922
Alterations, 479 Coventry Road.
Your Sub-Committee
have examined tenders received for the carrying out of the required structural alterations to premises 479 Coventry Road, which will
become the permanent Small Heath Branch, and have accepted the tender of Mr F J Briley of Hay Mills at the sum of £1,286. The Committee
have already authorised the Town Clerk, on a tender being accepted, to enter into and seal the necessary Contract for the work, and
the document is now being prepared.
Bank Committee: April 24th 1922
On Minute No 1071 (Alterations 526 Moseley Road and
479 Coventry Road) the Town Clerk presented the following report:
April 20th 1922
479, Coventry Road.
I have prepared
and completed a Contract with Mr F J Briley for alterations required to the above premises.
The Corporate Common Seal has been affixed
to the document which is dated 10th April instant.
General Purposes Sub-Committee: July 10th 1922
The Manager reported that in connection with the alterations now proceeding at 526 Moseley Road and 479 Coventry Road, the following quotations for the requisite lighting had been received from the Etna Lighting & Heating Company:
Moseley Road £10. 5. 0. Coventry Road £22. 12. 6.
The Manager also stated that the Etna Company were prepared to install their system of heating at the Sparkbrook Branch as an experiment at their own cost in order to demonstrate that their system was a suitable one for Branch banks generally and would be more economical.
126 RESOLVED:- That the quotation of the Etna Lighting & Heating Company for carrying out the lighting installations at Moseley Road and Coventry Road, be accepted at the sums of £10. 5. 0. and £22. 12. 6. respectively, and that the Manager be authorised to have the experimental system referred to installed at Sparkbrook Branch and present his report thereon in due course.
127 RESOLVED:- That the Etna Lighting & Heating Co Ltd be instructed to install their patent system of heating at the new premises at Balsall Heath and Small Heath while the alteration work is proceeding.
General Purposes Sub-Committee: September 5th 1922
148 The Manager
reported that an unsuccessful attempt had been made to break into the Small Heath Branch Premises.
Bank Committee: December 18th
1922
On Minute No 1004 (Compensation to Mrs Neale) the General Manager reported that the sum of £20 had been agreed as compensation
to Mrs Neale in respect of disturbances to her business caused by alterations at 479, Coventry Road.
On Minute No 1005 (Tenancy
agreement with Mrs Neale and another) the Town Clerk presented the following report:
October 23rd 1922
479, Coventry Road.
The Corporation to Miss Neale.
I have to report that a Lease of the portion of the above premises not occupied by the Bank has been
granted to Mrs M A Neale and Miss S J Neale for a term of fourteen years at the yearly rent of £25, the tenants paying rates.
I have
paid 10/- stamp duty.
1271 RESOLVED:- That the action taken in agreeing the sum of £20 as compensation to Mrs Neale be confirmed
and that Minutes Nos 1004 and 1005 be discharged.
General Purposes Sub-Committee: February 12th 1923
On Minutes Nos 188 and 208, with regard to the "Etna" system of heating, which had been tried at Sparkbrook, Small Heath, Balsall Heath and Erdington, the General Manager reported that complaints were still being received from the Branch Managers in reference to this system. As far as he could ascertain from the tests taken the system was capable of giving the necessary heat, but trouble with condensation was very pronounced at Small Heath and the complaints were generally with regard to the fumes from the pipes. The objection which the General Manager took to the system was that experiments had been carried out since July 1922 and yet the system was not satisfactory and it appeared to him that the time had arrived when the Committee should decide whether these experiments were to continue until satisfaction could be obtained or whether the system should be abandoned. The Etna Lighting and Heating Company has been pressing for payment for work done, but their accounts as rendered showed considerable charges over and above the quoted prices, these charges being in connection with various additions and experiments which had been tried. The General Manager had placed the matter before the Chairman of the full Committee who had not passed any of the accounts for payment on the ground that the system was not satisfactory and had suggested that a conference should take place with the Etna people with reference to the whole matter.
248 RESOLVED:- That Councillors Appleby and Higgins with the General Manager, be requested to confer with the Etna Lighting and Heating Company and decide whether their system of heating installed at certain Branches should be maintained or discontinued: also to arrive at a settlement in reference to the accounts in dispute.