Special General Purposes Sub-Committee: March 27th 1922
On Minute No 73 the Manager reported that Mr F Wilde considered that 10/- inclusive of rates, in each case, would be a reasonable rent for the living accommodation at 523 and 525 Bristol Road.
94 RESOLVED:- That the Manager be authorised to arrange for the tenancy of Mr Cooper and Mr Meadows to be continued at a rental in each
case of 10/- inclusive of rates.
General Purposes Sub-Committee: May 8th 1922
On Minute No 41 tenders were submitted for the alterations at 523-525 Bristol Road, Bournbrook, as follows:
F J Briley £892 Baker
& Son £933 W Sapcote & Sons £1031 R Fenwick Ltd £1060 S Surman & Son £1026 J T Harris £1054
99 RESOLVED:- That the tender of Mr F J Briley at the sum of £892. 0. 0. for the carrying out of the alterations at 523-525 Bristol Road,
Bournbrook, in accordance with the plan 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 1126 of the Bank Committee.
Bank Committee: May 15th 1922
1143
The Following report of the General Purposes Sub-Committee was presented:
Alterations 523-525, Bristol Road, Bournbrook
Your Sub-Committee
report that they have accepted the tender of Mr F J Briley for the carrying out of the required alterations at 523-525, Bristol Road,
Bournbrook, at the sum of £892 and as empowered by Minute No 1126 of your Committee, they have authorised the Town Clerk to prepare
and affix the Corporate Seal to the necessary Contract.
1147 RESOLVED:- That the report of the General Purposes Sub-Committee
is approved.
On Minute No 1126 the Town Clerk reported as follows:
June 9th 1922
I have prepared and completed a Contract
with Mr F J Briley for alterations and additions to Nos 523 and 525, Bristol Road.
The Corporate Common Seal has been affixed to the
document.
1158 RESOLVED:- That the report be approved and that Minute No 1126 be discharged.
Bank Committee: June 19th 1922
Report
of the General Purposes Sub-Committee:
Furniture and Fittings at Branches.
Your Sub-Committee report that tenders for the supply of furniture and fittings at the undermentioned branches have been accepted as follows:
Selly Oak Branch F J Briley £119 Aston R
Hunt £163. 5. 0. Duddeston R Hunt £156
They now ask that their action in the matter be confirmed.
Gas Department, Circulatory
Heating System.
With reference to the required heating of the Duddeston, Aston and Selly Oak Branches where alterations are at present
in progress, your Sub-Committee have considered the question of the means of heating these branches and have had before them particulars
of the Gas Department's Circulatory Heating System which it is believed will be quite satisfactory for the heating of these branches.
Tenders of the Gas Department for installing the system at the Branches named have now been accepted as follows:
Aston Branch £43. 16.
6 less 5% Duddeston Branch £53. 2. 6. " Selly Oak Branch £47.11. 0. "
subject to the required boiler in each case being obtained
on the hire purchase system.
1293 RESOLVED:- That the Report of the General Purposes Sub-Committee be approved and the various actions therein referred to confirmed.
Special General Purposes Sub-Committee: September 29th 1922
In connection with the
staffing of the Selly Oak Branch when the opening as a Daily Branch takes place the Manager stated that the question turned upon how
far economy of labour could be effected as between the Bank and the Treasurer's Department. He had conferred with the Treasurer on
certain matters which the Chairman of the full Committee had raised with Mr Johnson, and now reported that the latter was agreeable
to an imprest account being provided whereby the Manager could make advances for House Purchase direct to the Town Clerk as and when
the latter required the same for completions. This arrangement would save much labour, and clear the way for monthly instead of weekly
dealing with accounts.
General Purposes Sub-Committee: January 8th 1923
The General Manager reported that the premises 523 and 525, Bristol Road, Bournbrook, would shortly be ready for opening as a Branch Bank, and the Chairman of the General Committee had authorised the Town Clerk to give notice to the West Birmingham Friends' Halls of the intention to quit the Selly Oak Institute on or before the 25th March next.
231 RESOLVED:- That the action taken in the matter be confirmed.
Bank
Committee: January 15th 1923
The following Report of the Town Clerk as to the intention of the Corporation to quit the Selly
Oak Institute at 25th March next, was received:
January 2nd 1923
West Birmingham Friends' Halls Ltd.
Selly Oak Institute.
I
have to report that on the instructions of your Chairman I have given notice to the Trustees of the West Birmingham Friends' Halls
Ltd, Bournville, that the Corporation intend to quit the Selly Oak Institute at 25th March next.
I shall be glad be glad to have
my action confirmed.
1312 RESOLVED:- That the action of the Town Clerk referred to in the foregoing Report be confirmed.
The
General Manager reported that the alterations at the Branches High Street, Six Ways and Bristol Road, Bournbrook, would shortly be
completed, and the Branches ready for opening.
1327 RESOLVED:- That the Right Hon The Lord Mayor be invited to open the Selly
Oak Branch, and Mr Alderman Lovsey the Aston Branch (22, High Street, Six Ways).
1315 The following Report of the General Purposes
Sub-Committee was presented:
Determination of tenancy - Selly Oak Institute
Your Sub-Committee report that the premises
523-525 Bristol Road, Bournbrook, will shortly be ready for opening as a Branch Bank, and, acting on the authority of the Chairman
of your Committee, the Town Clerk has given notice to the West Birmingham Friends' Halls of the intention to quit the Selly Oak Institute
on or before the 25th March next.
1318 RESOLVED:- That the Report of the General Purposes Sub-Committee be approved.
General Purposes Sub-Committee: February 12th 1923
Owing to the fact that there were no means of supplying electric light to the Selly Oak new premises, the General Manager had arranged with the Gas Department to put in a temporary gas supply.
257 RESOLVED:- That the action of the General Manager be confirmed.
Bank Committee: February 19th 1923
The General Manager reported
that tenders had been invited for required repairs and renovations to the dwelling accommodation at the rear of premises 523/525,
Bristol Road, Selly Oak, and the tender of Messrs Cook and Tremlett at the sum of £65. 15. 0 for the carrying out of the work has
been accepted.
1363 RESOLVED:- That the action in the matter be confirmed.
General Purposes Sub-Committee: February 26th 1923
On Minute No 248, the following report of the General Manager was submitted with reference to the Etna system of heating:
Report by General Manager on "Etna" system of Heating.
The General Manager has previously furnished two reports on the subject of heating Branches in which reference to this system is made. The first report was considered at a meeting of the General Purposes Sub-Committee held on September 5th 1922, and the second report was considered at a meeting of the General Purposes Sub-Committee held on November 20th 1922.
The first report emphasized the necessity of making better heating arrangements than had hitherto applied at Branches, before the approaching Winter set in, and an account of the trial of the "Etna" system at Sparkbrook, and what is claimed for it by the Patentees, was given. Briefly, the claims put forward were that the system would affect an economy of 30% to 40% in gas consumption; that the heat would be more equally distributed over the office than is the case with radiators; that the heat being radiated near to the floor the lower parts of the person would be kept warm; that the cost of installation was small; and that there would be no fumes from the system as they would be carried outside.
The second report gave comparative costs of the gas radiator system, the Etna system, and a hot water circulatory system put forward by the Gas Department. In this report the General Manager pointed out that the Etna system had not given the results claimed for it, and that experiments were continually being made to get the system satisfactory. Further, that the putting in of extra sections in order to get reasonable warmth would seriously affect the cost and the consumption as against gas radiators was not likely to be appreciably reduced. The General Manager also expressed his disapproval of the manner in which the work was being carried out, the unsightly appearance of the Banks as a result of the pipes being carried up the walls, and drew attention to certain drawbacks in the way of heat from the burners affecting the wood block floors and difficulties in connection with condensation. In this report the General Manager urged the Committee to put down a more effective system, particularly at the permanent Branches, and expressed his opinion that the Gas Department's proposals appeared sound and were likely to give satisfactory heat. The Committee agreed with the General Manager's views and decided accordingly, but no action was taken as regards the four Branches where the Etna system was installed except that the Etna Company must put the system right.
The General Manager's opinion is that the Etna Company have not justified their claim for the system, and have in fact seriously departed from one of the main advantages, viz that of fumes in the office. The trouble experienced from the "back draughts" has caused them to erect "chimneys" in the Banks and the fumes escape from such "chimneys" into the Bank. From the commencement to the present time the system has been altered and experimented with while it has become a nuisance. It is true that the system as installed now at Sparkbrook and Small Heath gives a satisfactory heat, but it is by reason of additional sections at an additional cost, and the same result might have been achieved by gas radiators if extra radiators had been put down. There is condensation trouble still at Small Heath but not at Sparkbrook. The position at Balsall Heath and Erdington is not satisfactory as regards heat nor can it be made so without extra sections being put in. The ugliness of the piping, the noise which the burners make, and the more serious trouble of danger to the public from burning unless guarded, constitute complaints which are sufficient to condemn the system. To effectively guard the pipes means further expense.
The
original quotations of the Etna Company were as follows:
Sparkbrook £22. 10. 0. Small Heath £18. 0. 0. Balsall
Heath £19. 10. 6. Erdington £14. 10. 0. Selly Oak £25. 0. 0. £99. 10. 6.
The Company have undoubtedly incurred considerable extra expense in putting in extra lengths and in effecting alterations, but Selly Oak system was never installed and any expense incurred in respect of that Branch could only have been incurred between October 31st and November 6th when the order was suspended and later cancelled.
The Company have been in tight financial circumstances during the past twelve months and have repeatedly applied for a payment on account. Beyond Balsall Heath no payment has been made to them for heating systems, but Balsall Heath account amounting to £21. 12. 3. was paid during the summer holidays, that being the first system completed and reported to be in working order. The accounts outstanding up to the moment, show as follows:
|
Sparkbrook |
£22. 10. 0. |
|
" |
£14. 12. 0. |
|
Erdington |
£12. 8. 6. |
|
" |
£4. 13. 11. |
|
Small Heath |
£25.
11. 0. |
|
|
£79. 15. 5. |
The General Manager is of opinion that the system should be abandoned, the apparatus removed, and a settlement on the accounts aimed at, and that if the Sub-Committee concur in this opinion that the Chairman (Councillor Appleby) and the General Manager be authorised to effect such settlement.
The General Manager further advises the Sub-Committee to install the Hot Water Circulatory system without further delay at Sparkbrook, Small Heath and Balsall Heath, and to ask the Gas Department to provide additional heating at Erdington to carry over the present winter.
A synopsis of the correspondence in the matter will be available for the information of the Committee if required.
The General Manager reported that since preparing the above report a further inspection had been made by Councillor Higgins and himself, and the condensation trouble was still being experienced at Sparkbrook, Balsall Heath and Erdington Branches. On consideration of the matter, the following letter from the Etna Lighting and Heating Company was read:
THE ETNA LIGHTING AND HEATING CO LTD
293A and 295, Broad Street,
BIRMINGHAM.
26th February, 1923.
Dear
Sir,
Coventry Rd. Bank.
The two small Window Sections at the above which was altered from Round to Rectangular to fit the Windows that the Seats might go back still seems to condense badly. The only thing we suggest is to re-make the whole thing in an Oval Section. The Rectangular Section is the first experience we have had and was only tried to suit the above conditions. Curiously enough, Stratford Rd., round section under exactly the same conditions has never shown any condensation at all since it was first fixed 1st July, 1922. We now feel, time due to the short Banking hours and the time to make special nature of the Piping and changes have exhausted your patience, although honestly we have striven to give you the best of our services.
We would like to suggest to you that we put in B.T.U. Boiler (more expensive) complete system, which we feel you now favour at a reasonable price, deducting the cost of Hot Air.
Please do clearly understand we are stilled filled up with orders for this Hot Air Heating and are meeting with every success, and we do not wish you to think that we feel we have failed, and our latest suggestion to you is only based on that we wish to give you every satisfaction and that you will continue to help us by allowing our confidence to remain with you as strong as ever.
Please thoroughly understand this is a big financial loss to ourselves which we are glad to offer with a view of being perfectly honourable and straightforward. If you wish the Oval Section tried we will do this at our own expense and rush it through in 4 to 5 days. The other sections at Coventry Road Bank we understand give satisfaction.
Six Ways, Aston.
Mr McMichael asked us to wire and provide for Key Sign at the above, we have finished to a porcelain ceiling rose.
Yours faithfully,
(Signed)
H R Prosser
Managing Director.
__________________________
27th February 1923.
Dear Sir,
With reference to our Mr Prosser's interview with you this afternoon, we have much pleasure in confirming the extension of our offer in our letter of the 26th to include Sparkbrook Branch and Balsall Heath, it being understood that we prepare a Plan with our scheme and estimate for Coventry Road first. Further that our work is passed by the Gas Department.
Thanking you,
Yours faithfully,
(Signed) H P Prosser
Managing Director.
P.S.
Will you please
instruct Mr McMichael to
send us blue print of
Coventry Rd., Balsall Heath
and Sparkbrook Branches.
267 RESOLVED:- That the Gas Circulatory Heating System be substituted for the Etna Heating System at the Sparkbrook, Small Heath and Balsall Heath Branches, and that the Etna Company be informed that in consideration of the Company waiving all claims in respect of accounts rendered for work carried out in installing their Patent Hot Air System at Small Heath, Sparkbrook, Balsall Heath and Erdington Branches, this Sub-Committee are agreeable that they should be allowed to install the Gas Circulatory Heating System as fitted at Selly Oak and Aston Branches, on the understanding that the work is carried out to the satisfaction of the Gas Department and the cost does not exceed relatively the tenders of the Gas Department already accepted for similar work.