Special Bank Committee: March 23rd 1925
2017 The following report of the General Purposes Sub-Committee was presented:
Aston Cross Branch Premises.
Your Sub-Committee report that an opportunity has now arisen of obtaining premises No 99 Aston Road North which adjoin the existing branch, where an extension in the near future is urgently needed.
The property in question is leasehold, and has a ground rent of £10. 18. 0. per annum. The present tenant has a lease of the premises until September 1926, but it is thought that if the property can be purchased on suitable terms, the Committee would be in a position to negotiate with the tenant for possession with a fair prospect of success.
Your Sub-Committee recommend that they be authorised to continue negotiations for the acquisition of this property and empowered to agree to purchase the same at a price up to £1,450.
2028 RESOLVED:- That negotiations
for the purchase of property No 99 Aston Road North be continued, and that the General Purposes Sub-Committee be empowered to agree
to acquire the property at a sum not exceeding £1,450.
General Purposes Sub-Committee: March 23rd 1925
The General Manager presented the following report with reference to the proposal to extend the Aston Cross Bank premises:
Aston Cross Branch Premises.
The opportunity which has now arisen of obtaining premises adjoining our present Branch is one, which, in my opinion, should not be allowed to pass without very careful consideration by the Committee.
The present Branch premises were purchased in May 1922 for the sum of £1020, leasehold with fifty two years to run. In addition to the Bank there is dwelling accommodation, which is let off at 12/6d per week, inclusive of rates. At the time of purchase there was no prospect of purchasing either of the adjoining premises.
Since the date when structural alterations were made and the premises formally opened in April 1923, the Branch has rapidly developed, necessitating an increase in the staff from two to three and later from three to four. The attached table shows the progress so far as the Savings Bank Department is concerned.
The available public space is 16 feet by 6 feet, and more cannot be given.
The Committee will appreciate that it is not possible to go on increasing the depositorship by an average of 47 per week (which is the position for the last twelve months) without providing more accommodation. It simply means that if nothing is done to increase the space, the Branch will reach the stage when it will decline through dissatisfied depositors, a course to be prevented. The increased transactions indicate the use which is being made of the Branch, and I believe, if taken at the tide, that increase will be further noticed.
It is true that the freehold could not be purchased in May 1922, and the position is the same to-day. There is a legal difficulty, but I am not without hopes that it will be overcome in time. The ground rent on the present premises is £10. 18. 0. and a similar amount is payable on the premises now offered to us.
The present tenant has a lease which expires in September 1926, but I think he might be bought out earlier at a reasonable figure.
The price asked, viz; £1450 is in my opinion, reasonable, having regard to the fact that it is realised we must sooner or later buy adjoining premises or seek premises elsewhere. The latter course would be a more expensive matter.
I recommend that the negotiations be continued and power given to buy at £1450, providing a lower price cannot be obtained.
Deposits (£) Withdrawals (£) No of Transactions No of Accounts Opened Five months ended March
31, 1921 11,482 2,351 2,745 610 Year ended March 31, 1922 27,949 15,714 9,655 823 " " " 31, 1923 45,546 23,795 16,375 1,198 " " " 31, 1924 83,567 37,077 31,416 2,445 Eleven months ended
Feb. 28, 1925 100,126 54,477 38,989 2,193
Mr Frank Wilde attended the meeting and stated that the premises in question, namely, 99 Aston Road North, were used as a coffee house with dwelling accommodation and were leased to the present tenant up to September 1926.
The premises come under the provisions of the Rent Restrictions Acts and Mr Wilde suggested that should the Bank Committee decide to acquire the premises, it would be preferable to defer negotiations with the tenants for possession until the completion of the purchase.
704 RESOLVED:- That the General Committee be recommended to authorise the continuance of the negotiations for the purchase of 99, Aston Road North, and to empower this Sub-Committee to agree to purchase the property at a price up to £1,450.
General Purposes Sub-Committee: July 13th 1925
772 The following Minute of the General Committee was received authorising negotiations with the tenant for possession of No 99, Aston Road North:
On Minute No 2092 (negotiations with tenant for possession of 99 Aston Road North) it was:
2105. RESOLVED:- That the matter be referred to the General Purposes Sub-Committee with power to take any necessary steps for obtaining possession.
The General Manager stated that Mr Wilde was taking the necessary action in the matter, and also that the question which had arisen as to putting in a fresh grate had been adjourned pending the result of the negotiation.
General Purposes Sub-Committee: October 12th 1925
On Minute No 772 (99 Aston Road North) the General Manager reported that Mr Wilde had succeeded in obtaining possession of these premises upon payment of £250 to the tenant, on the authority of the Chairman of the General Committee.
797 RESOLVED:- That the General Manager be instructed to arrange for a scheme to be prepared for the enlargement of a Aston Cross Branch.
General Purposes Sub-Committee: January 11th 1926
On Minutes Nos 772 and 797 (99, Aston Road North) the General Manager submitted the following tenders which had been received for the carrying out of the proposed alterations:
R Fenwick & Son £2,153
A Pearce & Son £2,170
Maddocks & Walford £2,179
P W Cox £2,247
E M Squire £2,275
F J Briley £2,485
W Sapcote & Sons £2,989
W & J Webb £3,125
844 RESOLVED:- That in view of the discrepancy between the amounts of the tenders received and the estimate of the City Surveyor's Department mentioned at the meeting of the General Committee held on the 16th November 1925, namely, £1550, the Chairman of the General Committee, Alderman Lovsey and Councillor Stephens, with the General Manager, be authorised to interview the City Surveyor with a view to ascertaining the cause of the discrepancy, and that in the meantime consideration of the matter be deferred.
Special meeting of the General Purposes Sub-Committee: January 18th 1926
On Minute No 844 (Alterations, Aston Cross Premises) the General Manager submitted the following report:
The Chairman (Councillor Appleby) and the General Manager have conferred with the Public Works Department on the question of discrepancy between the estimated amount of alterations and the lowest tender received.
The estimate given at the time the plan was approved did not include furniture and fittings, but in the quantities issued to tenderers prime cost items were included amounting to £335, and a sum of £100 provided for contingencies. The difference between the estimate and tenders is, therefore, not so great as appeared to be the case when the Sub-Committee considered the matter, and in the opinion of the Chairman and the General Manager the tender of Messrs Richard Fenwick Ltd, amounting to £2,153, might be accepted.
It is assumed that the Committee will deal with the furniture and fittings at a later date, as in previous contracts.
858 RESOLVED:- That the General Committee be recommended to accept the Tender of Messrs Richard Fenwick Limited, amounting to the sum of £2,153, for the necessary alterations at the Aston Cross Branch, subject to the items for furniture and fittings included in such tender being dealt with by the Committee at a later date; and to instruct the Town Clerk to prepare and seal the necessary Contract accordingly.
General Purposes Sub-Committee: April 12th 1926
915 The Sub-Committee were informed that the City Surveyor had been instructed to make a trial at the Aston Cross Branch of a stone preservative made by Messrs Allbright and Wilson.
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.
Bank Committee: April 19th 1926
On Minute Nos 2239 (Alterations - Aston Cross Branch) and 2273 (Alterations - Bordesley Green premises) the Town Clerk presented the following report with reference to the completion of the contracts in these cases:
I have to report that the following Contracts are now duly completed:
Minute 2239 R Fenwick Limited: Alterations at Nos 99-101, Aston Road North.
Minute 2273 A Pearce & Son Alterations at Bordesley Green premises.
I ask that the Minutes be discharged.
2324 RESOLVED:- That Minutes Nos 2239 and 2273 be discharged.
General Purposes Sub-Committee: December 10th 1928
On Minute No 1320, the General Manager presented the following report with regard to the available use of land and buildings purchased for branch bank purposes:
1329 RESOLVED:- That the foregoing report of the General Manager be approved.
General Purposes Sub-Committee: March 11th 1929
1380 The General Manager reported that he had been in correspondence with the agents (Messrs Parrott & Antrobus) for the acquisition of the freehold of the Aston Cross premises, but had been informed that their clients were not prepared to sell.
Finance Sub-Committee: January 13th 1930
The Sub-Committee were informed that since the last meeting, the following tenders for contracts
in connection with properties of the Bank had been accepted:
|
Name of Branch |
Description of work |
Contractor |
Amount of Accepted tender |
|
Balsall
Heath |
Painting |
John Taylor & Co |
£59. 0. 0. |
|
Acocks Green |
" |
J H Gay |
£49. 15. 0. |
|
Aston Cross |
" |
Bowen Bros |
£55. 0. 0. |
|
Sparkbrook |
" |
J H Simmons |
£58. 17. 6. |
|
Duddeston |
" |
J H Gay |
£45. 5. 0. |
|
Billesley |
" |
Ellis & Ward Ltd |
£67. 10. 0. |
398 RESOLVED:- That the action taken in accepting the above-mentioned tenders, be approved.
General Purposes Sub-Committee: June 8th 1931
On Minute No 1665 (Lighting of Branches) the following report of the General Manager was submitted:
Illuminated Signs at Branches.
The General Electric Co are hoping to fix a 30-ft. length of troughing at one of our branches during the course of next week. As soon as this is fixed, it would be desirable for Members of the Sub-Committee to inspect the same during the darker hours of the evening, in order to decide whether the experiment is satisfactory, and in order that prices may be obtained for carrying out such system of lighting in time for the next winter season.
1674 RESOLVED:- That the foregoing report be approved and that the General Manager be instructed to test the proposed illumination experiment at the Aston Cross Branch and to arrange for the same to be inspected by members of the Sub-Committee at a convenient time.
Bank Committee: October 19th 1931
The following report of the General Purposes Sub-Committee was presented:
Outside lighting of Branches.
Your Sub-Committee have viewed the experiments at Aston Cross Branch with "Neon" Lighting and Flood Lighting. They regard the demonstrations of both types of lighting as satisfactory and recommend the retention of both installations.
The cost of "Neon" lighting to the single sided key sign at this Branch is £43 and the consumption of electric current is stated to be one-quarter unit per hour, for which the charge of 2¼d. per unit will apply. The cost of the Flood lighting so as to show up the lettering on the stone front at this Branch, including thirty lamps, is £27. 19. 10. The lamps are 220 volts, 30 watts, and the consumption of electric current is stated to be 9/10th of a unit per hour for which the charge of 2¼d. per unit will apply.
Your Sub-Committee have accepted the offer of the Chairman of your Committee with the General Manager to furnish reports and recommendations as to outside lighting arrangements at other Branches of the Bank, particulars of which will be supplied from time to time.
It is recommended that the action taken in the matter be approved.
4203 RESOLVED:- That the arrangements made for the "Neon" and flood lighting at the Aston Cross Branch, as indicated in the foregoing report be confirmed; and that the proposal that the Chairman and General Manager shall furnish reports and recommendations as to outside lighting at other Branches of the Bank, be approved.
General Purposes Sub-Committee: March 14th 1932
With reference to the question of the outside illumination of branches, which was referred back to this Sub-Committee by the General Committee at their last meeting, the General Manager submitted a letter which he had received from the General Electric Co suggesting that the Bank should adopt the proposed illumination scheme at a few suitable branches.
After consideration the Sub-Committee were of opinion that it would be desirable to carry out Neon lighting to key signs at suitable branches where alternating current supply was applicable, but that it was not advisable to adopt flood lighting as at Aston Cross branch.
After considering suitable branches at which the Neon Lighting to keys would be desirable, it was:
1752 RESOLVED:- That the General Committee be recommended to approve the Neon Lighting to Key Signs at the Northfield, Cotteridge, Selly Park, Billesley, Hall Green and Witton Branches and that the General Manager obtain tenders therefor; also that in the event of the Pype Hayes Branch being on Alternating Current Supply a Key Sign be fixed and illuminated by Neon Lighting. The General Manager was further directed to consider the possibility of an illuminated box sign showing the name of the Bank on the stone facia.