General Purposes Sub-Committee: June 12th 1922
With reference to Minute No 103 (Lease of 159, Dudley Road) the following reports of Mr McMichael and Mr Wilde were received:
Report of Gerald McMichael, ARIBA dated May 26th 1922:
Re 155 - 7 - 9 Dudley Road.
In reply to yours of the 19th instant I have inspected these premises with Mr Wilde and beg to report as follows.
If you adapted Nos 157 and 155 utilising the two back rooms you would have a frontage of 30 feet, for purpose of comparison Kings Heath is 24 feet and Stratford Road 43 feet frontage.
The area of the bank hall would be about the same as at Stratford Road and it would be necessary to use one of the sculleries for a mess room the whole of the upstairs being turned into one flat. This arrangement might meet your requirements for the time being, in fact I should think it probably would do so.
No 159 has a frontage of 19' 10" which includes the entry leading to the back, there appears to be some doubt with regard to the other access down an adjoining passage, later on it would probably be necessary to take 159 in and put a front access to the first floor which could be converted into a flat for a Manager, the total frontage would then be 50 feet.
This I think will give your Committee, as to area for Bank purposes, a general idea as to sizes.
Report of Frank Wilde, FAI dated May 31st 1922
Re 155, 157 & 159 Dudley Road.
In accordance with your instructions, I have inspected the above property with Mr McMichael, and I gather that two of the Shops would convert into a Banking hall similar to those recently altered by him, providing a Living Rooms at rear were included. This would mean that the Tenants of No 155 and 157 would have their accommodation curtailed.
If you wish to make an immediate alteration it would be advisable to accept Mr Watkins' offer to surrender his Tenancy of No 155, he removing the Tenant for Life of that particular house to No 159. In consideration of which you would grant him (Mr Watkins) a Lease of No 159, but an Indemnity should be obtained from this Tenant for Life, in the event of her removal, to obviate the possibility of a claim for compensation.
If at some future time it became desirable to further extend your Bank over the Site occupied by the three Shops, I think the question might arise as to your right of user of the Gateway entrance of the Property. It might, therefore, be advisable to retain the existing entry to the rear of your Property, and this would make the further extension of the Bank frontage difficult, but, doubtless, this could be overcome.
If you do not require to alter the Premises for some time, or should there be a likelihood of your wishing to occupy the Site of the three Shops within the next seven years, it would be advisable to consider Mr Watkins' suggestion.
111 RESOLVED:- That, after having considered the Reports above referred to, this Sub-Committee is of opinion that the proposal made by Mr Watkins is one which should be acceded to and they recommend the General Committee accordingly.
Bank Committee: June 19th 1922
The following report of the General Purposes Sub-Committee was presented:
Application for Extension of Lease, 159 Dudley Road.
Your Sub-Committee have had under consideration a renewed application from Mr Watkins, Lessee of No 159 Dudley Road, for an extension of the lease of No 155 Dudley Road to be terminated and for removing the tenant for life of that house to No 159 in order that No 155 may be placed at the disposal of the Bank.
Your Sub-Committee have had before them the reports of Mr Wilde and Mr McMichael on the matter, and after careful consideration, they are of opinion that providing satisfactory arrangements can be made with the tenant of No 155 and alternative accommodation provided for the sub-tenant of No 157 the adaption of these two premises will be sufficient to meet the needs of the Bank for some time to come, and they therefore recommend that the matter be referred to your Chairman, the Chairman of this Sub-Committee, the Town Clerk, and the Manager with authority to agree to Mr Watkins' proposal if possible.
1168 RESOLVED:- That the question of the extension of the lease of No 159 Dudley Road be referred to the Chairman, the Chairman of this Sub-Committee, the Town Clerk and the Manager, with authority to agree to the proposal of Mr Watkins referred to in the foregoing Report, subject to satisfactory arrangements being made as to the tenancies of Nos 155 and 157 Dudley Road.
General Purposes Sub-Committee: July 10th 1922
With reference to the application made on behalf of the lessee of 159 Dudley Road for an extension of lease the Sub-Committee were informed that Councillors Appleby and Gelling had authorised Mr F Wilde to arrange for a further Lease to be granted to Mrs Watkins of 159 Dudley Road for a period of 7 years at the present rental, viz: £45 per annum, with option to renew for a further period of 7 years at an incremental rental of £10 per annum; on the understanding that Mr Watkins is able to arrange for vacanct possession to be given of No 155 Dudley Road and to make arrangements satisfactory to the Town Clerk as to the tenant for life (Mrs Cox).
128 RESOLVED:- That the action taken by Councillors Appleby and Gelling be approved and that the General Committee be recommended to instruct the Town Clerk to prepare and seal any necessary documents and to terminate any existing Agreements, if necessary.
Bank Committee: July 17th 1922
1196a The following report of the General Purposes Sub-Committee was presented:
Lease of No 159, Dudley Road.
Your Sub-Committee have further considered the application made on behalf of the lessee of No 159, Dudley Road for an extension of her Lease. They now recommend that, subject to Mr Watkins being able to arrange for vacant possession to be given of No 155, Dudley Road, and arrangements satisfactory to the Town Clerk being made as to the tenant for life of the latter premises, a further Lease be granted to Mrs Watkins of 159, Dudley Road at the present rental, viz £45 per annum, for a period of seven years, with option to renew for a further seven years at an increased rental of £10 per annum. It is also recommended that the Town Clerk be authorised to prepare and seal any necessary documents in the matter and to terminate any existing Agreements, obtaining a Bond of Indemnity from the tenant for life of No 155, Dudley Road, if he considers it desirable to do so.
1199 RESOLVED:- That, subject to the arrangements regarding No 155 Dudley Road, referred to in the foregoing report being carried out as indicated therein, the Town Clerk be authorised to enter into and attach the Corporate Seal to a fresh Lease to Mrs Watkins of No 159, Dudley Road, on the terms mentioned in the report, and to terminate any existing Agreements where necessary, obtaining, if he considers it desirable, a Bond of Indemnity from Mrs Cox, the tenant for life of No 155, Dudley Road.
1200 RESOLVED:- That the Manager be authorised to instruct the Architect to prepare plans and estimates for carrying out of the required alterations to the Dudley Road premises to meet the future needs of the Bank, and that the matter be referred to the General Purposes Sub-Committee.
General Purposes Sub-Committee: September 5th 1922
The following communication was received from the General Committee with reference to the proposed alterations at Dudley Road:
RESOLVED:- That the Manager be authorised to instruct the Architect to prepare plans and estimates for the carrying out of the required alterations to the Dudley Road premises to meet the future needs of the Bank and that the matter be referred to the General Purposes Sub-Committee.
The Manager reported that the plan had been prepared by Mr McMichael in accordance with the foregoing instruction, and had been submitted to the Chairman and the Chairman of the General Committee. The Architect had been instructed to revise the plan to provide for living accommodation for two families behind the Bank premises, and it was:
142 RESOLVED:- That the action taken in the matter be confirmed, and that Mr McMichael be instructed, on approval of the amended plan, to obtain tenders for the carrying out of the work.
The Manager reported as to the tenancies of Dudley Road and Aston Cross. In accordance with an undertaking given to the Housing and Estates Committee, the living accommodation at one of the two houses at Dudley Road would be offered to a suitable tenant nominated by them, and it was proposed that arrangements should be made for the two policemen at present occupying a portion of the living accommodation at Kings Heath to be transferred to Aston Cross.
145 RESOLVED:- That the proposals
above mentioned be approved.
Bank Committee: September 25th 1922
On Minute No 1199 (159, Dudley Road – lease to Mr Walters) the following report of the Town Clerk was also presented:
August 30th 1922
159, Dudley Road.
I have to report that a Lease of the above premises to Mr Frank Walters has now been completed in accordance with your instructions. The yearly rent is £45 for the term of the Lease (seven years) with an option to renew for a further seven years at a rental of £55.
I understand that vacant possession of No 157, Dudley Road has now been given, and the tenant for life accommodated at No 159. Mr Walters’ Lease is, therefore, made subject to this life interest.
1215 RESOLVED: That Minute No 1199 be discharged.
Finance Sub-Committee: October 9th 1922
The Manager reported that in view of the alterations being carried out at Aston, Duddeston, Rotton Park and Ladywood Branches, as a precautionary measure, cash in excess of £50 was brought in to Head Office, pending suitable instructions being given by the Sub-Committee.
The Manager reported that in the ordinary way each daily Branch (except Saltley) was covered in respect of loss or theft up to £2,000 by the Guarantee Society and he considered that £1,000 in each case would be sufficient to cover the Branches named during the progress of the alterations.
87 RESOLVED:- That the Manager be authorised to approach the Guarantee Society with a view to Aston, Duddeston, Rotton Park and Ladywood Branches being covered for an amount of £1,000 in each case during the period of the alterations.
With reference to Saltley Branch, the Manager reported that this Branch was only covered for £300. This caused hardship on the officers and incurred considerable risk in the transit of cash. The Manager suggested that the Guarantee Society should be approached with a view to this Branch being covered for £1,000.
88 RESOLVED:- That the Manager be authorised to make arrangements accordingly.
General Purposes Sub-Committee: October 9th 1922
On Minute No 142 (Alterations, Rotton Park Branch) the Manager reported that the tenants of the dwelling houses Nos 155 and 157, Dudley Road, had given vacant possession. Having regard to the urgent necessity of this work being proceeded with, it was:
176 RESOLVED:- That the General Committee be recommended to authorise their Chairman, with the Chairman of this Sub-Committee and the Manager, to accept a suitable tender for the carrying out of the work.
Bank Committee: October 16th 1922
1236a The following report of the General Purposes Sub-Committee was presented:
Alterations to Rotton Park Branch.
The tenants of the dwelling houses Nos 155 & 157 Dudley Road having now given vacant possession, your Sub-Committee have approved of a plan submitted by the Architect for enlarging the present Branch bank and making the living accommodation suitable for 2 families, and have directed that tenders be obtained for the necessary work. Having regard to the urgent necessity of this work being proceeded with, your Sub-Committee recommend that the Chairman with the Chairman of your Sub-Committee and the Manager be authorised to accept a tender thereof, and that the Town Clerk be empowered, on the acceptance of such tender, to prepare and affix the Corporate Seal to a Contract if necessary.
1241 RESOLVED: That the Chairman, the Chairman of the General Purposes Sub-Committee and the General Manager be empowered to accept the most suitable tender for the required alterations at the Rotton Park Branch (157, Dudley Road); and that he and the Town Clerk be empowered, on the acceptance of such tender, to prepare and affix the Corporate Seal to a Contract, if necessary.
Bank Committee: December 18th 1922
On Minute No 1241 (Alterations 155-157, Dudley Road) the Town Clerk presented the following report as to the preparations and completion of the Contract with Messrs W Sapcote & Sons:
December 16th 1922
I have prepared and completed a Contract with Messrs W Sapcote & Sons for alterations and additions to Nos 155 and 157, Dudley Road, Birmingham.
The Corporate Common Seal has been affixed to the document.
1276 RESOLVED:- That Minute No 1241 be discharged.
The following report of the General Purposes Sub-Committee was presented:
Alterations, Rotton Park Branch.
Your Sub-Committee report that the tender of W Sapcote and Sons has been accepted for the carrying out of the required alterations at the Rotton Park Branch (157 Dudley Road) at the sum of £1429, and as empowered by Minute No 1241 of your Committee they have authorised the Town Clerk to prepare and affix the Corporate Seal to the necessary contract.
1293 RESOLVED:- That the Report of the General Purposes Sub-Committee be approved and the various actions therein referred to confirmed.