General Purposes Sub-Committee: March 26th 1923

303 On Minute No 297 (provisional acceptance of the tender of Mr W E Favell for the erection of a branch bank at Handsworth) the Town Clerk submitted the following letter which he had received from Mr G McMichael:

105, Colmore Row,

Birmingham.

24th March, 1923.

Dear Sir,

Proposed New Municipal bank, Handsworth.

With reference to Mr W E Favell's tender for this work I understand the only large Contract he had done is for 16 houses at Selly Oak.

My report with regard to this Contract is that he had to be continually bolstered up to meet his liabilities, certificates in some cases having to be issued in advance of the work actually done. The Contract was however satisfactorily completed for this class of work, which, however, is quite different to the finish required for Bank work.

Having regard to the present possible dead-lock in the Building trade my advice is not to accept a tender at the moment.

Yours faithfully,

Gerald McMichael.

The Town Clerk pointed out that the letter had only been received that morning, and the Sub-Committee in view of all the circumstances, and in the light of information obtained as to the manner in which Mr Favell had carried out previous contracts of the Corporation, were of opinion that the proposal to accept his tender, subject to the Council's approval, should be adhered to.

General Purposes Sub-Committee: April 9th 1923

The General Manager stated that it had been necessary to terminate the Agreement as to the billposting station at Grove Lane and Soho Road site, Handsworth, in view of the proposed erection of the new building, and the Town Clerk had been authorised by the Chairman of the General Committee to take the necessary steps accordingly.

320     RESOLVED:- That the action referred to be confirmed.

With reference to the proposed erection of Branch Bank premises at Handsworth, the following letter from Mr W E Favell was submitted:

169, Waterloo Road,

South Yardley,

BIRMINGHAM.

7th April 1923.

Dear Sir,

Erection of a Municipal Bank, Handsworth.

Owing to lack of capital, I regret to inform you that I am unable to undertake the work in the above, and I should be pleased if you would allow me to withdraw my tender.

I am,

Yours faithfully,

(sgd) W E Favell.

324    RESOLVED:- That the General Committee be recommended to allow Mr W E Favell to withdraw his tender for the carrying out of the work and to accept the next tender, that of Messrs T Elvins & Sons, at the sum of £3,697, and to amend the instructions to the Town Clerk for the preparation and sealing of the Contract accordingly

Bank Committee: April 16th 1923

1384 The following Minutes of the City Council, passed on presentation of the Committee's Report on March the 27th with reference to the erection of premises at Handsworth, was submitted.

26312 Mr Councillor Appleby presented the following Report from the Bank Committee:

REPORT.

Site at Corner of Grove Lane and Soho Road, Handsworth:

Proposed Branch Bank.

Your Committee reported to the Meeting of the City Council on the 30th May last that, through the medium of the Public Works and Town Planning Committee, an excellent site has been acquired for the purpose of the erection at the appropriate time of permanent Branch Premises in this locality. The land in question has an area of 238 square yards, and is situated at the junction of important thoroughfares near the shopping centre in this district. A plan showing the site referred to will be exhibited at the Council Meeting.

Your Committee being of opinion that the time has arrived when the building should be proceeded with, have advertised for Tenders for the erection of a permanent Branch Bank with dwelling accommodation. It is desired that the work should be carried out without delay, and the lowest tender, that of Mr W E Favell, of Waterloo Road, South Yardley, has been provisionally accepted at the sum of £3,650.

This amount will be provided from the funds of the Bank, and in accordance with No 10 of the Bank Rules, the Committee now ask for the approval of the City Council to their action.

It was moved by Councillor Appleby, seconded by Mr Councillor Sharkey, and

26,313 RESOLVED:- That the acceptance by the Bank Committee of the tender of Mr W E Favell, at the sum of £3,650, for the erection of Branch Bank premises and dwelling accommodation on the site acquired by them at the corner of Grove Lane and Soho Road, Handsworth, such sum to be defrayed out of the Bank, be approved and confirmed.

It was moved by Mr Councillor Appleby, seconded Alderman G Cadbury Junior, and

26314 RESOLVED:- That the Report of the Bank Committee be approved.

Report of the General Purposes Sub-Committee:

Proposed erection of Branch Bank at Handsworth.

Your Sub-Committee report that a letter has been received from Mr W E Favell, the Contractor whose tender was recently accepted by your Committee for the carrying out of this work, stating that owing to lack of capital, he is unable to carry out the contract, and asking to be allowed to withdraw his tender.

Your Sub-Committee recommend that Mr Favell be allowed to withdraw his tender, and that the tender of Messrs T Elvins & Sons at the sum of £3,697 for the carrying out of the work be accepted; also that the instruction to the Town Clerk for the preparation and sealing of the Contract be amended accordingly.

Bill Posting Station, Handsworth.

The Town Clerk has been authorised to terminate the Agreement with the Birmingham Bill Posting Company in respect of the hoarding on the site at the corner of Grove Lane and Soho Road, Handsworth, as from the 30th April, 1923.

1395 RESOLVED:- That Mr W E Favell be allowed to withdraw his tender for the erection of a Branch Bank at Handsworth; that the tender of Messrs T Elvins & Sons at the sum of £3,697, for the carrying out of the work be accepted; and that the instructions to the Town Clerk for the preparation and sealing of the necessary Contract be amended accordingly; further, that the confirmation of the City Council be asked in due course to the action taken.

1397 RESOLVED:- That the action taken in authorising the Town Clerk to terminate the Agreement with the Birmingham Bill Posting Co in respect of the Advertisement Station on the site at corner of Grove Lane and Soho Road, Handsworth, as from 30th April next, be confirmed.

General Purposes Sub-Committee: May 14th 1923

Mr McMichael attended the Sub-Committee and submitted a letter which he had received from Messrs Elvins & Sons asking for the time limit for the completion of the erection of the Branch Bank at Handsworth to be extended, as they considered the time allowed was too short for carrying out the work involved.

342    RESOLVED:- That the Chairman of the General Committee be authorised to grant an extension of time to seven months if he considers this course necessary or desirable.

345 The General Manager reported that temporary arrangements had been made with the Birmingham Bill-Posting Co by which the hoarding at the corner of Grove Lane and Soho Road, Handsworth, could be set back to a new line to be settled by Mr McMichael, the Bill-Posting Co to pay a rental of £5 a quarter during the continuance of this arrangement.

Bank Committee: May 28th 1923

1426 On Minute No 1395 (Erection of Branch Bank at Handsworth – Contract with Messrs T Elvins & Sons), the Committee were informed that Messrs Elvins & Sons had applied for certain alterations to be made in the conditions, and an interview was to be held that day between the Contractors’ representatives and the Chairman and General Manager to discuss the matter.

Bank Committee: June 18th 1923

1449 The following Minutes of the City Council, passed on the presentation of the Committee’s report on the 5th June last, were received:

It was moved by Mr Councillor Appleby, seconded by Mr Councillor Whitehouse, and Resolved:

26,408. That Council Minute No 26,313 be rescinded, and that the action of the Bank Committee in accepting the tender of Messrs T Elvins and Sons, at the sum of £3,697, for the erection of Branch Bank premises and dwelling accommodation on the site acquired by the said Committee at the corner of Grove Lane and Soho Road, Handsworth, such sum to be defrayed out of the funds of the Bank, be approved and confirmed.

On Minute No 1395, the Town Clerk presented the following report to the completion and sealing of the Contract with Messrs T Elvins & Sons for erection of Branch Bank at Handsworth:

June 5th 1923

I have prepared and completed the Contract with Messrs T Elvins & Sons for the erection of the new branch Bank at Handsworth.

The Corporate Seal has been fixed to the document.

1451 RESOLVED: That Minute No 1395 be discharged.