Finance Sub-Committee: October 17th 1932

Your Sub-Committee report that the following arrangements have been made for a letting of the flat at Harborne branch:

Existing tenant; same terms and conditions are present, quarterly tenancy.

Report of the Town Clerk: December 17th 1932

Flat at Harborne

I have to report that the proposed let to R C Holbeche has fallen through and has subsequently been let to A E Green:

Annual Tenancy - £40 per annum.

Report of the Town Clerk: January 14th 1933

I have to report that I have completed a Tenancy Agreement as under:

A E Green

General Purposes Sub-Committee: October 8th 1934

See: https://www.bmbregs.org.uk/bmb-regulations_330.htm#B

Bank Committee: February 18th 1935

The following Minute of the Rating and Valuation Committee passed on the 25th January as to renting a portion of the projected new branch premises at Harborne was received:

1382   RESOLVED:- That, it being understood that the Bank Committee are contemplating erecting or acquiring new branch premises at Harborne, that Committee be informed that it is desired, if possible, to rent a portion of such premises for the purposes of a District Rate Office, on similar lines to the one rented at the Yardley Branch.

5347   RESOLVED:- That the Minute be referred to the Finance & General Purposes Sub-Committee for consideration in connection with a proposals for new branch bank premises at Harborne.

Bank Committee: April 15th 1935

The General Manager reported that the tender of Messrs B A Cashmore & Co at the sum of £14. 10. 0. for painting at the Harborne Branch, which work would take place during the Easter vacation, had been accepted, and it was:

5419   RESOLVED:- That the action taken in this matter be confirmed.

Bank Committee: May 27th 1935

5435   The following report of the Finance and General Purposes Sub-Committee was presented:

Harborne Branch Premises.

For some time the accommodation at the Harborne Branch has been inadequate to the requirements, and complaints have frequently been received from depositors as to the absence of reasonable privacy in connection with their transactions.

The premises do not lend themselves to a satisfactory reconstruction and in any case can only be enlarged at very heavy cost.

The growth of business at the Harborne Branch will be appreciated by the following figures:

Having regard to these facts, your Sub-Committee have made several enquiries as to possible sites in the centre of Harborne. As a result of a conference between the Chairman of the Public Works and Town Planning Committee, the Chairman of the Bank Committee, the City Surveyor and the General Manager, it was ascertained that the Public Works Department are desirous of effecting road widening in High Street, Harborne and have already acquired several properties fronting to High Street. Behind such properties there are six small cottages, and it would suit the conveniences of the Public Works Department also to acquire these cottages which come within the road widening requirements. There would thus be sufficient land, surplus to the needs of the Public Works Department, to meet the requirements of your Committee; and it was therefore agreed that the City Surveyor should take steps to acquire the cottages, and that the land surplus to the requirements of the Department should be transferred to the Bank on terms to be mutually agreed between the two Committees.

Your Sub-Committee ask approval to the Chairman's action.

5438   RESOLVED:- That this Committee approve the proposal to take over from the Public Works and Town Planning Committee an area of land at the rear of High Street, Harborne, on the lines indicated in the foregoing report, and that the action of the Chairman in regard thereto be confirmed.

Bank Committee: March 16th 1936

5638  The following report of the Finance and General Purposes Sub-Committee was presented:

Proposed purchase of property at Harborne.

Conferences have taken place between representatives of your Committee and representatives of the Public Works and Town Planning Committee as to the purchase of a suitable site at Harborne upon which a branch Bank could be erected to take the place of the existing premises at No 283 High Street, Harborne, which are now inadequate for Bank purposes, and unsuitable for further reconstruction.

Arrangements have been reached whereby the Public Works and Town Planning Committee will endeavour to secure a site at the junction of Ravenhurst Road and High Street, Harborne, and part of which will be required for street widening purposes. The property on the site is owned by several persons and the negotiations will be a little difficult, but it is hoped that it may be possible to effect the purchase at an inclusive figure of £3 per square yard. The Public Works and Town Planning Committee would be prepared to take such land as is required for street widening purposes at a price per yard approved by the District Valuer, and it is proposed that the Bank should pay the remainder of the purchase price.

If a suitable agreement can be reached the Public Works and Town Planning Committee would find other accommodation for the tenants of cottages on the site, which buildings would be demolished together with shops and houses fronting to High Street already acquired by that Committee, thus making a clear site for the erection of the Bank premises to the prescribed building line.

Your representatives intimated that the Public Works and Town Planning Committee should have the first opportunity of acquiring the present Bank premises, (which come within the street widening proposals) when the new building is ready, at a price to be mutually agreed between the two Committees.

Your Sub-Committee recommend that the action taken in this matter be confirmed.

5639   RESOLVED:- That the arrangement that the Public Works and Town Planning Committee should undertake negotiations for the purchase of property at the junction of Ravenhurst Road and High Street, Harborne, with the object in view that a portion of the site, when cleared, should be transferred to the Bank for the erection of a branch Bank thereon, on the lines indicated in the foregoing report be approved.

Bank Committee: June 15th 1936

5710   The following report of the Finance and General Purposes Sub-Committee was submitted:

Property at Harborne - Junction Ravenhurst Road and High Street.

As reported to your Committee on March 16th last, Conferences have taken place between representatives of your Committee and of the Public Works and Town Planning Committee for the purchase of a suitable site for branch Bank purposes to take the place of the existing premises at No 283 High Street, Harborne.

Negotiations were, accordingly, commenced for acquiring property at the junction of Ravenhurst Road and High Street consisting of six houses and six cottages at the rear. The negotiations were very involved and none of the parties concerned were willing sellers and the sum of £4,000 had been mentioned as the price for the 1480 square yards involved. The portion of the site required for road-widening could probably be secured for £150 to £200 so that the remaining cost would fall on the Bank.

The City Surveyor stated that no further progress could be made unless the property was acquired by means of a Compulsory Order, in which case an agreement with the Bank must be reached as to their contribution to the cost. In this connection it had been suggested that the Bank Committee should bear the cost of acquiring the property with its resultant obligation of finding alternative accommodation for the disposed tenants and then clear the site, after which the Public Works and Town Planning Committee would take over the land required for road-widening purposes at a site value to be fixed by the District Valuer.

The Bank representatives came to the conclusion that it was undesirable for the Bank to take over the responsibilities in question and, accordingly, it was agreed that negotiations should cease.

Your Sub-Committee recommend that the action taken in the matter be confirmed and Minute No 5639 of your Committee discharged.

Property at Harborne - 355-361, High Street.

Following upon the abandonment of negotiations for acquiring the property at the junction of Ravenhurst Road and High Street, above referred to, representatives for the Bank and Public Works and Town Planning Committee have discussed the possibility of acquiring property comprising two dwellinghouses and shops Nos 355 and 357 High Street, and dwellinghouses Nos 359 and 361 High Street, three cottages at the rear and a large area of land. The site has a frontage of about 58 feet 3 inches to High Street and a total approximate area of 875 square yards.

Your Sub-Committee are advised that there is a likelihood of a purchase being effected on reasonable terms, and have authorised further enquiries to be made in conjunction with the Public Works and Town Planning Committee as to the possibility of acquiring the property for the requirements of the two Committees mentioned.

5712   RESOLVED:- That the action taken in agreeing to discontinue the negotiations in respect of the property at the junction of Ravenhurst Road and High Street, Harborne, be confirmed, and that Minute No 5639 be discharged.

Bank Committee: December 21st 1936

5814   On Minute 5713 (Property Nos 355/361 High Street, Harborne) the Committee were informed that the Public Works and Town Planning Committee had decided to acquire the properties by compulsory purchase.

Finance & General Purposes Sub-Committee:  December 21st 1936

Your Sub-Committee recommend that the following arrangement be made for the letting of Harborne branch flat:

Letting to Mr H J Eastens at a rental of £35 per annum, tenant to be responsible for rates and internal repairs, the tenancy to be for one year certain and determinable by quarterly notice on usual quarterly days, except Christmas.

Bank Committee: May 24th 1937

5948   On Minute No 5713 (Property Nos 355/361, High Street, Harborne) the Committee were informed that the City Surveyor was proceeding with negotiations and it was intended to apply to the July meeting of the City Council for authority to treat.

Bank Committee: October 18th 1937

6028  On Minutes Nos 5713/5948 the General Manager reported that he had received a letter from the City Surveyor intimating the steps the Public Works and Town Planning Committee were taking to obtain property in High Street, Harborne. The Minutes were continued.

Bank Committee: February 21st 1938

On Minutes Nos 5713 and 5946 (Property, 355-361, High Street, Harborne) and 6078 (Land at Shirley), the Committee were informed that the General Manager would report in due course to the Finance & General Purposes Sub-Committee on these matters, and it was:

6137   RESOLVED:- That Minutes Nos 5713, 5948 and 6078 be discharged.

Bank Committee: July 25th 1938

Your Sub-Committee recommend that the following arrangement be made for the letting of the Harborne flat:

to be let to Mr Walter Ernest Ricketts of 415 Hobmoor Road, Yardley, at as early a date as possible and the present tenant relieved from his liability; the rental of the flat to be £35 per annum, the tenant being responsible for rates and internal repairs.

Report of the Town Clerk: November 8th 1938

I have to report that I have completed an Agreement for Tenancy of Harborne flat as follows:

W E Ricketts: one year from the 29th September 1938, at a rent of £35 per annum.