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General Purposes Sub-Committee: July 9th 1928

 

1301 With reference to Minute No 1284 (painting of Bank Premises) an intimation had been received from Dr Innes that arrangements could be made for the painters employed by the Education Department to undertake the work, and the General Manager was accordingly directed to obtain tenders from private firms and also the Estates Department in due course.

 

Finance Sub-Committee: July 9th 1928

 

The General Manager reported on a suggested arrangement for the insurance of window cleaners, and a question was raised as to a contract being arranged for the cleaning of all windows at Head Office and Branches.

 

227    RESOLVED:- That the General Manager be instructed to consider the whole question and report the this Sub-Committee in due course.

 

General Purposes Sub-Committee: October 8th 1928

 

1320 The following communication from the General Purposes Committee with regard to building sites for corporate purposes was submitted:

 

October 3rd 1928

 

Building Sites for Corporate Purposes

 

The General Purposes Committee have recently had under consideration questions arising upon the position created between a purchasing committee and the Public Works and Town Planning Committee where the latter Committee require a certain portion of the area acquired for road improvement or highway purposes. The following principle was ultimately agreed, and as it is of general application I am instructed to send a copy of your information and guidance:

 

"That where a Council Committee buy sites in undeveloped or town planned areas they must conform to the set building lines as other owners, land being taken for highway purposes being paid for by the Public Works and Town Planning Committee, the purchasing Committee meeting the usual charges under the appropriate Town Planning Scheme, but where sites are bought in developed areas and the building line is set back to enable a road improvement to be made on a rebuilding, the Public Works and Town Planning Committee shall pay for the area outside the building line required for the road improvement".

 

The Sub-Committee were informed that, arising out of this matter, negotiations were proceeding with the City Surveyor with a view to deciding on the amount to be paid for land taken over by the Public Works Department.

 

On Minute No 212 (Charges of Public Works Department for Architectural Work) the General Manager reported that he had approached the City Surveyor with reference to the charges, amounting to £1,508, made in respect of architectural work and supervision carried out by the Public Works Department in connection with certain Bank premises. The City Surveyor had now agreed to reduce this amount to £1,415.

 

236     RESOLVED:- That Minute No 212 be discharged and that the account for the reduced amount of £1,415 be passed for payment.

 

On Minute No 227 (Arrangement as to cleaning windows) the General Manager presented the following report:

 

Cost of Window Cleaning

 

At the last meeting of the Sub-Committee, when submitting a proposal that the Bank should effect an insurance at a premium of £10 per annum to cover any claim in respect of injury to the workmen of small contractors who clean branch bank windows, it was thought by some of the Members that the work could be undertaken more economically, with all risks covered, by a reliable Window Cleaning Company.

 

Some years ago various companies were approached but it was then found that the work could be done more economically by small local contractors, and accordingly the cleaning has been left in the hands of the various branch managers to arrange, with the approval of Head Office.

 

The total cost under existing arrangements (excluding Head Offices, which are cleaned by contract with a large Window Cleaning Company) works out at £125. 17. 10d.

 

Estimates have been obtained from several companies, the quote was as follows:

 

 

It would appear, therefore, that the existing arrangements are economical, and as the work is done satisfactorily I see no reason for making any change.

 

Accordingly, I recommend that an insurance be effected to cover the risk as mentioned above at an annual premium of £10.

 

237    RESOLVED:- That the foregoing report of the General Manager be approved, that the existing arrangements with regard to the cleaning of windows at Bank premises be continued, and that the General Manager be instructed to effect an insurance to cover any claims in respect to the Contractors' workmen engaged on this work, at an annual premium of £10.

 

Finance Sub-Committee: December 10th 1928

 

On Minute No 256 (Insurance of Plate Glass), the General Manager reported that the premiums paid in respect of this insurance amounted to £75 last year whereas the highest amount claimed during any one year had only been £29. 13. 5d.

 

The Sub-Committee were of the opinion that it would be more advantageous to discontinue the insurance, and to build up a Fund out of which the cost of breakages and replacements could be defrayed, both in regard to Head Office and the whole of the Branches; and it was, accordingly:

 

263    RESOLVED:- That the General Committee be recommended to approve of the establishment of such a special Fund accordingly.

 

The General Manager submitted the following report with regard to the acceptance of estimates for painting at branches:

 

Painting at Branches.

 

Since the last meeting of the Committee, Councillor Spragg has gone closely into this matter with Mr Wilde and myself, and specifications have been prepared and estimates accepted as hereunder:

 

 

The work is being done under the supervision of Mr Frank Wilde, and with a personal oversight by Councillor Spragg, who has been most helpful, and has gone to considerable trouble both in the drafting of specifications and inspecting and testing the work at various stages.

 

264     RESOLVED:- That the action taken in accepting the estimates referred to be confirmed, and that Mr Councillor Spragg be thanked for the attention and interest he has devoted to this matter.

 

Bank Committee: December 17th 1928

 

3262 The following report of the General Purposes Sub-Committee was presented:

 

Upkeep of Land adjoining Temporary Buildings.

 

Your Sub-Committee have gone into the question of the upkeep of land adjoining certain temporary branches and have received quotations from the Estates and Parks Departments for the necessary attention being given thereto. Both Departments are willing to carry out the work for the sum of £50 for a period of twelve months. In view of the fact that duties of this description appear to be delegated to the Parks Committee under the Standing Orders, your Sub-Committee recommend that arrangements be made with the Parks Department to undertake the work at the price mentioned. The work in question would apply to the grounds at the Billesley, Birchfield, Bordesley Green, Brookvale, Perry Common, Pype Hayes, Sparkhill and Stechford branches.

 

3263   RESOLVED:- That the General Manager be instructed to arrange with the Parks Department for the upkeep of land adjoining certain temporary Branches, as indicated in the foregoing Report, at the sum of £50 for a period of twelve months.

 

General Purposes Sub-Committee: January 14th 1929

 

On Minute No 1333 (Cost of new Bank Buildings), the General Manager presented the following report:

 

Cost of New Bank Buildings.

 

The Chairman of the full Committee and the Chairman of the Sub-Committee have considered the two questions referred to them as to whether economy could be effected in the cost of new buildings.

 

They are satisfied that so far as the Bank itself is concerned, there is no necessity to reduce the standard already set, and that there would be no appreciable economy in substituting brick fronts for stone fronts.

 

With regard to the dwelling accommodation above the Bank, the Chairmen, while realising that the flats are finished off in a good manner, do not feel they can recommend any definite policy to be followed in respect of future buildings, as the Committee must be guided by the Architect they employ. The size of the rooms and general lay-out are governed to a large extent by the type of building on the ground floor, and the only opinion the Chairmen can express is that each plan should be carefully considered at the time it is submitted, so that the Committee can determine the type of flat which, in their view, would best suit the neighbourhood in which the building is to be erected.

 

The Bank Committee have always been guided by Mr Wilde, their Valuer, as to the rentals which should be charged for the flats, and they are satisfied, after examining the figures, that there is nothing to complain of so far as the rentals being received are concerned.

 

1346   RESOLVED:- That the foregoing report be approved; that no change be made in the standard adopted for the stone fronts of Bank buildings; and that with regard to the dwelling accommodation to be included in future Bank buildings, this is governed by the type of building on the ground floor, and the neighbourhood in which the building is to be erected, with a view to commanding, if possible, an economic rental.

 

General Purposes Sub-Committee: February 11th 1929

 

1360 The Sub-Committee were informed that a letter had been received from Mr J B Surman asking to be placed upon the list of building contractors for the Bank, and the General Manager was instructed to arrange accordingly.

 

Finance Sub-Committee: February 11th 1929

 

The Sub-Committee further considered the proposal to establish a fund out of which could be defrayed the cost of renewals of plate glass. In view of the small annual cost hitherto involved the Sub-Committee were of opinion that there was no necessity to establish such a fund, and it was accordingly:

 

296     RESOLVED:- That the General Committee be recommended to authorise that future charges in respect of plate glass at the Head Offices and Branches out of revenue.

 

Bank Committee: February 18th 1929

 

3338 The following report of the Finance Sub-Committee was presented:

 

Examination of Fire Extinguishers.

 

The question of the examination and maintenance of fire extinguishers at Head Offices and Branches, has been considered, and your Sub-Committee recommend that the offer of the makers (Messrs C Winn & Co) to undertake such examination and maintenance at a yearly charge of 4/- per extinguisher be accepted.

 

With reference to the foregoing report relating to the examination of fire extinguishers, the General Manager stated that he had been in further communication with Messrs C Winn & Co who were prepared to examine discharge and recharge each extinguisher every alternate year at 4/- each, and in the intervening years to examine and keep in proper working order such extinguisher at a cost of 2/6d each.

 

3341   RESOLVED:- That the offer of Messrs C Winn & Co as outlined above to be accepted.

 

General Purposes Sub-Committee: October 14th 1929

 

Attention was called to letters which had been received from Messrs Nicol and Nicol and Mr Horsham, architects, asking to be allowed to submit plans for the erection of Bank premises.

 

1447  RESOLVED:- That the names of the above-mentioned be added to the list of architects.

 

Finance Sub-Committee: October 14th 1929

 

The General Manager reported that applications had been received from the Etna Lighting & Heating Company and Messrs Craftinwood Ltd to be allowed to tender for works in connection with the branch banks of the Bank.

 

367     RESOLVED:- That no action be taken in the matter.

 

Bank Committee: November 11th 1929

 

The Committee discussed the general question of the placing of commissions with Architect1929s for the erection of branch premises, it was:

 

3567   RESOLVED:- That this question be referred to the General Purposes Sub-Committee for consideration and report.

 

3568   RESOLVED:- That the General Manager be instructed to arrange for the General Purposes Sub-Committee to visit the sites in question on Wednesday, the 20th instant, departing from the Bank Head Office at 10:30am.

 

Finance Sub-Committee: December 9th 1929

 

The Sub-Committee considered the question of disinfecting of telephone instruments and the General Manager submitted a quotation from the Phonotas Co Ltd for the disinfection of all Bank telephones at a quarterly cost of £6. 18. 0. Having regard to the risk of infecting from this source, owing to accumulation of dirt, etc, the Sub-Committee were of opinion that the system might be tried at Head Office for a period of twelve months, and it was:

 

383     RESOLVED:- That the General Manager be instructed to make arrangements accordingly.

 

The General Manager reported that Mr Wilde had raised the point as to the desirability of continuing the practice of effecting leases for a three years' tenancy of Bank flats, and calling upon the tenants to pay the necessary legal charges on the lease Mr Wilde expressing the view that a simple form of agreement might be executed to meet such cases.

 

387     RESOLVED:- That, subject to the observations of the Town Clerk, he be generally instructed to prepare, in future cases where the tenancy of Bank flats is for no longer than three years, a suitable agreement instead of a lease, and that no charge (other than stamp duty) be made to the tenant; but that in cases where the tenancy is for a longer period than three years, the usual form of lease be prepared at the expense of the lessee.

 

 

 

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