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General Purposes Sub-Committee: January 13th 1930

 

The following report of the General Manager relating to the up-keep of grounds etc attached to Bank premises was received:

 

Outlay and Cost of Upkeep of Gardens, etc attached to Bank Premises.

 

The cost of providing fences, rails, etc to enclose plots of land around certain branches, and laying out the land with shrubs, etc is a matter which, in my opinion, should receive further consideration. In addition to the original outlay, there is a recurring cost in keeping the grounds tidy and attending to the shrubs.

 

At Alum Rock, Bearwood, Birchfield, Bordesley Green, Little Bromwich, and Sparkhill, instead of allowing the forecourts to be added to the public footpath, the Committee decided to erect a low brick wall with iron railings, and thus enclose the forecourts. The costs incurred in so doing, and planting with shrubs, etc have been as follows:

 

 

The land forming the site of temporary branches at Billesley, Brookvale, Perry Common, Pype Hayes and Stechford has been enclosed with wood fencing at the following costs:

 

 

The arrangement with the Parks Committee regarding upkeep applies to Billesley, Birchfield, Bordesley Green, Brookvale, Perry Common, Pype Hayes, Sparkhill and Stechford, and we pay at the rate of £50 per annum for the necessary attention. The arrangement is subject to revision at the end of March 1930. No instructions have been given as yet regarding upkeep at Alum Rock, Bearwood, Heybarnes, or Little Bromwich.

 

I am of opinion that the arrangement with the Parks Committee should cease at the end of March next. The plots have not received the attention they ought to have had, and do not reflect much credit either on the Parks Department or the Bank. It would be better to place the duty upon the officer-in-charge of the branch so far as daily branches are concerned, and upon the Inspectors as regards temporary branches, of seeing that the plots receive the necessary attention and paying a man at gardening rates on the basis of time worked.

 

As regards future Bank premises, I am of opinion that the policy of enclosing forecourts with a brick or stone wall and iron railings should be abandoned, and that the land should be thrown in the public footpath, or a cheaper type of enclosure arranged.

 

1486   RESOLVED:- That the foregoing report of the General Manager be approved; that the General Committee be recommended to terminate the arrangement with the Parks Committee for the up-keep of grounds adjoining Bank premises as from 31st March next, and to instruct the General Manager to make such arrangements for their maintenance in good order as he may consider desirable; further, that in regard to future Bank premises, the question of dealing with forecourts or surplus land by railing in or throwing into the public footpath be considered in each individual case.

 

The question was considered of the special circumstances pertaining to the women cleaners employed at Bank premises, it being pointed out that their attendance at the different Branches involved their travelling considerable distances, entailing expenses in tram fares etc.

 

1488  RESOLVED:- That the General Manager be instructed to pay a reasonable amount to each cleaner in respect of travelling and out-of-pocket expenses.

 

General Purposes Sub-Committee: March 10th 1930

 

1515 The General Manager reported that Mt Leonard Voisey had applied to be included in the list of Quantity Surveyors in connection with Bank contracts. The Sub-Committee were of opinion that this matter should be fully considered, and directed the General Manager to report at the next meeting as to the desirability of the Bank appointing Quantity Surveyors in connection with Bank contracts.

 

General Purposes Sub-Committee: April 14th 1930

 

On Minute No 1515 (Quantity Surveyors) the General Manager reported that further applications had been received from Quantity Surveyors to act on behalf of the Bank.

 

1523   RESOLVED:- That consideration of the matter be deferred until the next building scheme is under consideration.

 

General Purposes Sub-Committee: May 12th 1930

 

On Minutes Nos 1436, 1479 and 1525 (suggested sites for Branches) it was:

 

1536   RESOLVED:- That the General Manager be instructed to arrange for the Sub-Committee to visit the sites accompanied by the City Surveyor at 10am on Tuesday, June 3rd.

 

On Minute No 1515 (Quantity Surveyors) the General Manager reported that a further application to act on behalf of the Bank had been received from Messrs Wakeman, Collins, & Brittain, Quantity Surveyors, but the Sub-Committee being of opinion that it was unnecessary to employ Quantity Surveyors in addition to the Architect in connection with the building of branches, it was:

 

1537   RESOLVED:- That Minute No 1515 be discharged.

 

1541 An application was received from Mr J Lawden (Architect) to undertake architectural work on behalf of the Bank, which application the General Manager was directed to include in the list of Architects who had made similar applications.

 

General Purposes Sub-Committee: June 2nd 1930

 

1548 On Minutes Nos 1436, 1479, 1525 and 1536 (Visit to sites), the General Manager was directed to arrange for the site at Kettlehouse Farm to be visited tomorrow (Tuesday) as previously fixed and for the other sites to be inspected on Thursday, the 5th instant, the Sub-Committee to depart from the Bank Head Office at 10:30am

 

Finance Sub-Committee: December 8th 1930

 

483 The General Manager submitted proposals from a Mr Price of Liverpool, to provide counter grilles for the protection of the cashiers against bandits, etc. As the suggestion was deemed unsuitable, the offer was declined.

 

487 The General Manager reported the receipt of a communication from the Lord Mayor appealing for as much work as possible to be given out with a view to easing the unemployment position in the City. The General Manager had replied stating what steps the Bank Committee had taken in respect of the erection or alteration of Bank premises, and the practice which was followed each year in arranging for the painting and decorations at branches to be undertaken during the late autumn and winter months.

 

Bank Committee: December 15th 1930

 

The following communication was received from the General Purposes Committee with reference to a reduction in the security required for the due performance of Contracts:

 

November 18th 1930

 

Security for due performance of Contracts.

 

The General Purposes Committee at their meeting on Monday, the 17th instant, decided that the amount for which Contractors should be asked to secure the due performance of Contracts should be reduced from 25% to 15% (or in similar proportions) of the amount of the tender: eg where it is at present the practice to accept security for a less amount than 25% of the tender (deposits in banks, etc) the security to be asked for should be correspondingly reduced below 15%.

 

Will you, therefore, please take any necessary action?

 

If your Department at present arranges for the printing and issue of General Conditions, Clause 25 should be amended by the substitution of the words "15 per cent of" for the words "one fourth". If not, I would remind you that copies of the General Conditions may be obtained at this office.

 

3924  RESOLVED:- That the foregoing communication be referred to the General Manager to take any necessary action.

 

Finance Sub-Committee: January 12th 1931

 

498 The General Manager reported that, in connection with a circular letter received from the Town Clerk as to the decision of the General Purposes Sub-Committee to amend the deposit required as security in lieu of sureties for performance of Contract from a maximum of 25 per cent to 15 per cent, he had notified the Town Clerk of the Bank's practice to require a deposit of 10 per cent from the Contractors and, in reply, the Town Clerk had informed him that the 15 per cent referred to in his letter should be regarded as a maximum. The Sub-Committee considered there was no need for any change in the Bank's practice of requiring 10 per cent deposit.

 

Finance Sub-Committee: February 9th 1931

 

An application was considered from Mr S Hutson, High Street, Deritend, to be allowed to quote separately for French Polishing in connection with the outside doors of the branches.

 

514    RESOLVED:- That the application be not acceded to.

 

General Purposes Sub-Committee: April 13th 1931

 

Bank Committee: April 20th 1931

 

4045 The following report of the General Purposes Sub-Committee was submitted:

 

Evening Hours of Business.

 

As a result of the repeated requests of depositors for the Bank to be open on Friday evenings instead of Saturday evenings, your Sub-Committee have endeavoured to ascertain the wishes of depositors generally in the matter.

 

Your Sub-Committee accordingly gave directions for voting cards to be issued to depositors using the Bank on the evenings of the following Saturdays, viz:

 

 - February 14th, 21st, and 28th; and March 7th.

 

The results show that the average of returned cards works out at 76.40 per cent and the voting is as follows:

 - In favour of Friday evenings ........ 45.62 per cent

 - In favour of Saturday evenings ... 23.32 "       "

 - Immaterial which evening ............ 31.06  "      "

 

These figures indicate a decided preference for Friday evenings, and accordingly your Sub-Committee feel justified in recommending the change from Saturday to Friday hours of business to be made. It will be necessary to give good notice to depositors of the proposed change, and it is suggested that Friday, the 31st July, should be the first day when the alteration should take effect. Coming, as it does, immediately before the August holiday, the opening of the Bank on the Friday evening would doubtless prove a convenience to depositors commencing their holidays on the Saturday.

 

Your Sub-Committee have given careful consideration to whether the existing windows, upon which the days and hours of business are displayed, should be altered, or whether new windows should be obtained. The conclusion was reached that it would be preferable to fit new windows displaying the "Key" sign or "Coat of Arms" only and that the days and times of opening should be shown by means of bronze plates affixed near to the entrance doors of the Branches.

 

As a guide to your Committee in considering the matter, Messrs Pearce & Cutler quote £4. 0. 0. for "Key" Design windows and £4. 18. 0. for "Coat of Arms" windows and Bronamel Signs quote £3. 18. 6, for bronze plates. To alter existing windows would cost £225, plus an amount which cannot be estimated for breakages which would be likely to occur in the process of taking out, restripping and refixing.

 

Your Sub-Committee are not favourable to any expense being incurred in altering the windows, but recommend that new windows, as indicated, should be substituted and bronze plates, giving the hours of business, fixed near to the entrance doors. They have instructed the General Manager, subject to the change-over being approved, to obtain definite competitive tenders for the necessary windows and plates and have authorised the Chairman of the Bank Committee to accept a suitable tender.

 

Closed Days of the Bank.

 

Your Sub-Committee have considered the question of making the 31st day of March a closed day for annual balance purposes, irrespective of the day on which it may fall. At present the Bank is closed on the 31st March, except when that date falls on a Saturday. Your Sub-Committee consider it would be a great advantage if the 31st March were made a closed day without exception and they recommend accordingly.

 

4046  RESOLVED:- That arrangements be made for the openings of the Bank on Saturday evenings to be changed to Friday evenings from 6pm to 8pm, thus alteration to take effect on and after Friday, July 31st 1931, and that the General Manager be instructed to give suitable notice to depositors of the proposed change.

 

4047   RESOLVED:- That the General Manager be instructed to arrange for the windows at the Branches upon which the days and hours of business are indicated to be replaced by new windows displaying the "Key" sign or "Coat of Arms" only, and for the days and times of opening, as altered to be shown by means of bronze plates affixed near to the entrance doors of the Branches; and that the proposal to obtain competitive tenders for such windows and plates be approved, and the Chairman, with the General Manager, authorised to accept the most suitable tender.

 

4048   RESOLVED:- That on the 31st day of March in each year the Bank be closed for balance purposes, and that no exception be made when the day falls on a Saturday; also that the General Manager be instructed to amend the notification in the Pass Books accordingly when making the required alterations therein regarding evening openings.

 

General Purposes Sub-Committee: May 11th 1931

 

1665 The Sub-Committee were informed that an inspection had been made by the General Electric Co of certain branches with a view to ascertaining what improvements could be made in the lighting arrangements, and experiments would shortly be made with a view to giving better illumination of the branches and the Key signs.

 

 

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