General Purposes Sub-Committee: April 14th 1930
1520 On Minutes Nos 1154, 1384 and 1432 (premises for Central Head Office) the Chairman of the General Committee stated that the Staff and Accommodation Sub-Committee were to-day reporting to the General Purposes Committee recommending the allocation to the Bank of the site in Broad Street forming part of the new Civic Centre. The Minutes were continued.
Bank Committee: April 28th 1930
3731 On Minute No 3624, the Committee were informed that the General Purposes
Committee had decided to recommend the Council to sanction the transference to the Bank Committee, for the purpose of the erection
of a Head Office, of the site in Broad Street now in the occupation of Messrs Lee, Longland & Co on certain conditions and on
terms to be agreed. The Minutes were continued.
General Purposes Sub-Committee: May 12th 1930
On Minutes Nos 1154, 1384 and 1432 (premises for Central Head Office) the Sub-Committee discussed the question of the terms for the transfer of the site which terms are to be determined in accordance with the requirements of General Instructions to Committees No 31 and were of opinion that such terms should be on a similar basis to the price paid for the adjoining site on which the Masonic Temple has been erected.
The
Sub-Committee were informed that several applications had been received from Architects to prepare a scheme for the proposed building
but in view of the fact that a scheme prepared by the City Surveyor had already been tentatively approved in outline the Sub-Committee
considered that he should be appointed to supervise the erection of the proposed building.
It was accordingly:
1535 RESOLVED:- That providing satisfactory terms can be agreed upon for the transfer of the property in Broad Street to the Bank Committee, and upon a suitable scheme and plans being approved and confirmed by the City Council, the General Committee be recommended to authorise the City Surveyor to supervise the carrying out of a proposed erection.
Bank Committee: May 19th 1930
3765 The following
report of the General Purposes Sub-Committee was presented:
With reference to the paragraph in the foregoing report relating to premises for the Central Head Office, the following Minute of the City Council approving of the proposed allocation of the site in Broad Street was received:
It was moved by Mr Alderman W B Kenrick, seconded, and Resolved:
29,649. That the proposed allocation to the Bank Committee of the site in Broad Street referred to in the foregoing report, such site being required for the erection of new Head Office for the Municipal Bank, be approved, the building to be erected being architecturally in accord with the new building immediately adjoining and consistent with the ultimate development as a Civic Centre of the surrounding area, the price to be paid by the Bank Committee for this site being determined in accordance with the requirements of General Instruction to Committees No 31.
3766 RESOLVED:- That this Committee consider that the terms for the transfer to the Bank of the site in Broad Street for the purpose of a Central Head Office should be arranged on a similar basis to that which applied in the case of the sale of the adjoining site on which the Masonic Temple has been erected; and that, providing satisfactory terms can be settled and upon the scheme and plans being finally approved by this Committee and confirmed by the City Council, the City Surveyor be authorised and instructed to supervise the carrying out of the proposed erection when a suitable tender has been accepted.
Bank Report to the City Council: June 3rd 1930
HEAD OFFICE ACCOMMODATION.
For a long time your Committee have been seriously concerned about the inadequacy of the present Head Office premises, and efforts have been made to secure properties adjoining the present Head Offices, but the negotiations were not successful. Consequently your Committee applied to the General Purposes Committee for the allocation of a site and the latter Committee have submitted a proposal for a site owned by the Corporation and fronting to Broad Street, to be transferred to the Bank, which proposal has received the approval of the Council. It is the intention of the your Committee to erect a building suitable to the needs of the Bank, and of a design which will be acceptable to the Council and plans will be submitted in due course with a report thereon.
General Purposes Sub-Committee: July 14th 1930
On Minutes Nos 1154 and 1535 (premises for Central Head Office) the Sub-Committee were informed that the General Purposes Committee had acquiesced in the view that the basis of transfer value of the site in question should be that which applied to the sale of the adjoining site to the Masonic Temple Ltd.
General Purposes Sub-Committee: October 13th 1930
On Minutes No 1535 (premises for Central Head Office) the Sub-Committee were informed that the following resolution of the General Purposes Committee had been received with reference to the terms of the transfer of the property to the Bank:
13728 - RESOLVED:- That the proposed transfer to the Bank Committee of the site in Broad Street for the erection of a new Bank Head Office at a price of £9. 2. 9 per square yard, be approved.
The General Manager presented the following report as to steps which had been taken with regard to the proposal to erect bank premises:
New Head Offices.
The Chairman, with Councillor Cooper and the General Manager, has discussed with the City Surveyor the question of supervision and procedure in connection with the new Head Offices to be erected on the Broad Street site.
Although the City Surveyor would have been pleased to act as architect for the work, he feels that the buildings to be erected are such as would justify the work being offered for competition amongst architects, and he put forward the suggestion that such a course be followed and that Sir Reginald Blomfield, Pat President of the Royal Institute of British Architects, should be asked to act as Assessor. The Chairman and Councillor Cooper acquiesced in the suggestion and directed the City Surveyor to ascertain whether Sir Reginald Blomfield would be prepared to act as Assessor, what his terms would be, and what value of prizes he would suggest as suitable for the work.
In accordance with the instructions of the Chairman, the General Manager has supplied the City Surveyor with particulars of the superficial feet required for the various rooms, etc, to serve as a guide to architects.
The Chairman and Councillor Cooper feel that it is desirable the architect who may be appointed to carry through the work should do so in conjunction with the City Surveyor, so that the latter may see that certain parts of the buildings (particularly the strong-rooms, etc) shall be thoroughly satisfactory, and the conditions of the competition will provide therefor.
The question as to whether the competition should be open to all architects, or confined to architects operating within the City, is left for the Committee to determine.
Upon the question of obtaining a suitable design for the erection of the premises the Sub-Committee were of opinion that the competition should be open to all architects, having regard to the importance of securing the best possible design. It was:
1578 RESOLVED:- That the foregoing report of the General Manager be approved and the General Committee be recommended to direct that designs be invited by advertisement from Architects in open competition, also that the City Surveyor be asked to attend the meeting on Monday next to report upon his interview with Sir Reginald Blomfield, and to give if possible, some indication as to the estimated cost of the scheme.
Bank Committee: October 20th 1930
3860 The following report of the General Purposes Sub-Committee was presented:
Site in Broad Street - Proposed new Head Office Premises.
Your Sub-Committee report that the approval of the General Purposes Committee has been received to the transfer of the site in Broad Street for the erection of new Head Offices at the price of £9. 2. 9. per square yard.
Consideration has been given to the question of the supervision and procedure in connection with the erection of the new premises and the City Surveyor intimated his feeling that the buildings to be erected should be such as would justify the work being offered for competition amongst Architects. It was therefore decided to ascertain whether Sir Reginald Blomfield (Past President of the Royal Institute of British Architects) would be prepared to act as Assessor, his terms for so acting and his suggestions as to the value of prizes to be offered for the best designs. The City Surveyor hopes to be able to report the result of his interview with Sir Reginald Blomfield at the Meeting of your Committee on Monday.
Your Sub-Committee are of opinion, having regard to the importance of the site and the desirability of obtaining the best possible design, that the competition should be open to British Architects and not restricted to Midland Architects only. It is also considered that the Architect who may be appointed to carry through the work should act in conjunction with the City Surveyor so as to ensure that certain parts of the building (particularly the strong-rooms, etc) shall be entirely satisfactory to the Committee. It is proposed that this requirement shall be laid down in the conditions of the competition, and that the competing Architects be supplied with particulars of the approximate superficial are required for the various rooms, etc to serve as a guide.
Your Committee are accordingly recommended to approve the action taken in this matter; to direct the City Surveyor to prepare, in conjunction with the Chairman of your Committee and the General Manager, the conditions of the competition; and to instruct the General Manager to issue the necessary advertisement.
With reference to the paragraph in the report of the General Purposes Sub-Committee relating to the proposed new head office premises, the Committee were informed that Sir Reginald Blomfield had intimated that he was prepared to act as assessor in connection with the proposed competition on an agreed professional basis.
The City Surveyor attended the meeting and stated he had discussed the proposed conditions with Sir Reginald Blomfield who was unable to attend personally owing to another engagement. Sir Reginald suggested that the premiums to be offered for the three winning designs should be £350, £250 and £150 respectively, on the understanding that should one of the designs be accepted for the new building of the premises the appropriate premium should form part of the Architect's fees.
The City Surveyor suggested that the second premium should be increased, and after discussion it was unanimously decided that the premiums should be £400 for the winning design, £300 for the second and £150 for the third, the appropriate premium to be included in the Architect's fees should either of these designs be accepted for the construction of the building.
It was thereupon:
3861 RESOLVED:- That the proposals contained in the foregoing report for the inauguration of a competition among British Architects with a view to securing the best possible design for Bank Head Office premises on the site allocated therefor in Broad Street, be approved; that the City Surveyor in conjunction with the Chairman and General Manager, and in consultation with Sir Reginald Blomfield, be directed to prepare the conditions of such competition on the lines indicated; and that the General Manager be instructed to issue the necessary advertisements in the matter.
General Purposes Sub-Committee: December 8th 1930
1604 On Minutes Nos 1535 and 1578 (Premises for Central Head Office), the General Manager submitted a letter from the Clerk to the General Purposes Committee intimating that notice has been given to Messrs Lee Longland & Co terminating their tenancy at March next.
Bank Committee: December 15th 1930
The Chairman called the attention of the Committee to efforts which were being made on behalf of Messrs Lee, Longland & Company with the object of securing an extension of their tenancy of the premises in Broad Street which they were under notice to vacate at the end of March next.
The Chairman pointed out that the Firm had been notified some years ago of the intention of the Corporation to take over the premises in the near future and furthermore, the City Surveyor had brought to their notice certain properties in the City which were available for disposal, but the firm had not seen fit to take advantage of such sites.
The Committee were informed of the arrangements made for the submission of designs for the proposed building, and the urgent necessity was emphasised for the work to be commenced during the Spring and Summer months. The Committee were of opinion that no proposal for an extension of the tenancy of Messrs Lee, Longland & Company could be entertained, and directed that a suitable announcement should be made to the Press at the conclusion of the meeting relative to the competition for designs by Architects, and to the intention of the Committee to commence building operations in the Spring.
3941 RESOLVED:- That this Committee, having regard to the urgent need for the erection of the proposed new Head Office premises on the site in Broad Street transferred to them by Minute No 29,649, of the City Council, cannot consent to any extension of the tenancy of the property by Messrs Lee, Longland & Company; and they hereby authorise the Chairman with the General Manager to proceed as directed by Minute No 3861 with a view to all necessary steps being taken as early as possible after the 31st March next.
General Purposes Sub-Committee: January 12th 1931
1617 On Minutes Nos 1578 and 1504 (premises for Central Head Office) the General Manager reported that the advertisement inviting competitive designs from Architects for the proposed premises had been inserted on Saturday last in the Birmingham Post and the Birmingham Gazette and arrangements had been made also for its insertion in certain professional journals this week.
The Sub-Committee were also informed that the printed conditions of the competition had been agreed with the Assessor and the Chairman of the General Committee had finally approved the form in which the conditions should be printed.
Alderman Sir Percival Bower intimated that the General Purposes (Staff and Accommodation) Sub-Committee had considered representations from Messrs Lee, Longland & Co for an extension of time, but had confirmed the decision of the Bank Committee that the work of erecting the new Head Offices of the Bank should proceed as arranged, and consequently the request could not be granted.
General Purposes Sub-Committee: February 9th 1931
1631 The City Surveyor informed the Sub-Committee that in connection with the competition for the new Central Head Offices, he had received an application for the competition to be open to architects who are qualified but not actually in practice. The City Surveyor had consulted Sir Reginald Blomfield on the matter, and the latter was of opinion that members of the RIBA might be admitted to the competition, which course amended conditions. The Sub-Committee, however, were not prepared to issue a fresh advertisement to meet these circumstances and decided that the competition should stand as arranged.
1632 The City Surveyor also submitted an application from Messrs Nicol and Nicol for an extension of the time for submitting designs.
The Sub-Committee were of opinion that the conditions as laid
down be adhered to, but that if in the discretion of the City Surveyor and Sir Reginald Blomfield it was desirable to grant a few
days grace, the whole of the competitive architects should be granted the same concession.
Bank Committee: February 16th 1931
3982 The following report of the General Purposes Sub-Committee was presented:
Premises for Central Head Office.
Your Sub-Committee report that a conference was held on February 9th 1931, between representatives of Messrs Lee Longland & Co (the present occupiers of the site in Broad Street) and your Chairman and the Chairman of the three Sub-Committees with the Town Clerk, the City Surveyor and the General Manager, to discuss the question of an extension of tenancy.
After hearing the representatives, and having regard to the time which will be taken in preparing detailed plans and quantities and obtaining tenders for the new Head Offices of the Bank, it was felt that an extension of time for vacating the premises might be granted to Lee Longland & Co until the 8th August, 1931, subject to the firm giving an undertaking, satisfactory to the Town Clerk, to completely vacate the premises by that date.
Your Sub-Committee accordingly recommend that the extension of time, above mentioned, be granted on the lines indicated.
3983 RESOLVED:- That, subject to Messrs Lee, Longland & Co giving an undertaking in a form satisfactory to the Town Clerk to completely vacate the premises occupied by them in Broad Street by the 8th August, 1931, they be granted an extension of tenancy until that date.
Finance Sub-Committee: March 9th 1931
The General Manager reported that The Milner's Safe Company had asked to be allowed to tender in respect of office requirements and the strong rooms at the proposed new Head Office premises.
525 RESOLVED:-
That the General Manager be instructed to refer the application to the architect for the scheme, when appointed.