Bank Committee: March 16th 1931
4016 The following report of the General Purposes Sub-Committee was presented:
Central Head Office - Possession of Broad Street Premises.
Your Sub-Committee submit the following correspondence confirming the arrangements for the extension of the tenancy of Messrs Lee, Longland & Co until the 8th August next, subject to certain conditions:
Council
House,
Birmingham.
24th February 1931.
To: Messrs Brooks, Monk & Hargreave, 37 Waterloo Street, Birmingham.
Dear Sirs,
Re
Nos 304-306 Broad Street.
Messrs Lee Longland & Co Ltd.
With reference to Mr Monk's recent interview with the Committee of the Birmingham Municipal Bank, with regard to your Client's tenancy of the above premises, I write to confirm the arrangements then come to, namely:
(1) That in consideration of Messrs Lee Longland & Co Ltd being allowed to remain in possession of the said premises after the 25th March next, upon the terms of the existing tenancy, they will give to the Corporation their undertaking that they will definitely vacate and deliver up vacant possession of the premises on the 8th August 1931, notwithstanding the fact that their new premises may not then be ready for them.
(2) That Messrs Lee Longland & Co Ltd shall use their best endeavours to give up a portion of the premises before the said 8th day of August 1931 to accommodate the requirements of the Bank Committee.
I shall be obliged if you will kindly write me confirming the above and, at the same time, let me have your Clients' undertaking.
Yours
faithfully,
(Sd) F H C Wiltshire
Town Clerk
______________________________________________________
37, Waterloo Street, Birmingham
27th February 1931
To: The Town Clerk, Council House, Birmingham.
Dear Sir,
re 304-6 Broad Street
Lee Longland & Company Ltd.
We enclose a letter from our Clients signed by the Chairman of Directors confirming the terms of your letter to us of the 24th instant.
Yours
faithfully,
(sd) Brooks & Co
______________________________________________________
Lee Longland & Co Ltd,
Broad Street
Birmingham
February 26th 1931.
To: The Town Clerk, Birmingham.
Dear Sir,
No 304-6 Broad Street.
We have seen a copy of your letter of the 24th instant, addressed to our Solicitors, Messrs Brooks, Monk and Hargreave, and confirm the terms of the arrangement there set out.
Yours
faithfully,
For & on Behalf of Lee Longland & Co Ltd,
(sd) Robert Lee,
Chairman of Directors.
Your Sub-Committee recommend
that the action taken in the matter, which is in accordance with your Committee's directions, be confirmed.
4017 RESOLVED:- That the arrangement arrived at in regard to the extension of Messrs Lee, Longland & Co's tenancy of the premises in Broad Street, as set out in the Town Clerk's letter to Messrs Brooks, Monk & Hargreave dated the 24th February, 1931, be confirmed, and that Minute No 3983 be discharged.
With reference to the competition for the proposed Head Office premises, the following report of the City Surveyor was received as to the questions received from competing architects, and suggesting an extension of time for submission of designs:
Central Bank and Head Offices.
Architectural Competition
I beg to report that the number of Competitors in this Competition is much higher than was anticipated. After deducting those who have withdrawn from the Competition there are 155 names remaining on the list.
The last day for submitting questions by Competitors was 28th ultimo. The number of questions submitted has been unexpectedly large - not less than 302 - most of which were received within the last few days of the period allowed. It has, therefore, taken some time to classify these (so as to see them in their appropriate relationship), and to draft the answers. This being done it is now necessary by the conditions of the Competition for the Assessor to consider the questions and replies, after which those approved by him will be printed or mimeographed and circulated to all Competitors. It is obvious that this cannot be done in less than a week's time from the present date, and as several Competitors have written saying that they cannot proceed with their designs until the questions and replies have been received, and as many of those who have not so written may be prejudiced by a unavoidable delay, I strongly recommend that the date for the submission of the designs be extended four weeks, namely to Saturday, May 30th.
I
am, Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
Hubert H Humphries,
City Engineer & Surveyor
General Purposes Sub-Committee: May 11th 1931
On Minute No 1535 (Premises for Central Head Office), the General Manager reported that the City Surveyor had been in communication with him upon the question of provision of screens for displaying the competitive designs, which would be received by the end of May. On the directions of the Chairman of the General Committee, tenders were obtained for the provision of 80 screens and it was suggested that the lowest tender, that of the Springfield Joinery Works, at the sum of £73, should be accepted. Arrangements have been made for the designs to be displayed in the Loan Collection room at the Art Gallery.
1658 RESOLVED:- That the tender of the Springfield Joinery Works for the provision of screens for the display of the competitive designs for the Central Head Office premises at the sum of £73 be accepted.
The General Manager reported that application had been made on behalf of Messrs W L Handley, Ltd to take out heating apparatus, shop front, and other fixtures from the Broad Street shop and dispose of same. No objection to this course had been raised by the Bank of by the Estates Department but the Public Works Department had informed the applicants that nothing should be moved from the site. The Town Clerk had been consulted as to whether the Public Works Department had any jurisdiction with regard to this matter, having regard to the Minute of the City Council transferring the premises to the Bank Committee, and a letter dated the 29th April was read thereon. A letter had also been received from Messrs J M McIntosh & Sons on behalf of Lee, Longland & Co asking for a lease of the shop front of W L Handley until the end of July, for the purpose of displaying goods for sale. The Chairman (Alderman Sir Percival Bower) had intimated that there would be no objection to such temporary lease.
1659 RESOLVED:- That the GN be directed to further consult the Town Clerk on the while matter, it being understood that so far as the Bank are concerned there is no objection to the fixtures, etc being removed, and to the temporary lease being granted.
Bank Committee: May 18th 1931
4073 The following report of the General Purposes Sub-Committee was presented:
Competitive Designs for Central Head Office - Provision of Screens.
Your Sub-Committee report that in view of the large number of architects taking part in this competition, approximately 140, it will be necessary to make special arrangements for the provision of screens for displaying the designs. Tenders have accordingly been obtained, and the lowest tender, that of the Springfield Joinery Works, at the sum of £73, accepted. Through the kindness of the Museum and Art Gallery Committee, arrangements have been made for the designs to be displayed in the Loan Collection Room at the Art Gallery. Thanks have been tendered to the Chairman of the Museum and Art Gallery Committee and to the Keeper (Mr Kaines Smith).
4074 RESOLVED:- That the arrangements made for the provision of screens for displaying the competitive designs for the proposed Central Head Office and for the exhibition of the designs in the Loan Collection Room at the Art Gallery be approved and confirmed.
General Purposes Sub-Committee: June 8th 1931
On Minute No 1659 (Fixtures, Messrs Handley's Shop, Broad Street site) the General Manager reported as follows:
The General Manager reported on the correspondence which had taken place between Messrs Pepper, Tangye and Winterton, Messrs J M McIntosh and Son, Messrs W L Handley Ltd and the Bank regarding the shop premises Nos 307 and 308, Broad Street, formerly in the occupation of Messrs Lee, Longland & Co. Also regarding the correspondence which had taken place between the Estates Department, Public Works Department, Town Clerk and the Bank.
The land transferred to the Bank Committee for the purpose of new Head Offices includes the site of the premises occupied by Messrs Lee, Longland & Co and the Town Clerk has ruled that Council Minute No 29649 does not include the shop premises formerly belonging to W L Handley Ltd and the garage at the rear. Consequently, the application made by Messrs McIntosh and Son to rent Nos 307 and 308, Broad Street temporarily until the end of July has been referred to the Public Works Department to deal with; that Department being concerned with the premises in respect of road widening.
The keys of the premises Nos 307 and 308, Broad Street which were handed to the General Manager, have been transferred to the Public Works Department.
1670 RESOLVED:- That Minute No 1659 be discharged.
1680 The General Manager reported that further applications had been received from Quantity Surveyors desiring to act for the Bank in connection with the proposed new central Head Office, and the General Manager was instructed to inform the applicants that consideration would be given to the applications in due course.
Bank Committee: June 15th 1931
4102 On Minutes Nos 3861/3941 and 4018 (Competition for Central Head Office Premises, Broad Street), the following report of the City Surveyor was submitted:
Central Bank and Head Offices
I beg to report that in accordance with your instructions, architects were invited by advertisement in the local papers and professional journals, to submit designs for the new Central Bank and Head Offices.
Site plans, conditions of competition and other particulars were issued to 198 applications.
Competitors seeking further information, submitted a large number of questions most of which were considered allowable, and these together with the replies, approved by the Assessor, were circulated to the competitors.
The number of competitors who have submitted designs is 112, the number of drawings being 641.
By the courtesy of the Museum and Art Gallery Committee, these designs have been displayed in the Loan Room of the Art Gallery.
The Assessor, Sir Reginald Blomfield, has inspected the drawings and has sent me his award which I submit herewith together with the sealed envelopes containing Declaration Forms of the competitors whose designs he has placed "First", "Second" and "Third". It will be remembered that the Committee approved the giving of premiums of £400, £300 and £150 respectively.
By the conditions of the competition, the competitors are to be allowed a week in which to inspect the drawings, and as the Loan Room is only available for two weeks from to-day, it is necessary that effect be given to the award without delay.
I am, Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
Hubert H Humphries,
City Engineer & Surveyor
Sir Reginald Blomfield (the Assessor appointed by the Committee) accompanied by the City Surveyor, attended the meeting, and after hearing the views of the Committee as to the requirements of the Bank, he intimated that his award for the winning designs was as follows:
First
- No 31
Second - No 53
Third - No 15
The Chairman proceeded to open the sealed envelopes containing the Declaration Forms of the three successful competitors, when it was ascertained that the Architects for the premiated designs were as follows:
1. (No 31)
Thomas Cecil Howitt, Exchange Buildings East, NOTTINGHAM.
2. (No 53) S N Cooke and W N Twist, Sun Buildings, Bennett's Hill, BIRMINGHAM.
3. (No 15) A B Llewelyn Roberts and Michael Waterhouse, 8 Sumner Place, LONDON SW7.
4103 RESOLVED:- That the City Surveyor and General Manager be instructed to arrange for Mr Thomas Cecil Howitt to consult with this Committee with a view to effecting such amendments in his design as the Bank Committee may desire in order to secure facilities and a general lay-out to meet the Committee's requirements, and that, subject to this understanding, the City Council be recommended to accept Mr Howitt's design for the erection of the new Central Bank Head Office in Broad Street.
4104 RESOLVED:- That the City Surveyor and General Manager be
instructed to arrange for the competing Architects, other members of the Architectural profession, and members of the City Council
to inspect the designs sent in for the Central Head Office at the Birmingham Art Gallery.
General Purposes Sub-Committee: July 13th 1931
1687 The General Manager reported that cheques had been drawn in favour of the Architects for the 2nd and 3rd premiated designs and also in respect of the Assessor's fee and out-of-pocket expenses amounting to £212. 10. 0.
1688 RESOLVED:- That in view of the proposed interview with Mr Howitt (Architect) to discuss the suggested amendments in his design the Meeting of the Bank Committee on Monday next the 20th instant be held at 11am instead of 12 noon as indicated in the Municipal Diary.