Bank Committee: July 20th 1931
4136 On Minute No 4103, Mr T C Howitt (the Architect for the erection of the new Head Office of the Bank), with the City Surveyor, appeared before the Committee.
Mr T C Howitt presented amended plans of the basement, ground floor, first floor and second floor, which he had prepared after considering points raised by the General Manager on the original plans which constitutes the winning design. Mr Howitt also submitted alternative lay-outs in respect of the Counter. The Chairman explained in detail to the members of the Committee the alterations from the original plans (which were exhibited in the room) and the Committee expressed their satisfaction with the amended plans as submitted, subject to a modification in respect of the counter which was indicated to Mr Howitt.
Mr Howitt indicated on his amended plans the advisability of securing a triangular piece of land at the rear in order to provide more suitable access to and from the garage, necessitated by reason of the entrance to the stationery room being now provided through the garage instead of through the corridor surrounding the safe deposit room. The City Surveyor intimated that there would be no difficulty in arranging for the necessary land to be transferred to the Bank to meet the point raised, and stated that h would go into the matter and submit his proposals thereon.
Mr Howitt further stated that he had been in communication with the Assessor (Sir Reginald Blomfield) as to the structure being suitably raised, a point which had been mentioned by the Committee and which was also referred to in the award of the Assessor. As a result Mr Howitt was prepared to provide for the whole structure being raised about 18 inches, but pointed out that it would mean an increase in the cost of approximately £3,000. He agreed that the raising of the structure would be an improvement and was hopeful that the extra expenditure thus involved might be saved in some other direction.
In dealing with the question of outside lighting, Mr Howitt explained that the building would lend itself admirably to effective lighting, and stated that he had in mind a scheme for lighting the loggia from the top, for throwing up the lettering on the stonework by means of neon lighting, and for an effective lighting advertisement on the rear of the building facing the proposed extension of Paradise Street.
Other minor points were discussed, after which it was:
4137 RESOLVED:- (1) That the amended plans of the new Central Head Office, submitted to the meeting be approved, subject to any minor alterations which the Chairman and General Manager, in conjunction with the Architect, may deem desirable, and that Mr Howitt be instructed to proceed with the preparation of the final drawings for the purpose of obtaining tenders.
(2) That the General Manager be authorised to arrange with the City Surveyor for the transfer of the necessary land at the rear for better access to and from the garage.
(3) That approval be given to the raising of the whole structure to a suitable height as indicated by the Architect.
(4) That the Chairman, together with the General Manager and Architect, and such members of the Committee as the Chairman may consider advisable, be authorised to pay such visits to other Banks or offices in this country or abroad, as he may deem necessary or desirable in connection with the planning and equipment of the new building, and that the City Surveyor be invited to accompany such deputations whenever the Chairman considers it necessary or advisable that he should do so.
4151 The following report of the General Purposes Sub-Committee was presented:
New Central Head Office.
Your Sub-Committee report that arrangements have been made for the Architect of the winning design (Mr Thomas Cecil Howitt) to attend the meeting of your Committee on Monday next at 11am to discuss certain proposed amendments in his design to meet the requirements of the Committee.
A communication has been considered from Mr R Lee, of Messrs Lee, Longland & Co intimating the readiness of his firm to quit the premises in Broad Street, as arranged, by the 8th of August next, but at the same time stating their willingness and desire to retain possession for a convenient time if the Corporation were not yet ready to commence the demolition. Your Sub-Committee do not anticipate that it will be possible to commence the building work for some months and it would not appear necessary to commence the demolition of the existing building on the 8th August. They have, therefore, authorised the General Manager, subject to the Public Works and Town Planning Committee offering no objection, to inform Messrs Lee, Longland & Co that the firm can remain in possession of the premises until the 29th September, 1931.
With regard to the paragraph in the foregoing report as to the tenancy of Messrs Lee, Longland & Co the General Manager reported that the City Surveyor had intimated that the Public Works and Town Planning Committee were in agreement with the proposed extension of the tenancy, and it was:
4152 RESOLVED:- That permission be granted Messrs Lee, Longland & Co to remain in possession of the premises occupied by them in Broad Street until the 29th September next on the terms as at present.
General Purposes Sub-Committee: October 12th 1931
1704 On Minute No 1535 (new Central Head Office), the Sub-Committee were informed that the City Surveyor had been requested to proceed with the demolition of the existing premises, and he had replied to the effect that he was obtaining tenders for the demolition and would deal with the matter.
With reference to the appointment of a Quantity Surveyor for the new premises, a General Manager submitted the following report:
Appointment of Quantity Surveyor for new Head Offices, and
Invitations to Builders to tender.
Having regard to the stage reached by the Architect in the preparation of his plans, it is necessary for the Committee to come to a decision as to who shall be instructed to prepare Bills of Quantities. It will take approximately three months to prepare the Quantities.
Applications have been received from the undermentioned Quantity Surveyors:
Mr A C Jester, 3 New Street.
Mr William
J Davis, 8 Newhall Street.
Mr George Lewis, 39 Newhall Street.
Mr Reuben Holbrow, 104 Colmore Row.
Mr Walter W Webb, 14 Temple Street.
Mr
Leonard Voisey, 10a Temple Row.
Messrs Taylor and Baghall, 38 Great Charles Street.
Messrs Silk and Frazier, 33 Newhall Street.
Messrs
Wakeman, Collins & Britton, 39 Bennetts Hill.
Messrs Alfred W Baylis and Baylis, 118 Colmore Row.
Mr Walter B Bond, 3 Newhall Street,
and Mr T Cecil Howitt of Nottingham, the Architect for the building, has also expressed his desire to prepare the Quantities.
The Conditions of the Competition govern the fees to be paid to the Architect, viz 6 per cent. on the amount of the contract.
The scale charges for Quantity Surveyors is 2 per cent. upon the estimated cost of the work, plus the cost of preparing copies for issue to builders.
The amount paid by the Bank in respect of the erection or reconstruction of Branch Banks has been as follows:
1. Mr G McMichael, as Architect, received 10 per cent. on reconstructions and 6 per cent. on new buildings. Quantity Surveyors charges at the rate of 2½ per cent. were included in the accepted tender of the builder.
2. The City Surveyor, as Architect, was paid the actual cost represented by the time spent by his staff, plus 10 per cent. for administrative expenses. The Quantities were prepared by the undermentioned Surveyors, who all charged 2½ per cent. on the value of the contract, plus cost of lithographed or typed copies:
Mr
G Lewis
Messrs Silk and Frazier
Mr A Rowse
Mr J K Dale
Mr L Voisey
Mr W B Bond
3. Mr H S Scott, as Architect, received 8 per cent. on the value of the contract, which included fees for preparing Quantities.
4. Mr W N Twist, as Architect, received 5 per cent. and the Quantities at the rate of 2½ per cent. were included in the builders' tender.
5. Messrs F B Andrew and Son, as Architects, received 6 per cent. and the Quantities at the rate of 2½ per cent. were included in the builders' tender.
6. Messrs Collier and Keyte, as Architects, received 6 per cent. and the Quantities at the rate of 2½ per cent. were included in the builders' tender.
7.
Mr H Stewart Evans, as Architects, received 6 per cent. and 1½ per cent. for preparing Quantities.
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Another question to be determined is whether builders should be invited to tender by open advertisement or whether a list of approved builders should be sanctioned and only such Firms allowed to tender. In the former case the Committee would not be bound to accept the lowest tender and would therefore have complete freedom in selecting their builder. In the case of a limited list of tenderers approved by the Committee, it would presumably follow that the lowest tender would be accepted.
The Sub-Committee were informed that the Chairman of the General Committee, with the General Manager, had interviewed Mr Howitt (the Architect) on the matter, and has also ascertained the views of the City Surveyor and Building Surveyor. Mr Howitt had stated that he would prefer to deal with the preparation of quantities himself and if so instructed would do so at the rate of 1½ per cent. as compared with the usual charge of 2 per cent.
After full discussion, the Sub-Committee decided that an independent Quantity Surveyor should be appointed, and after considering the applications received, it was:
1705 RESOLVED:- That the General Committee be recommended to appoint Mr Walter B Bond of 3, Newhall Street, as Quantity Surveyor in connection with the carrying out of the erection of the new Bank in premises in Broad Street.
The Sub-Committee then considered the question of whether open tenders should be invited for the carrying out of the work or if the tendering should be restricted to a selected list of contractors, and after consideration, it was:
1706 RESOLVED:- That arrangements be made for tenders to be invited by open advertisement for the carrying out of the work, and that the Chairman of the General Committee, and General Manager be requested to confer with the Town Clerk in order to provide in the General Conditions of the Contract for a Bank guarantee for the satisfactory performance of the contract.
Bank Committee: October 19th 1931
4197 The following report of the General Purposes Sub-Committee was presented:
Erection of New Central Head Office.
Your Sub-Committee have given careful consideration to the question of the appointment of a Quantity Surveyor in connection with the erection of the new Central Head Office, and in this connection they have considered a proposal that the work should be carried out by the Architect (Mr Howitt) at a reduced fee and the services of a Quantity Surveyor dispensed with.
Your Sub-Committee came to the conclusion, however, that it would be desirable to appoint an independent Quantity Surveyor, and after considering the applications sent in for the position, it was decided to recommend that Mr Walter B Bond, of No 3 Newhall Street, should be appointed the Quantity Surveyor for the work.
Your Sub-Committee have also considered the question as to whether builders should be invited to tender by open advertisement in the usual way, and that the Chairman of the General Committee and General Manager be requested to arrange with the Town Clerk for provision to be made in the Conditions of Contract for a Bank guarantee to be provided by the successful contractor.
4198 RESOLVED:- That Mr Walter B Bond of No 3 Newhall Street, Birmingham, be appointed the Quantity Surveyor for the erection of the proposed new Central Head Offices of the Bank in Broad Street.
4199 RESOLVED:- That the General Manager be instructed to arrange for tenders for the erection of the new Central Head Offices to be invited by open advertisement, and that the Chairman, with the General Manager, be requested to arrange with the Town Clerk for provision to be made in the Conditions of Contract for a Bank guarantee to be provided by the successful Contractor.
4200 With reference to the erection of the new central Head Offices
the Committee had before them a framed elevation of the proposed new premises and also the final plans prepared by the Architect (Mr
Howitt). with one slight amendment (ie the space allocated on the first floor for the Ladies' Lavatories etc to be interchanged with
the space allotted for the Mens' Lavatories etc) the final plans, which were explained in detail by the Chairman, were approved.
Bank Committee: November 16th 1931
The General Manager referred to the arrangements that had been made to enter into an agreement with Mr T C Howitt in regard to his appointment as Architect for the erection of the proposed new Central Head Offices and the following report of the Town Clerk was submitted with regard thereto:
November 12th 1931
CENTRAL HEAD OFFICES.
ARCHITECT.
Referring to the appointment by your Committee of Mr T Cecil Howitt to act as Architect in respect of the erection of the proposed new Central Head Offices, I have to report that I have received from Mr Howitt's Solicitors, a draft agreement relating to the appointment.
This agreement follows the form recommended as a standard by the Royal Institute of British Architects, and after conferring with your General Manager, I am suggesting various amendments in the draft to meet the requirements of your Committee.
I have, therefore, to ask for the instructions of your Committee to enter into such an agreement and to affix the Corporate Seal thereto.
4240 RESOLVED:- That the arrangements made for the entering into of the above-mentioned agreement with Mr T C Howitt be confirmed and that the Town Clerk be authorised to affix the Corporate Seal thereto.
Finance Sub-Committee: December 14th 1931
An account was received from the City Surveyor for the sum of £76. 9. 3. in respect of preparing preliminary plans etc for the new Central Head Office.
613 RESOLVED:- That the account in question be passed for payment.
General Purposes Sub-Committee: December 14th 1931
1707A The General Manager reported that a letter had been received from the City Surveyor intimating that the provision made for escape in case of fire in connection with the plans for the new Head Offices had been found satisfactory.
Bank Committee: December 21st 1931
On Minute No 4240, the Town Clerk submitted the following report as to the completion of the agreement with T C Howitt (Architect for the new Central Head Office):
December 7th 1931
Minute No 4240
NEW HEAD OFFICES.
AGREEMENT WITH ARCHITECT.
I beg to report that in compliance with the instructions contained in this Minute I have prepared, completed and affixed the Corporate Seal to an agreement with Mr T C Howitt to act as Architect in relation to the erection of the premises to be used as the Central Head Offices of the Bank.
I ask that the Minute be discharged.
4258 RESOLVED:- That Minute No 4240 be discharged.
4270 The following report of the General Purposes Sub-Committee was presented:
Erection of new Central Head Office.
On the instructions of your Sub-Committee, the Town Clerk has prepared a suitable clause to be inserted in the Conditions of Contract providing for a banker's guarantee and it is recommended that the extent of the guarantee should be fixed at 10% of the contract price.
To meet the wishes of your Committee, the General Purposes Committee of the Council have now agreed to the transfer of a small piece of land consisting of 47 square yards at the rear of the Broad Street site, so as to improve the access to the garage accommodation; and the Town Clerk and City Surveyor have been authorised to take such steps as may be necessary to give effect to this arrangement.
4271 RESOLVED:- That, in regard to the guarantee clause to be inserted in the Conditions of Contract for the erection of the new Central Head Office, the Banker's guarantee be fixed at 10% of the contract price, and the Town Clerk and General Manager instructed to take steps accordingly.
4272 RESOLVED:- That the arrangements made by the General Purposes Committee for the transfer
to the Bank of an area of 47 square yards of land at the rear of the Broad Street site to improve the garage accommodation be approved,
and that Minute No 4137 in this respect be discharged.