General Purposes Sub-Committee: May 11th 1925
The General Manager stated that he had been in communication with Mr McMichael, Architect, for the carrying out of the work at Ward End, with regard to the credentials of Mr W P Ward, the lowest tenderer. Mr McMichael had informed him that as the Contractor would be prepared to arrange for the plastering and stone work to be contracted out to his satisfaction, he was of opinion that Mr Ward would be able to carry out the contract, but suggested that a letter should be obtained from Mr Ward as to the arrangements made for sub-contracting. The General Manager has accordingly obtained such letter from the Contractor, in which he also stated he would be prepared to provide satisfactory security, preferably by the deposit of War Bonds.
741 RESOLVED:- That in view of the opinion expressed by Mr McMichael that Mr W P Ward would be able to carry out satisfactorily the alterations at No 684 Washwood Heath Road, and Mr Ward having given the necessary undertaking regarding subcontracting in accordance with Mr McMichael's request, the Town Clerk be authorised to proceed with the preparation of the Contract with Mr Ward; also that the latter's promise to deposit War Bonds to a satisfactory amount as security for the due fulfilment of the Contract be approved.
Bank Committee: May 18th 1925
2065 On Minute No 2056 (Alterations, No 684, Washwood Heath Road) the Committee were informed that Mc Michael, the Architect for the work, had expressed the opinion that the lowest tenderer - Mr W P Ward - would be able to carry out the contract satisfactorily.
General Purposes Sub-Committee: June 8th 1925
With reference to the acceptance of the tender of Mr W P Ward for alterations at Ward End, the Sub-Committee were informed that the contractor has asked for permission to increase his tender by £100, he having under estimated the cost of woodwork. The Chairman of the General Committee had declined to accede to this proposal, and the contractor had asked to be allowed to withdraw his tender. This request had been acceded to and in accordance with the authority given by the General Committee the next lowest tender had now been accepted for the work, that of Messrs Maddocks & Walford, at the sum of £1,999.
754 RESOLVED:- That the action taken in the matter be confirmed.
Bank Committee: June 15th 1925
2109 The following report of the General Purposes Sub-Committee was presented:
Tender of W P Ward for alterations at Ward End.
Your Sub-Committee report that an application was made by this Contractor for permission to increase his tender by the sum of £100 for the carrying out of this work, he having underestimated for wood work. Mr Ward was informed that his request could not be complied with, and subsequently, at his desire, he was allowed to withdraw his tender.
In accordance with the authority of your Committee, contained in Minute No 2056, your Sub-Committee have now agreed to accept the next tender, that of Messrs Maddocks and Walford Ltd at the sum of £1,999, and that the Town Clerk has been directed to prepare and seal the necessary Contract.
2110 RESOLVED:- That the action taken in allowing Mr W P Ward to withdraw his tender for alterations at Ward End, and in accepting the tender of Messrs Maddocks & Walford Ltd for the carrying out of the work at the sum of £1,999 be confirmed, and that the instruction contained in Minute No 2056 be amended accordingly.
2111 RESOLVED:- That the report of the General Purposes Sub-Committee be approved.
General Purposes Sub-Committee: July 13th 1925
The General Manager stated that Messrs Maddocks & Walford in connection with the contract for alterations at Ward End, had been asked to provide satisfactory security for carrying out the work, but they had expressed their objection to doing this, pointing out that considerably larger contracts had been executed by them for the Corporation (including the Bank Committee) without their being required to provide security. After considering the whole of the circumstances it was:
770 RESOLVED:- That the requirements with regard to the security be dispensed with in this case.
777 The General Manager stated that he had received a letter from Mrs W A Cadbury expressing thanks for the gift by the Bank of the Hut at Ward End to the YWCA.
General Purposes Sub-Committee: October 12th 1925
The General Manager stated that his attention had been called to properties in Frederick Road, Selly Oak and Treaford Lane, Ward End, but the situations in question were not suitable for Bank premises.
802 RESOLVED:- That no action be taken in the matter.
Finance Sub-Committee: October 12th 1925
The Sub-Committee were informed that during the vacation the following tenders have been accepted for heating and lighting at various branches as follows:
Name
of Branch. Nature of Work. Tender Accepted. Amount. Erdington Heating Gas Department £181. 18. 6. Ward End Heating Gas Department £114. 16. 0.
The General Manager also submitted tenders for heating at Northfield, and lighting at Ward End, and it was:
389 RESOLVED:- That the tender of the Gas Department for heating at Northfield be accepted at the sum of £117. 19. 0. and that of the Etna Lighting and Heating Company Limited, for lighting at Ward End at the sum of £51. 12. 6d., also that the action taken in accepting the other tenders mentioned be confirmed.
Bank Committee: October 19th 1925
On Minutes Nos 2056/2110 (Alterations at 684 Washwood Heath Road) and 2133 (Cleaning of Windows etc at Head Office) the Town Clerk reported as follows with reference to the completion of Contracts in these cases.
October 16th 1925.
I have to report that the following Contracts are now duly completed:
Minute
No. Contractors. Particulars. 2110 & 2056 Maddocks & Walford Carrying out Alterations to No 684 Washwood Heath Road 2133 City &
District Window Cleaning Company Ltd Cleaning of Windows at the Head Office
I ask that the Minutes be discharged.
2145 RESOLVED:- That Minutes Nos 2056/2110 and 2133 be discharged.
Finance & House Purchase Sub-Committee: December 14th 1925
20
The General Manager reported that since the last meeting of the Bank Committee, Mr Councillor Appleby had authorised the acceptance
of the tender of Messrs Edmonds & Co Ltd for counter and fittings at the Northfield Branch at the sum of £131, such tender being
the lowest received, and also the tender of Messrs Maddocks & Walford, amounting to the sum of £151. 5. 0. in respect of counter
and fittings for the Ward End Branch, this being the lowest tender for the work.
Bank Committee (Special Meeting): March 1st 1926
The General Manager reported that the freeholder of the Ward End premises (Mr Jones) had offered to sell the freehold interest in No 684 Washwood Heath Road for the sum of £225. It was pointed out that at the time of the acquisition by the Bank of the leasehold interest, the freehold of the property was offered at the sum of £500.
2293 RESOLVED:- That Mr Frank Wilde be authorised to negotiate for the acquisition of the freehold of No 684 Washwood Heath Road at a price not exceeding £200.
General Purposes Sub-Committee: March 15th 1926
The General Manager presented the following report with reference to the appointment of a clerk in charge at Ward End.
Appointment of Clerk-in-Charge at Ward End.
As the next Meeting of the Committee will not take place until this Branch has been formally opened [on April 10th], it is necessary to make an appointment at this Meeting.
After consideration, the General Manager recommends Mr R H Tafft being transferred from Acock's Green to Ward End, and that Mr H J Sutherland, a Cashier at Head Office, be appointed to succeed Mr Tafft as temporary Clerk-in-Charge at Acock's Green.
In the recent revision of salaries Mr Tafft was granted an increase of £10. This ought to have been £20 according to the scale under the Grading Scheme, and the General Manager now recommends that this mistake be corrected.
No further adjustment in salaries is suggested for these two officers, and the appointment will, as in other cases, be regarded as temporary until the end of the year, when further experience will have been gained of both officers.
902 RESOLVED:- That the proposals contained in the foregoing report be approved, and the General Committee recommended accordingly.
Report of the Finance & House Purchase Sub-Committee: March 15th 1926
Leasing of Flats. Northfield and Ward End.
Your Sub-Committee have directed the General Manager to arrange for the leasing of the flat at the Bank premises at Northfield at a rental of £28. 0. 0. per annum, and the flat at Ward End at a rental of £24. 0. 0. per annum, the tenants in each case to pay rates, and to be responsible for inside repair.
General Purposes Sub-Committee: April 12th 1926
Bank Committee: April 19th 1926
2331 The following report of the General Purposes Sub-Committee was presented:
Freehold - No 684 Washwood Heath Road.
Your Committee, at their meeting on the 1st March, 1926, authorised negotiations to take place for the acquisition of the freehold interest in No 684 Washwood Heath Road, the leasehold interest in which has already been acquired by the Bank.
Mr F Wilde has now been able to obtain the consent of the owner to the sale of the freehold in question at the sum of £200, plus 10 guineas professional fees.
Your Sub-Committee recommend that the Town Clerk be instructed to complete the purchase, subject to the approval of the City Council, and to enter into any necessary agreement in the matter affixing the Corporate Seal thereto.
2334 RESOLVED:- That, subject to the approval of the City Council, the Town Clerk be instructed to complete the purchase of the freehold interest in No 684 Washwood Heath Road at the sum of £200, plus 10 guineas professional fees, and to enter into any necessary Agreement, affixing the Corporate Seal thereto.
Finance & General Purposes Sub-Committee: May 31st 1926
The General Manager reported that arrangements had been made with Mr Jones, the lessor of No 674 Washwood Heath Road, which premises were leased to the Bank in 1923 for a period of 14 years, for the surrender of such lease, consequent on the Ward End Branch being transferred to permanent premises at 684 Washwood Heath Road.
161 RESOLVED:- That the surrender of the lease of premises No 674, Washwood Heath Road be approved, that the Town Clerk be instructed to enter into any necessary document and that the General Committee be recommended to authorise the sealing thereof if necessary.
Bank Committee: June 21st 1926
2375 The following Minute of the City Council passed on the presentation of the report of the Bank Committee on the 1st June last was received:
It was moved by the Lord Mayor, seconded by Mr Councillor Griffin, and
Bank Committee: July 26th 1926
On Minute No 2334, the Town Clerk presented the following report as to the completion of the purchase of the freehold of No 684, Washwood Heath Road:
Minute No 2334 - Freehold interest in 684 Washwood Heath Road.
As instructed by the above Minute I have completed the purchase from Mr Harry Jones and his mortgagee of 684, Washwood Heath Road, and have made the following payments herein:
Purchase money £200 Agreed Vendor's Solicitors'
costs 10. 10. 0. Ground Rent 2. 1. 4.
I ask that this Minute be discharged.
2414 RESOLVED:- That Minute No 2334 be discharged.
On Minute 2391, the Town Clerk presented the following report as to the completion of the surrender by the Corporation of the lease of No 674, Washwood Heath Road:
Minute No 2391 - 674 Washwood Heath Road.
As instructed by the above Minute I have completed the surrender by the Corporation to Mr Harry Jones of the lease of 674, Washwood Heath Road, and I ask that this Minute be discharged.
2416 RESOLVED:- That Minute No 2391 be discharged.
Finance Sub-Committee: December 13th 1926
The General Manager presented the following report with reference to arrears of rent at 674 Washwood Heath Road:
Arrears of Rent - 674 Washwood Heath Road
The tenant of these premises - which the Bank vacated on the opening of the new Ward End premises - is Mr C Pratt, a miner, with a wife and six young children.
From the commencement of the tenancy, namely, 25th March, 1921, the Bank had considerable difficulty in getting from Mr Pratt payment of the rent of 7/6d per week, clear, and in October of that year the matter was put into Mr Wilde's hands for him to deal with. He likewise has had considerable trouble and pointed out in 1922 that the man was in the Infirmary and had applied to the Guardians for relief.
In February, 1922 a report was submitted showing that the man had been out of work for several months and that the arrears at that date were £3/18/2d.
In
January, 1923 in response to a request from the tenant that the Bank should decorate his house Mr Wilde reported that it was in a
dirty condition, that the tenant was unsatisfactory and that he could not advise the Bank spending any more money until the tenant
made good the arrears. The Committee endorsed Mr Wilde's opinion.
Mr Wilde periodically reported the fact that Mr Pratt was not pulling up his arrears and, as a matter of fact, was slipping farther back, and that he was very doubtful whether an application to the Court would produce any better result; it was felt unlikely that the Judge would grant an Order for possession having regard to the number in family and the fact that the man was so often out of work. Mr Wilde was ultimately told to take the best possible steps to get in the amount which was due.
In arranging the purchase of the new premises, No 684 Washwood Heath Road, from Mr Jones, who is also the owner of No 674 Washwood Heath Road, Mr Wilde drew attention to the fact that if that purchase was concluded the Bank would get out of the difficulty with this particular tenant who, he felt sure, would never be able to meet the arrears and would not make his normal weekly payments.
The result is that arrears of £5/8/6d stand in the books of the Bank against this property, and although Mr Wilde has endeavoured many times to get this money he is quite unable to do so, and I recommend that the account be closed and the arrears wiped out.
11 RESOLVED:- That the arrears owing to the Bank
by the tenant of 674 Washwood Heath Road, amounting to the sum of £5. 8. 6. be written off as irrecoverable.