Bank Committee (Special): September 13th 1933
4875 Mr Howitt (Architect for the new Head Offices) attended the Committee.
The following tenders were opened and considered for the provision of Electric Clocks at the new Head Offices:
- The Synchronome
Co Ltd, London. £173. 8. 0.
- Gent & Co Ltd, Leicester £165. 6. 0.
4876 RESOLVED:- That the tender of Messrs Gent & Co Ltd at the sum of £165. 6. 0. be accepted and the Town Clerk be instructed, if necessary, to prepare a contract in the matter, affixing the corporate seal thereto.
4877 The Committee also considered the provision of an Electric Time Clock to check the visiting rounds of the caretaker during the night, and Mr Howitt (Architect) was authorised to arrange for the provision of a suitable clock at a total cost, including wiring and fixing, not exceeding £50.
The Committee received and considered the following tenders for the supply of wood furniture for the new Head Offices:
- Lee, Longland & Co. £1030. 11. 0.
- Kean & Scott Ltd. £1325. 0. 0.
- Alfred Allen. £1324. 0. 0.
- Chamberlain, King & Jones. £1390. 0. 0.
The Committee accepted the tender of Messrs Lee, Longland & Co but were later informed by the Architect that the firm had omitted an item from the tender and he had been in communication with them. They were anxious to send in a supplementary tender for the item in question. Having regard to the circumstances it was:
4878 RESOLVED:- That Messrs Lee, Longland & Co be permitted to submit the supplementary tender referred to, and that the Chairman with the General Manager be empowered, after the receipt thereof, to accept the lowest tender for the wood furniture required, instructing the Town Clerk, if necessary, to prepare any required contract, affixing the Corporate seal thereto.
Drawing were submitted from Elkington & Co Ltd of caskets which might be suitable for presentation to HRH Prince George, and after consideration it was:
4879 RESOLVED:- That the matter be left in the hands of the Chairman and Alderman Barrow with the General Manager to see whether satisfactory modifications could be made to the designs submitted, the inscription on the casket to be settled by the Town Clerk and General Manager.
The General Manager called attention to an error in the priced in quantities submitted by Messrs Sankey-Sheldon Ltd, London, in connection with the contract for steel furniture. For the provision of a table in each of the four reference rooms a figure of £4. 14. 9 had been inserted, but the firm now explained that such figure was intended for one table only and that the correct figure should be £18. 19. 0. After consulting the Architect, the Committee decided that as the tender was accepted as an inclusive tender the contract price must be adhered to, and it was:
4880 RESOLVED:- That the General Manager be instructed to inform Messrs Sankey-Sheldon Ltd accordingly.
In connection also with the contract with Sankey-Sheldon Ltd the General Manager stated that Messrs S Withers & Co of West Bromwich, were not prepared to supply their special type of ledger desk through this firm, but were willing to supply direct to the Bank. The Architect had accordingly deleted the item from the contract with Messrs Sankey-Sheldon Ltd, and it was:
4881 RESOLVED:- That the quotation of Messrs S Withers & Co for the supply of three ledger desks at the sum of £54. 13. 4 each be accepted.
4882 The General Manager submitted letters from Messrs J B Brooks & Co Ltd and Constructors Ltd regarding the acceptance of tenders from firms outside Birmingham and replies made to such letters, which were approved.
The Town Clerk having made enquiries as to sureties being provided under the Contract with Messrs Best & Lloyd Ltd for electric light fittings, it was:
4883 RESOLVED:- That sureties be dispensed with in this instance.
4884 The General Manager reported that he had received a letter from the Rt Hon Neville Chamberlain, MP, accepting the invitation to be present at the Opening Ceremony on the 27th November and at the luncheon to follow. If not prevented by engagements in the House of Commons Mr Chamberlain would also be present at the Commemoration Dinner and would be pleased to speak on the subject of the Bank.
4885 The General Manager explained that the arrangements for a private luncheon, if any, could not be settled until the return of the Lord Mayor and until HRH Prince George had been consulted, but so far as the Commemoration Dinner was concerned the toast list could be decided. It was thereupon agreed that in the event of HRH attending the Dinner the toasts should be (1) The King; (2) The Queen and Members of the Royal Family, and (3) The Bank.
4886 The Committee approved of suggestions made by the General Manager as to conducting HRH and party over the premises, and subsequently the invited guests. Approval was also given to the proposal that the address of HRH should be given in the Assembly Hall of the Bank. It was decided to leave the seating arrangements to the General Manager, and to refer the question of reservation of spaces outside the entrance, to the General Manager in consultation with the Chief Constable and the City Surveyor.
4887 The Committee decided to refer the list of presentations to be made to HRH, and the invitations to witness the opening ceremony and attend the Dinner, to the Chairman and General Manager.
4888 The General Manager submitted a draft brochure prepared by Mr Clamp, publicity expert, the general lines of which were approved. A description of the building had been prepared by the General Manager and approved by the Architect, and would be included in the brochure, together with a retrospect of the Bank.
4896 The General Manager reported that he had pressed the Masonic Temple Authorities for a decision on the scheme for dealing with the gateway entrance between the Temple and the bank, and was hopeful that satisfactory arrangements would be made in the very near future.
The Committee considered the question of appointments of caretakers, commissionaire and lift attendant, at the new Head Offices and it was:
4897 RESOLVED:- That Mr and Mrs Kirtland, the present caretakers at Edmund Street, be appointed caretakers of the new Head Offices at the rates already agreed upon, Mr Kirtland to act as lift attendant and Mrs Kirtland as superintendent of cleaners, this appointment to date from the day when Mr and Mrs Kirtland cease to act as caretakers at Edmund Street; also that Minutes Nos 4853 and 4854 be amended accordingly.
4898 RESOLVED:- That Mr J McQuaide, of 7 Derwent Road, Stirchley, be appointed commissionaire and bank messenger at a wage of £3 per week, the appointment to date from the 1st November, 1933.
The General Manager suggested that it would be more economical to arrange for the stationery clerk (Mr Watson) to include in his duties the delivery of stationery to branches from time to time, for which purpose the bank motor-car, which had not yet been sold, could be used. Also that the arrangements with the present chauffeur (Mr Perkins) for the use of his car for bank purposes might be determined, and Mr Perkins take over the duties of safe deposit attendant, instead of engaging another man for such post.
4899 RESOLVED:- That Mr Watson (stationery Clerk) be required to deliver stationery to branches from time to time, using the bank motor-car therefor, and that the decision contained in Minute No 4719 to sell the car be rescinded.
4900 RESOLVED:- That Mr Perkins be appointed safe deposit attendant at a wage of £3. 10. 0. per week, the appointment to date from the 27th November 1933.
The General Manager explained that it would be necessary to provide relief for meal times for the commissionaire, lift attendant, and safe deposit attendant, and stated that he could make a suitable interchange of duties for the short time necessary amongst the men concerned but in his opinion it would be advisable that they should be provided with uniforms.
4901 RESOLVED:- That the suggestion of the General Manager be adopted and that the Commissionaire, lift attendant, stationery clerk and safe deposit attendant be provided with suitable uniforms.
The General Manager reported that he had consulted Mrs Shaw with regard to cleaning the new Head Offices, and that after inspection of the premises and carefully thinking the matter over she had come to the conclusion that twelve cleaners would be required to work two hours each morning and two hours on three nights of the week, making a total of eighteen hours per cleaner per week. The General Manager was in agreement with the view of Mrs Shaw and suggested that if the Committee were likewise in agreement that the present arrangement with cleaners to clean at Head Offices and then proceed to clean certain branches for which they were paid a special rate per hour to cover cost of tram fares, etc should be determined and that the Council House rate of 8¾d. per hour for cleaners should be adopted.
4902 RESOLVED:- That the suggestions of Mrs Shaw and the General Manager be adopted and the latter instructed to make local arrangements for the cleaning of branches, the Head Office cleaners not to be engaged for this purpose.
The question of hours of duty for the engineer, lift attendant and commissionaire having been raised, it was:
4903 RESOLVED:- That the engineer be required to commence duty at 8am each day and the lift attendant and commissionaire at 8:30am each day; all three officers to commence duty at 5:30pm on Mondays and Fridays. It was decided not to fix a finishing hour but to leave it to the General Manager to arrange for the officers to leave when the work for the day was completed as in the case of all bank officers.
Bank Committee: October 16th 1933
On Minutes Nos 4438, 4468, and 4816 the Town Clerk submitted the following report as to the completion of an agreement with the Warwickshire Masonic Peace Memorial Temple Ltd relating to the cornice of the new Bank premises:
Minutes Nos 4438, 4468 and 4816
I have to report that in accordance with the above Minutes I have completed an agreement with the Warwickshire Masonic Peace Memorial Temple Limited relating to the cornice of the new Bank premises overhanging the Masonic Temple.
The Agreement provides for a payment by the Corporation of an acknowledgement of £1 on the 1st January in every year.
4914 RESOLVED:- That Minutes Nos 4438, 4468, and 4816 be discharged.
On Minutes No 4824 (Contract with F Restall Ltd for counters and screens, and 4871 (Contract with J & Walley for alterations, etc at the Small Heath Branch) the Town Clerk submitted the following report as to the completion of the contracts:
CONTRACTS.
I have to report that the following Contracts are now duly completed:
Frederick
Restall Ltd: Supply, delivery and erection of counters and screens at New Head Office.
J & W Walley: Carrying out alterations and renovations of branch bank at junction of Coventry Road and Langley Road, Small Heath.
4915 RESOLVED:- That Minutes Nos 4824 and 4871 be discharged.
On Minutes Nos 4862, 4876 and 4878 (Works at new Head Office) the following report of the Town Clerk was submitted:
NEW HEAD OFFICES.
I beg to report that I have conferred with your General Manager, and am in agreement with him that it is not necessary to enter into contracts under the Corporate Seal with the various firms mentioned in the Minutes, who are to supply electric light fittings, metal furniture, wood furniture and electric clocks for the new Head Offices, except in the case of Best and Lloyd Limited, in respect of which such a contract is in course of preparation. In the other cases the contractors' tenders will be dealt with as contracts under hand.
4916 RESOLVED:- That Minutes Nos 4876 and 4878 be discharged, and Minute No 4862 be continued in respect of the contract with Messrs Best & Lloyd Ltd.
On Minute No 4896 the Committee were informed that an agreement had now been arrived at between the Architects as to the gateway entrance between the Masonic Temple and the Bank, and it was:
4917 RESOLVED:- That Minute No 4896 be discharged.
4923 The following report of the General Purposes Sub-Committee was presented:
Opening of New Central Head Office.
As authorised, your Chairman and the Chairman of this Sub-Committee have agreed upon the design of the casket and key to be presented to HRH The Prince George, and the Town Clerk has settled the inscription thereon.
With regard to a tablet recording the opening of the premises it has been agreed that the record should be cut in the stone on the front of the Building, in a corresponding position to the record of the laying of the foundation stone, on the opposite side of the main entrance.
Your Sub-Committee have also approved the form of the brochure commemorating the opening of the Bank and have given instructions for this to be proceeded with.
Furniture at Existing Head Office.
Arrangements have been made to dispose of the bulk of existing head office furniture to other departments of the Corporation at prices totalling £234. 12. 6. and steps are being taken to dispose of the remainder.
4925 With reference to the new Central Head Offices, the Committee were informed that arrangements had been made to purchase from Messrs W J Whittall & Son Ltd the Contractors, the hoarding at present bordering the Bank premises, at a cost of £75, it being intended that this hoarding should be utilised towards covering the old buildings on the western side of the Bank.
4926 RESOLVED:- That the foregoing report of the General Purposes Sub-Committee be approved and the various matters therein referred to confirmed.
4944 The City Surveyor attended the Meeting and submitted a plan showing proposed layout of the forecourt and side area of the Bank building in Broad Street.
The Committee approved the principle of laying out the area in grass plots, flagging, etc, but expressed their desire to have stone flags laid to the full width of the loggia from the building line to the pavement, the rectangular grass plots on either side to be uniform in size; also a stone flagged margin on each side of the loggia to the recessed portion of the building; and a stone flagged pathway direct from the pavement to the gate leading to the staff entrance. They further desired that an unclimbable railing should be provided (in place of the proposed hoarding) across the area from the staff entrance gate to the old buildings on the western side; also that the path leading from the gate to the staff entrance door at the rear of the premises should be tar-gravel paved or similarly treated so as to preserve cleanliness.
The Committee agreed that the hoarding (excluding the two shutter portions) belonging to the Bank and at present bordering the site - being sufficient for the purpose - can be used for covering the walls of the adjacent old buildings on the western side of the site between the new railings and the boundary of the car park, it being understood from the City Surveyor that the covering of the gable end of the old buildings from the railings to the pavement will be adequately dealt with by the Public Works Department.
In view of the fact that the land comprising the forecourt and side area belonged to the Public Works and Town Planning Committee, it was agreed by the City Surveyor that the cost of levelling the forecourt and the side area should be borne by the Public Works Department in accordance with their usual practice, and having regard to the importance of the site as part of the new Civic Centre, but any extra expense entailed purely to meet the Bank Committee's requirements would have to be borne by the Bank.
4945 RESOLVED:- That, subject to the above-mentioned alterations and requirements the proposals of the City Surveyor as to the laying out of the forecourt, etc at the new Bank Head Office, be approved, and that he be instructed, in consultation with the Chairman and the General Manager, to take immediate steps for the carrying out of the work.
4946 The City Surveyor pointed out the possibility of the General Purposes Committee deciding to have a traffic entrance to the car park on the western side of the Bank, in which event he was directed to consult with the Chairman and the General Manager with a view to the above-mentioned scheme being amended if necessary to meet this requirement.
Bank Committee: November 13th 1933
On Minute No 4945 the Committee were informed that the City Surveyor had intimated that it would not be possible to complete the laying of the permanent stone flagging in the forecourt of the Bank premises in time for the opening ceremony. The alternatives suggested were either to lay down red ashes or to put down temporarily ordinary paving flags.
4958 RESOLVED:- That the General Manager be instructed to arrange with the City Surveyor for temporary stone flags or their equivalent to be laid down in the forecourt in good time for the opening ceremony, the permanent flagging as already specified to be substituted as soon as possible thereafter..