Bank Committee: February 18th 1935
5367 Mr T C Howitt (the Architect for the new Head Offices) appeared before the Committee and explained the final position regarding the actual cost of the building.
Mr Howitt paid tribute to the excellent manner in which the builders had carried out the work and the valuable assistance he had received from Mr Bond (the Quantity Surveyor) and Mr Horsefield (the Clerk of Works). He also referred to the fact that the contractors (Messrs Whittall & Sons) had been able to complete the building in 5¼ weeks under the time specified in the contract, in respect of which they were entitled to a bonus of £75 per week amounting to the sum of £395. 15. 0. Mr Howitt explained that the smoothness and efficiency with which the work had been carried out by the parties concerned has largely been due to the assistance rendered by Alderman Sir Percival Bower and the General Manager in finally settling the plans so that no subsequent alteration in the lay-out was involved. The Architect then referred to the financial adjustments which had been made under the contract, which was entered into for the sum of £84,867. The actual cost of the work, however, was £81,124. 13. 10., representing a saving of £3,742. 6. 2. to which should be added an amount of £814. 10. 7. in respect of certain variations, making a total saving of £4,566. 16. 9. It was also satisfactory to know that the cost of the furniture and equipment was £13,961. 13. 8. as compared with the estimate of £14,145. 13. 7. representing a further saving of £183. 19. 11. These reductions of cost in comparison with the estimates had been largely to the opportune time chosen for the work and also to the fact that in view of the unique position of the Bank in the country, contractors for specialists' work had been desirous of participating in the contract. Mr Howitt intimated that the whole of the payments under the contract had now been met with the exception of £329. 3. 0. due to Messrs Whittall & Sons plus certain retention moneys held in accordance with the provisions of the contract. In conclusion he asked the Committee to give consideration to the question of basing his fees on the full amount of the contract rather than upon actual cost of the work.
After Alderman Sir Percival Bower had referred to Mr Howitt's helpful but firm attitude with regard to making any required adjustments in his plans to meet the requirements of the Bank as the result of which the building had proceeded without any substantial alterations being necessary. The Chairman on behalf of the Committee thanked Mr Howitt for the highly satisfactory manner in which the whole of the work had been carried out and upon the fact that a substantial saving had been effected not only upon estimated cost but upon the contract price for the work.
Mr Howitt having withdrawn, the Committee considered the question of the basis upon which his fees should be calculated and having regard to the excellent and economical manner in which the contract had been carried out it was:
Bank Committee: October 19th 1936
5769 RESOLVED:- That the arrangements with the Selly Oak Window Cleaning Company for cleaning the windows at the Head Office on the same term as at present be approved for a period of three years, and that the Town Clerk be instructed to enter into the necessary contract and to affix the Corporate Seal thereto.
Finance & General Purposes Sub-Committee: December 21st 1936
Head Offices - City Arms.
It has been pointed out that the design of the City Arms at the main entrance to the Bank is not now in accordance with the design recently settled by the College Heralds and now approved by the General Purposes Committee.
Your Sub-Committee have, therefore, instructed the General Manager to take the necessary steps to have the correct design displayed.
Outside decoration at Head Office.
On the advice of Mr Howitt, Architect, the tender of Messrs W J Whittall & Son Ltd for outside painting, etc at the Head Office at the sum of £101. 15. 0. has been accepted.
Coronation Celebrations.
In connection with the Coronation Celebrations, the General Manager has been instructed to purchase two new flags for the Head Office of the Bank. With regard to the General scheme of decorations, he has been directed to confer with Mr Hayward (the Architect appointed by the General Purposes Committee for this purpose).
At the request of the Lord Mayor, arrangements will be made for the payment through the Bank, of the grants to be made to aged persons, on presentation of the appropriate authorities and in accordance with the scheme to be adopted by the General Purposes Committee.
Finance & General Purposes Sub-Committee: July 19th 1937
Provision of revolving doors etc at Head Office.
Your Sub-Committee have obtained competitive tenders for providing a revolving entrance door into the Banking Hall and two vestibule doors on the North Corridor etc at Head Office to overcome the difficulty of draughts and recommend the acceptance of the lowest tender, that of Messrs H H Martyn & Co Ltd, Cheltenham, in the sum of £824. 10. 0d.
In view of the special character of this work the matter has been treated as an exception to the requirements of the City Council in regard to publicly invited tenders.
Your
Sub-Committee recommend that the Town Clerk be instructed to prepare the necessary Contract, affixing the Corporate Seal thereto.
Bank Committee: October 17th 1938
6314 RESOLVED:- That the joint appointment of Mr and Mrs Kirtland as caretakers at the
Head Office of the Bank be determined at the 31st March 1939, and that Mr Kirtland be appointed thereafter as sole caretaker at a
wage of £3. 10. 0. per week.
Finance & General Purposes Sub-Committee: October 17th 1938
Canteen Staff.
Your Sub-Committee
would point out that, in January 1936, it was decided that the canteen staff should be excluded from the Corporation Superannuation
Scheme, but as the result of a communication from the City Treasurer, it is now considered desirable that they should be brought within
the scheme. They therefore recommend that Minute No 5592 be rescinded and that the necessary steps be taken for the canteen staff
to be included in the Superannuation Scheme, and the Treasurer and General Manager directed accordingly.
Finance & General Purposes Sub-Committee: February 20th 1939
Air Raid Precautions.
Your Committee were informed on the 17th October last that consideration would be given to the question of the suitable storage of duplicate records and documents in case of emergency.
In this connection your Sub-Committee have examined different alternatives including the possibility of storing such records and documents at a suitable place in the country, such as Ludlow and the provision of bomb-proof store-rooms nearer at hand, such as in the embankment of the reservoir now under construction at Kingstanding.
It is considered, however, that both these schemes would entail considerable inconvenience and expense and your Sub-Committee have arrived at the conclusion that a more advantageous and convenient course would be to make arrangements for the interchange of duplicate records between the Branches, which procedure, they are informed is being adopted by certain of the joint stock banks. The General Manager has been instructed to arrange accordingly.
The General Manager
has also been authorised to arrange for the removal and replacement of the glass laylights at the Head Office by non-splinterable
substitute in suitable frames, as the ordinary glass installed at the present time might easily prove a source of danger.
Finance & General Purposes Sub-Committee: April 17th 1939
Air Raids Precautions.
Your Sub-Committee have had comprehensive reports from the General Manager with regard to the arrangements made at the Head Office with reference to refuge rooms, the equipment thereof and the training of the staff in regard to air raids precautions.
The General Manager has also reported fully with regard to the arrangements made for provision of refuge rooms at the branches.
With regard to the evening branches at Wells Green and Tower
Hill, the General Manager has been directed to arrange for the construction of suitable shelters on these sites, each to accommodate
12 persons.
Finance & General Purposes Sub-Committee: July 17th 1939
Air Raid Precautions - Store room for material, etc, at Head Office.
A plan has been prepared by the City Engineer and Surveyor for the erection of a store room at the rear of the Bank on land belonging to the Public Works Department at a cost of £275.
Your Sub-Committee recommend that such store
room be provided at the cost mentioned and erected under the supervision of the City Engineer and Surveyor.