Report to the Bank Committee: July 16th 1928
Property: Nos 5 and 7 Wheeler Street, Lozells
The question of making provision
for a Bank towards the Great Hampton Street end of Wheeler Street, has been mentioned on several occasions.
The General Manager
has been informed that two shops and houses Nos 5 and 7 Wheeler Street, are for sale, with vacant possession of the whole of No 5.
No 7 is subject to a weekly tenancy at a rental of 19/6d, the landlord paying rates and water charges. The property is freehold, and
for the two shops and dwelling houses a price of £1,600 has been asked.
Mr Wilde has raised the point as to whether the Committee
would be interested in this property, in which case he would, if instructed, open negotiations with a view to the property being acquired.
The
Chairman and General Manager passed these premises on Friday morning last without making any particular inspection and the conclusion
they arrived at was that the Committee should be acquainted at once, so that the necessary authority could be given to Mr Wilde if
that should be the Committee's wish. From a casual survey the structure appears to be in decent condition, but of course a more detailed
report would be available after Mr Wilde has had an opportunity of going into the whole matter.
It is recommended that Mr Wilde
be instructed to commence negotiations, and to furnish a full report on the whole matter, giving his opinion as to the price.
General
Purposes Sub-Committee: October 15th 1928
Purchase of Property in Wheeler Street.
Your Sub-Committee report that, following
on the authority given by your Committee at their last meeting, negotiations have been completed for the purchase of the freehold
of the property Nos 5 and 7, Wheeler Street at the price of £1,350.
The City Council will be asked at their meeting on the 16th
October to confirm the purchase, and, subject thereto, your Sub-Committee recommend that the Town Clerk be instructed to enter into
any necessary documents, affixing the Corporate Seal thereto.
City Council: October 16th 1928
PURCHASE OF PREMISES, NOS
5 AND 7, WHEELER STREET, LOZELLS.
For some time the Bank Committee have been seeking premises in the Wheeler Street area to serve
as a Branch of the Bank, and an opportunity has arisen of securing property, which, in the opinion of your Committee, can be suitably
adapted for this purpose.
This property is situate in the midst of a thickly populated part of the City, and consists of two
shops and dwelling-houses, Nos 5 and 7, Wheeler Street. The buildings have a frontage to Wheeler Street of 36ft. 9in.
Negotiations
for the purchase have resulted in the property being placed on sale at the sum of £1,350 freehold, which price your Committee are
professionally advised is reasonable, having regard to the position and condition of the premises.
Vacant possession of No 5,
Wheeler Street can be given on completion of purchase, and No 7, Wheeler Street is subject to a weekly tenancy at a rental of 19s.
2d. inclusive, the rates being paid by the landlord.
Your Committee ask for the approval of the Council to the purchase, the
cost of which will be defrayed out of the funds of the Bank.
It was moved by Mr Councillor Cooper, seconded by Mr Councillor
Gelling, and
Resolved: 28,789. That the proposal to purchase, for the purpose of a Branch Bank, the freehold premises Nos 5 and 7,
Wheeler Street, Lozells, for the sum of £1,350, be approved and confirmed, the purchase money to be defrayed out of the funds of the
Bank.
Bank Committee: December 10th 1928
On Minute No 1320, the General Manager presented the following report with regard to the available use of land and buildings purchased for branch bank purposes
Report of the Town Clerk: January 8th 1929
I have to report that I have completed the purchase from Messrs Jesse Watkins and
Edward Richard Wallace for the sum of £1,350 of the premises Nos 5 and 7 Wheeler Street in this City.
I have in addition to the
purchase money paid the stamp duty on the Conveyance amounting to £13. 10. 0.
Bank Committee: April 8th 1929
On Minutes
Nos 1193 and 1288, it was
1385 RESOLVED:- That the General Manager be requested to consider if any arrangements can be made to relieve the present congestion at the Summer Lane Branch and to make enquiries as to securing other premises or a site for a permanent bank.
It was also
1386 RESOLVED:- That the General Manager be instructed to ascertain the position
with regard to the tenancy of the property acquired by the Bank in Wheeler Street, and the possibility of obtaining vacant possession
of the premises.
Bank Committee: May 13th 1929
1401 On Minute No 1386 (property in Wheeler Street) the General Manager reported that he had let the vacant shop to the West Birmingham Divisional Labour Party for a period of two weeks at a rental of £3 per week.
Bank Committee: June 10th 1929
On Minute No 1386 (Property in Wheeler Street), the Sub-Committee considered the question of obtaining possession of No 7 Wheeler Street, occupied by Mrs Slade, widow, as a weekly tenant protected by the Rent Restrictions Act, and it was considered desirable, if possible, that assistance should be given to secure alternative accommodation suitable to the needs of Mrs Slade who has nine children living with her. It was therefore:
1416 RESOLVED:- That
the General Committee be recommended to instruct Mr Wilde to endeavour to arrange for the purchase of suitable accommodation for the
tenant of No 7 Wheeler Street, the purchase to be facilitated by means of an advance to Mrs Slade through the House Purchase Department
in the usual way.
General Purposes Sub-Committee: June 17th 1929
3463 The following report of the General Purposes
Sub-Committee was presented:
Property in Wheeler Street.
Your Sub-Committee have to report that vacant possession of the
whole of the premises Nos 5 and 7 Wheeler Street cannot yet be obtained. No 5 Wheeler Street is vacant, but No 7 Wheeler Street is
occupied by Mrs Slade (Widow) as a second-hand clothes shop and dwelling-house. Mrs Slade has nine children living with her, the eldest
being 21 years of age and the youngest 10 years of age. She is a weekly tenant, protected by the Rent Restrictions Acts, and although
willing to remove to other premises within a reasonable distance of her present address, it is necessary for her to have a shop and
dwelling-house as she is partially dependent on the shop for a living.
Mr Frank Wilde has put forward the suggestion that the
shop and premises No 77 Wheeler Street, which are on sale at £550, should be purchased and Mrs Slade transferred thereto, but your
Sub-Committee do not consider such an expenditure justifiable. On the other hand, they realise that until alternative accommodation
suitable to the needs of Mrs Slade and her family is provided, the reconstruction of the Wheeler Street premises cannot be undertaken.
It
is therefore recommended that Mr Wilde be instructed to endeavour to purchase a suitable shop and house for Mrs Slade and that the
purchase be facilitated by an advance through the House Purchase Department in the usual way.
3468 RESOLVED:- That
the General Manager be instructed to direct Mr Frank Wilde to endeavour to arrange for the purchase of suitable accommodation for
the tenant of No 7 Wheeler Street on the lines indicated in the foregoing report of the General Purposes Sub-Committee, an advance
to Mrs Slade for that purpose to be arranged through the House Purchase Department in the usual way.
General Purposes Sub-Committee
: July 8th 1929
On Minutes Nod 1386 and 1416 (property in Wheeler Street) the Sub-Committee were informed that Mr Frank Wilde had not yet been able to find suitable accommodation for the tenant of No 7 Wheeler Street, and in view of the circumstances the Sub-Committee considered it might be necessary to acquire the property on her behalf. It was:
1425 RESOLVED:- That the General
Manager be directed to instruct Mr Wilde, should he be unable to find satisfactory premises to rent, to make enquiries for the purchase
of suitable property.
General Purposes Sub-Committee: July 15th 1929
3495 The following report of the General
Purposes Sub-Committee was presented:
Property in Wheeler Street.
In accordance with the instructions given at the last
meeting of your Committee Mr Frank Wilde, the Bank's Valuer, has made enquiries for suitable premises to accommodate the tenant of
No 7 Wheeler Street, who is a widow with nine children, in order that the Bank may enter into possession of this property.
Mr
Wilde has not succeeded in finding suitable accommodation to rent and your Sub-Committee therefore recommend that he be empowered
to negotiate for the purchase of suitable premises on behalf of the widow, who desires to obtain a house and shop in order that she
may carry on her business.
3497 RESOLVED:- That the General Manager be instructed to direct Mr Frank Wilde to arrange
for the purchase of property suitable to the needs of the present tenant of No 7 Wheeler Street, of which premises the Bank desire
to secure vacant possession.
Finance Sub-Committee: October 14th 1929
The Sub-Committee were informed that arrangements
had now been made for the letting of the premises owned by the Bank in Wheeler Street to Mr A H Bayes, of 19, Hall Road, Handsworth,
for two weeks ending November 2nd at the sum of £3 per week.
General Purposes Sub-Committee: November 20th 1929
Summer Lane Branch.
This branch was ripe
for development in 1927 when, in fact, the Committee decided to secure permanent premises. It will be realised that to move the site
of a branch which has enrolled 1,600 depositors with its limited days and hours of business, is somewhat risky, but if the move projected
to Newtown Row can be accomplished at the same time as evening branch facilities are provided at Wheeler Street, then I think we can
carry all the depositors to one branch or the other.
It would be advisable to carry through a small structural alteration to
the vacant shop and house in Wheeler Street and to the shop and house in Newtown Row which will shortly be vacant, and open both branches
together as evening branches.
Bank Committee: November 25th 1929
Subject to the approval of the Council to the purchase
of property Nos 77 & 79, Newtown Row, to arrange for the opening of Evening Branches at No 77, Newtown Row and No 5, Wheeler Street.
3578 RESOLVED:- That the following Branches be named as below indicated:
Corner of Gravelly Lane and Station Road Shortheath (sic) Bristol
Street Horse Fair Wheeler Street Wheeler Street Newtown Row Newtown Row
Report to the City Council: December 3rd 1929
In relation to replacing the Summer Lane Branch, it will be recalled that in December, 1928, the Council approved of the purchase of Nos 5 and 7, Wheeler Street, for the purpose of the Bank. Up to the present it has not been possible to obtain vacant possession of No 7 Wheeler Street, and your Committee therefore propose to utilise the vacant premises at No 5 as an evening Bank until such time as vacant possession of the remainder of the property can be obtained. By opening evening branches at both Newtown Row and Wheeler Street your Committee are confident that the present depositorship of the Summer Lane Branch, which is situated between the two thoroughfares, can be successfully transferred to either one or the other of the proposed branches.
General Purposes Sub-Committee: December 13th 1929
On
Minutes Nos 1386/1416/1425 (property in Wheeler Street), the General Manager submitted a letter from Mr Wilde to the effect that Mrs
Shand, the tenant of No 7 Wheeler Street, desired to acquire the dwellinghouse No 7 Waverhill Road, Handsworth, at a price of £410,
and had stated that she would give vacant possession of No 7 Wheeler Street in consideration of a sum of £100 as compensation, and
on the understanding that the Bank would advance £360 towards the purchase of the Waverhill Road property.
After consideration, it was:
1457 RESOLVED:- That Mr Wilde be informed that the Bank Committee are not willing to make the payment suggested
as compensation nor to grant an advance in respect of the Waverhill Road property; further, that as steps have already been taken
to open No 5 Wheeler Street as an evening branch such arrangements must stand for a year or two; and that Minutes Nos 1386/1416/1425
be discharged.
General Purposes Sub-Committee: January 13th 1930
1481 On Minute No 1457, the General Manager
reported that arrangements had been made for the Wheeler Street evening Branch to be opened for business on Saturday next and that
the Newtown Row evening Branch would be opened in about a fortnight's time when the Summer Lane Branch would be discontinued.
M862/3:
General Purposes Sub-Committee: February 10th 1930
On Minutes Nos 1457 and 1481, the General Manager reported that evening Branches had now been opened at No 77 Newtown Row and No 5 Wheeler Street, and it was:
1495 RESOLVED:- That the Minutes be
discharged.
General Purposes Sub-Committee: June 2nd 1930
The General Manager reported that the tenant of No 7, Wheeler
Street had now expressed her willingness to give vacant possession of these premises in consideration of the payment to her of £100
as compensation.
1554 RESOLVED:- That the General Committee be recommended to authorise Mr Frank Wilde to obtain
vacant possession of the property in consideration of a sum as compensation not exceeding £100.
General Purposes Sub-Committee:
July 14th 1930
The General Manager reported that Mr Frank Wilde had obtained vacant possession of the premises No 7 Wheeler Street,
on payment of compensation to the extent of £80.
1565 RESOLVED:- That Mr Stewart Evans, Architect, be requested to advise the Committee as to the desirability of altering the existing premises or the erection of a new building, and to submit his proposals in the matter.