Bank Committee: July 19th 1948
Sherlock Street - Alterations.
The General Manager submitted the following report:
In
April 1947 a report was submitted to the Committee that during a gale on Sunday evening, the 16th March 1947, the gable and which
remained of the adjoining demolished property, No 163 Sherlock Street, was blown on to the flat roof over the Sherlock Street Branch,
carrying with it the Bank's own parapet. In its fall, it broke through and completely destroyed one of the lantern lights (6' x 8')
on the flat roof, together with the laylight below, causing also considerable damage to the plaster ceiling, and to 12' of counter
and certain counter fittings.
Mr Surman negotiated with the War Damage Commission, who agreed to pay the cost incurred in making
good and rendering waterproof the surface of the wall of the Bank premises exposed by the collapse of the wall above referred to.
They did not, however, consider the other repairs to be consequential War damage.
Certain urgent external and internal repairs
have already been executed.
The Town Clerk reported to the Committee in October last that, in his opinion, the Gooch Estate,
to whom the adjoining site in question belongs, must be held responsible for the repair of the damage, other than that to be met by
the War Damage Commission. A further report was submitted by the Town Clerk in May last, that Counsel had advised that the Corporation
were entitled to succeed on any proceedings which may be brought against the Gooch Estates Ltd in respect of these repairs. While
waiting for the completion of the work and the Architect's final account, the Town Clerk proposed to continue his efforts to establish
the Bank Committee's claim.
In February last I reported to the Committee that the approximate amount of the claim against the
War Damage Commission as given by Mr Surman was as follows:
|
External Works executed |
£155. 8. 4. |
|
Internal Works not
yet executed |
31. 16. 2. |
|
|
£187. 4. 6. |
and the remaining repairs as follows:
|
External Works executed |
£177. 14.
1. |
|
Internal Works not yet executed |
177. 3. 8. |
|
|
£354. 17. 9. |
Mr Surman later pointed out that his figures were based
on the original estimates prepared the previous year, and would be subject to revision owing to rises in the cost of labour and materials.
Moreover,
the premises No 159 Sherlock Street on the other side of the Branch have now been demolished under a contract let by the Public Works
Department, and the War Damage Commission had agreed to pay the cost of making good the North wall.
Recent inspection has revealed
that in the flat roof over the Branch further cracks have appeared in the asphalte, permitting rain to penetrate. Mr Surman suggests
that these may be due first to the asphalte becoming brittle with age, and secondly to shock the timber framing received through bombing
and the collapse of the adjoining gable wall. The remedy proposed is to cover the existing asphalte with Rubberoid. Certain chimney
tops also have been found in need of repair.
Mr Surman has now submitted a revised and detailed schedule and estimate prepared
by Walter W Webb, Quantity Surveyor, for the whole of the work involved, as follows:
|
Amount of War Damage Claim |
£433. 9. 1. |
|
" " Claim against Gooch Estate |
468. 17. 9. |
|
|
902. 6. 10. |
|
Cost of Chimney Repairs |
29. 4. 9. |
|
|
£931. 11. 7. |
Included in the above estimate are certain urgent
repairs which it was necessary to have done from time to time during the period since March 1947.
The original estimate given
by Mr Surman in August 1947 of the claim against the Gooch Estate was £332. 12. 0d; while in February last, as already stated, the
figure quoted was £354. 17. 9; the increase now to £468. 17. 9d appears to be in respect of further defects discovered in the roof,
including covering, structural timbers and plaster, etc, apart from general increase in costs.
The original estimate of the War
Damage Claim given by Mr Surman in August last was £209. 10. 3d, while in February last, as already stated, the figure appeared as
£187. 4. 6d; the increase now to £433. 9. 1d he explains is occasioned mainly by the work of cement rendering to the North wall exposed
by the demolition of No 159 Sherlock Street, but also to the general increase in costs.
Messrs W & J Webb, Building Contractors,
Great King Street, Birmingham, are prepared to carry out the whole of the work in the schedule for the sum of £931. 11. 7d, and I
shall be glad of the Committee's instructions for the Town Clerk to prepare and seal the necessary contract.
19th July 1948.
8595 RESOLVED:- That the foregoing report of the General Manager be approved; that arrangements be made for entering into a Contract with
Messrs W & J Webb for the reparations at the Sherlock Street Branch, at the negotiated amount of £931. 11s. 7d (including work
already executed); that the Town Clerk be instructed to prepare any necessary Contract, affixing the Corporate Seal thereto; and that,
this is an exception to the provisions of Standing Order XXXIII (Public Notice) such exceptions be reported to the City Council, in
accordance with Standing Order XXXI
Bank Committee: October 18th 1948
Sherlock Street Alterations.
On Minute No 8595,
the Town Clerk submitted the following report as to the completion of the Contract with Messrs W & J Webb:
Contract for repair
of war damage and the
carrying out of incidental repairs at the
Sherlock Street Branch of the Municipal Bank.
Minute No 8595
In
pursuance of this Minute, I beg to report that I have prepared, completed and affixed the Corporate Seal to a Contract with Messrs
W & J Webb for the above-mentioned work.
I accordingly ask that the Minute be discharged.
October 16th 1948.
8604 RESOLVED:- That Minute No 8595 be discharged.
Bank Committee: July 18th 1949
Sherlock Street Branch
The General Manager
submitted the following report:
Sherlock Street Branch
In April 1947 a report was submitted to the Committee that during
a gale on the evening of 16th March 1947 the gable and which remained of the adjoining demolished property No 163 Sherlock Street
was blown on to the flat roof over the Sherlock Street Branch, carrying with it the Bank's own parapet. In its fall, it broke through
and completely destroyed one of the lantern lights (6' x 8') on the flat roof, together with a laylight below, causing also considerable
damage to the plaster ceiling and to 12' of counter and certain counter fittings.
Mr Surman, Architect, negotiated with the War
Damage Commission who agreed to pay the cost incurred in making good and rendering waterproof the surface of the wall of the
Bank premises disposed by the collapse of the wall of No 163 Sherlock Street above referred to. The War Damage Commission did not
however consider the other repairs to be consequential war damage.
Certain urgent external and internal repairs were executed
as soon as possible.
Messrs James & Lister Lea & Sons, Agents for the Gooch Estate, who were the owners of the premises
163 Sherlock Street, denied liability, contending that the gable wall would have been quite safe but for the extreme severity of the
weather and the unprecedented force of the gale.
The Town Clerk reported to the Committee in October 1947 that in his opinion
the Gooch Estate must be held responsible for the cost of repairing the damage other than that to be met by the War Damage Commission.
The consequences of the storm damage could and should have been foreseen by the Gooch Estate and the position safeguarded. In May
1948 the Town Clerk was advised by Counsel that the Corporation were entitled to succeed in any proceedings which may be brought against
the Gooch Estate in respect of cost of repairs. The Town Clerk stated that while waiting for the completion of the work and preparation
of the Architect's final account showing cost over and above the sum to be paid by the War Damage Commission, he intended to continue
his efforts to establish the Bank's claim against the Gooch Estate.
In the meantime No 159 Sherlock Street, the property on other side of the Branch had been demolished under a contract let by the Public Works Department, and the War Damage Commission had
agreed to meet the cost of making good any part of the Bank premises affected or disturbed thereby.
In September 1948 a contract
was entered into with Messrs W & J Webb of Great King Street covering the whole of the work arising from both causes for £931.
11. 7, allocated as follows:
|
Amount of War Damage Claim |
£433. 9. 1. |
|
" " Claim against Gooch Estate |
468. 17. 9. |
|
|
902. 6. 10. |
|
Cost of Chimney Repairs |
29. 4. 9. |
|
|
£931.
11. 7. |
After considerable delay the work has now been completed. A certificate has been received from Mr Surman, the Architect,
showing the basis of a lump sum £1020. 9. 5 due to the builders Messrs W & J Webb. Details of the excess expenditure incurred,
£88. 17. 10, are as follows:
|
|
Original Estimate £ s d |
Actual Cost £ s d |
Additional Cost or Saving £ s d |
|
Cement Rendering Wall of the single storey front
portion next No 163 and building parapet wall |
99. 16. - |
99. 16. - |
|
|
Cement Rendering Wall of two storey rear portion next No 163
and plinth of front |
149. 5. 2 |
177. 3. 6 |
27. 18. 4 |
|
Cement rendering whole of North Wall after demolition of No 159 except
where now fair faced brickwork, and coping parapet wall |
151.15. 6 |
151.15. 6 |
|
|
Laying vulcanite roofing on flat roof, repairing or
renewing Lantern Lights, and temporary repairs to asphalte. Providing pier caps to front parapet |
187.11. - |
217.16. 6 |
30. 5. 6 |
|
Repointing
3 Chimney Stacks on main roof |
29. 4. 9 |
29. 4. 9 |
|
|
Repairing wall and ceiling plaster in side passage to flat,
and redecorating |
32. 12. 5 |
32. 12. 5 |
|
|
Repairing ceiling and counters etc in banking hall damaged by fall of bombed adjoining property,
and redecorating |
239. 7. 9 |
228. 1.10 |
11. 5. 11 |
|
Repairing and redecorating plastered wall in banking hall damaged by demolition
of No 159 Sherlock Street |
8. 1. 3 |
8. 1. 3 |
|
|
Repairs to Skylight |
|
35. -. - |
35. -. - |
|
Increase in wages & insurance |
|
5. 13. 3 |
5. 13. 3 |
|
Surveyor's Fees |
26. 18. 7 |
29. 11. 2 |
2. 12. 7 |
|
Typing etc |
6. 19. 2 |
5.
13. 3 |
1. 5. 11 |
|
|
£931. 11. 7 |
£1,020. 9. 5 |
£88. 17. 10 |
In summary form the position is as follows:
|
|
Original Estimate £ s d |
Actual Cost £ s d |
Additional Cost or Saving £ s d |
|
War Damage Claim |
433. 9. 1 |
500. 18. 9 |
67. 9. 8 |
|
Claim against Gooch Estate |
468. 17. 9 |
441. 10.11 |
27. 6. 10 |
|
Bank |
29. 4 . 9 |
77. 19. 9 |
48. 15. - |
|
|
£931. 11. 7 |
£1,020. 9. 5 |
£88. 17. 10 |
In addition there are the Architect's professional charges amounting
to £86. 3. 3 which appear to be very reasonable.
Authority of the Committee is desired for payment to Messrs W & J Webb of
£1020. 9. 5, and for payment to Mr Surman, the Architect, of £86. 3. 3.
Authority of the Committee is also desired for the Town
Clerk to take all requisite steps to enforce the Bank's claim against the Gooch Estate.
H. CARVER
July 1949.
8892 RESOLVED:- That the General Manager be authorised to pay the account of Messrs W & J Webb in the sum of £1,002. 9s. 5d in respect
of work at and adjoining to the Sherlock Street Branch together with the account of Mr J B Surman, Architect, in the sum of £86. 3s.
9d, in respect of professional charges.
8893 RESOLVED:- That the Town Clerk be instructed to take the requisite steps
to enforce the Bank's claim against Gooch Estates.