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FINANCE & GENERAL PURPOSES SUB-COMMITTEE: October 14th 1935
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QUINTON BRANCH PROPERTY see also: |
Prospective Premises for Quinton Branch.
The Clerk to the Oldbury Council supplied a plan showing the road-widening proposals
in the Quinton area, and members of the Committee visited the area in company with Mr Frank Wilde [the Bank's Valuer] on the 23rd
July. As a result Mr Wilde was asked to make enquiries regarding land at the corner of College Road, a dwelling-house No 817 Hagley
Road West, and houses No 821-829 Hagley Road West.
Mr Wilde reported that he wrote to Sheffields Billposting Company in August
1933 regarding the plot of land, and was referred to Mr Charles Clay of Ivy House, Hagley Road, Quinton, but could not obtain any
reply.
The report on the double-fronted house No 817 Hagley Road West, which has a frontage of 22 yards and a depth of 40 yards,
shows that the house could not be adapted for bank purposes and would have to be demolished. The improvement line comes at the back
of the house and any new building would be set back to that line. The owner, Mr Carr, talked of £2,000 for the house and land, which
equals £2. 5. 9d. per square yard, and it was left for Mr Carr to put the property definitely on sale before any further negotiations
proceeded.
The report regarding houses No 821-829 Hagley Road West (5 houses in all) situate near to College Road, shows that
the property is owned by Mr J Parkes, who was not prepared to place the property on sale at the moment, although he would consider
the matter. It is rumoured that enquiries have been made regarding this property in respect of a Picture House syndicate, and also
by a Mr Walters who has purchased land for houses on the opposite side of the road. Nothing further has been heard of the matter.
On
the 23rd July I wrote to the City Surveyor asking for information as to the Corporation's road-widening proposals in Quinton, and
received a plan showing the same. It is intended at some future date to effect a widening of the corner of Hagley Road West and College
Road, and negotiations for acquiring properties are proceeding, but there will not be sufficient land left after such widening for
the erection of a Bank. Owing to financial difficulties it is not anticipated that the widening will proceed for some considerable
time. The City Surveyor mentioned two other sites - one at the corner of Clydesdale Road, and the other at the corner of White Road,
but the Committee have previously considered these sites and turned down the suggestion of acquiring either of them as they are not
suitably situated for Bank purposes.
From a conversation with Mr Bevan of the City Surveyor's Department I gathered that it might
be three to five years before the general widening of Hagley Road West takes place.
There appear two courses open for the Committee
to pursue in regard to providing better accommodation for Quinton depositors, which is badly needed, viz: (1) to make enquiries as
to a site on the Oldbury side of the road, or (2) to have a conference with the City Surveyor as to acquiring property now, which
would have to be acquired later for road-widening purposes. If a satisfactory arrangement could be reached the Bank could purchase
from the Corporation a sufficient portion of land to erect a Branch Bank, and the building could be set back to the new line.
J
P Hilton.
189 RESOLVED:- That the Chairman and the General Manager be requested to interview the City Surveyor to discuss
the most suitable course to be adopted for the provision of suitable premises for the Quinton branch.
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FINANCE & GENERAL PURPOSES SUB-COMMITTEE: February 10th 1936
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QUINTON BRANCH PROPERTY see also: |
Mr Wilde [the Bank's valuer] has been in negotiation with Mr Clay and his sister, Mrs H E Randall, regarding the sale of land at the
junction of Hagley Road West and College Road, Quinton; and after much discussion it was agreed to put the land on sale at £900, plus
Vendors' usual fees. The area comprises 754 square yards, and the price works out at £1. 3. 10d. per square yard.
Mr Wilde discussed
the matter with Mr C G Bevan of the City Surveyor's Department, who gave his opinion that £900 was a reasonable price for the site,
but suggested that the Bank should pay a slightly higher rate per square yard for the land they required, and that the Public Works
Department should purchase from the Bank the land they required for road widening at a lower figure. Mr Wilde objected, and contended
that the two Departments should take the land jointly at the same price per square yard. Mr Bevan then suggested that the Public Works
Department should make the purchase, and sell the surplus land to the Bank at a higher price per square yard, but again, Mr Wilde
objected.
The matter was considered by the Chairman of the Finance and General Purposes Sub-Committee, and the Chairman of the
Bank Committee, who were of opinion that the opportunity of purchasing this land should not be allowed to pass, and gave directions
that Mr Wilde should effect the purchase at the price of £900, plus Vendors' usual fees, on behalf of the Bank, and that the Bank
should deal with the Public Works Department as regards any land required for widening purposes.
Mr Wilde was accordingly instructed,
and now informs me that Mr Clay has directed his Solicitors to prepare the Contract.
The Sub-Committee are asked to approve the
action of the two Chairmen mentioned.
J P Hilton.
February 10th 1936.
256 RESOLVED:- That the action of the Chairman of the General Committee and the Chairman of this Sub-Committee
in directing Mr Frank Wilde to effect the purchase of the land in question on behalf of the Bank, at the price of £900, plus Vendor's
usual fees, be confirmed, and that the General Committee be recommended to approve the purchase, subject to the sanction of the City
Council; also, that, as a portion of the land will be subsequently required for road-widening purposes, the General Manager be authorised
to negotiate with the Public Works and Town Planning Department thereon.
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GENERAL PURPOSES SUB-COMMITTEE: October 8th 1934
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HARBORNE BRANCH PREMISES see also |
The continued growth of business at this Branch makes it necessary that this Committee should give consideration to the question of
accommodation. For some time the matter has given me serious concern, because of the limited public space and the cramped working
space behind.
The Harborne Branch was originally conducted in a room at the Public Library on alternate days in conjunction with
Ladywood Branch. Subsequently the Ladywood Branch became a daily Branch, and Harborne became an evening Branch open on three evenings
in the week.
It was until 1923 that we were able to secure other satisfactory accommodation, when the freehold premises No 283
High Street were purchased for the sum of £2,450. These premises were reconstructed to suit the purposes of the Bank at a cost of
£1,397, and were opened on the 2nd February 1924, when the Branch became a daily Branch. Up to that stage progress had been slow,
but with the new premises and daily openings business has increased substantially year by year, until it has become impossible to
give reasonable privacy at the counter during the busy periods. The actual counter run is only 18 feet, and there is no possibility
of extending same.
The Bank premises are joined on one side by premises belonging to the Birmingham Co-operative Society, and
on the other by a milliner's shop.
Whether it would be possible to reconstruct the Bank premises by taking in the ground floor
portion of the flat and building right out into the small garden in order to obtain a satisfactory length of counter and proper public
space, is a matter for consideration by an Architect, but in my opinion it would be an expensive matter.
The alternative would
be to procure a site or premises elsewhere, and dispose of the present premises - a course which I think the Committee would be well-advised
to take.
J P Hilton.
2162 RESOLVED:- That the Chairman and the Chairman of the General Committee, with the General Manager and Mr Frank Wilde,
be requested to inspect the premises and to give consideration to the possibility of, either extending the same, or securing a suitable
site in the Harborne area for the building of new premises, reporting their recommendations to this Sub-Committee in due course.
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GENERAL PURPOSES SUB-COMMITTEE: December 10th 1934
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HARBORNE BRANCH PREMISES see also |
The General Manager reported on the negotiations which had taken place between Mr Wilde and the Gas Department, as to a portion of the premises on land belonging to the Gas Department at Harborne being transferred to the Bank. The Gas Department had written asking that the Bank Committee should agree to any transfer which might be arranged between the two departments being based on a valuation by the General Manager of the Estates Department. The General Manager was instructed to reply that in the opinion of the Bank nay transfer should be on the basis of the original purchase price paid, plus reasonable interest. It was also decided to instruct Mr Wilde to continue his enquiries with a view to obtaining a more suitable site.
J P Hilton.
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GENERAL PURPOSES SUB-COMMITTEE: January 14th 1935
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HARBORNE BRANCH PREMISES see also |
The General Manager reported that the Gas Department would not agree to any other basis of transfer then that already indicated by
them.
Enquiries had been made with reference to certain premises and land in High Street which position was considered would
be very suitable for bank purposes. The General Manager was authorised to continue his inquiries in the matter.
The Sub-Committee were informed that the Rating and Valuation (Rate Collection) Sub-Committee at their meeting on the 11th instant had intimated that they were desirous, if the Bank were contemplating building or securing premises in the Harborne District, to rent a portion of such premises for the purpose of a District rate Office on the same lines as the premises rented from the Bank in Church Road, Yardley. The Sub-Committee directed the General Manager to have regard to this application in considering the arrangement at Harborne.
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GENERAL PURPOSES SUB-COMMITTEE: May 13th 1935
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HARBORNE BRANCH PREMISES see also |
The General Manager reported, as the result of a conference which Councillor Cooper and he had had with the Chairman of the Public Works Committee and the City Surveyor, it had been agreed that steps should be taken with a view to the Corporation acquiring six cottages in Moorpool Place, at the rear of High Street, Harborne. A portion of the site is required for street widening purposes, but there would remain ample space for the erection of a suitable bank, with provision for a Rates Office, and the Public Works and Town Planning Committee would be prepared to transfer the surplus land to the Bank on terms to be mutually agreed. It was also understood that before the Bank disposed of the present Harborne premises, the Public Works and Town Planning Committee should be consulted, as the street widening scheme also involves such premises.
133 RESOLVED:- That the action taken in the matter be confirmed.
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GENERAL PURPOSES SUB-COMMITTEE: January 13th 1936
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HARBORNE BRANCH PREMISES see also |
The General Manager submitted a letter from the City Surveyor intimating that difficulties had arisen in connection with the negotiations for the property at the rear of High Street, Harborne, owing to the high price required, and pointing out that the purchase of the property on these terms would involve the Bank in considerable expense, as the requirements of the Public Works and Town Planning Committee for road widening were comparatively small.
236 RESOLVED:- That Councillor Cooper and the Chairman with the General Manager be requested to interview
the Chairman of the Public Works and Town Planning Committee and the City Surveyor with a view to some suitable arrangements being
effected if possible.