SPECIAL MEETING HELD AT THE COUNCIL HOUSE ON MONDAY, JULY 7th 1919
Present: Councillor Appleby in the Chair. Aldermen Chamberlain and
Lovsey.
On Minute No. 195 the Manager reported the premises No. 145 Lichfield Road were not suitable for a branch bank.
204 RESOLVED:- That Minute 195 be discharged.
The Sub-Committee considered the question of engaging further premises for branch bank purposes.
The Manager reported the result of his negotiations in various cases.
205 RESOLVED:- That the Chairman be requested to interview the Chairman of the Public Libraries Committee, with a view to securing the use of a portion of the Public Library at Harborne as a branch bank.
206 On Minute 200, the Manager reported that the Chairman and himself had interviewed Mr W Barrow a director of Messrs Cadbury Bros. regarding the new bank taking the place of the Savings fund conducted for many years at their Works. Mr Barrow would confer with his co-directors and communicate again with the Committee in due course.
208 The Manager reported that the Chairman and himself had interviewed two Archbishops of Birmingham with regard to the Bank, and they were sympathetic towards the proposals of the Bank. It was proposed to send a letter to the two Archbishops giving particulars with regard to the Bank, and they had agreed to discuss the whole position with their City Rectors.
The Sub-Committee considered the following proposed report to the General Committee:-
Your Sub-Committee report that they have given further consideration to the establishment of Branch Banks in various parts of the City, and they submit herewith a statement marked "A" giving particulars of the premises they have secured.
Your Sub-Committee have other premises under consideration but are not in a position to report thereon at this meeting. A further statement marked "B" is also submitted herewith giving the population in each ward of the City and the location of the Branch Bank.
Your Sub-Committee are impressed with the desirability of opening the Bank on the 1st September so as to secure as favourable a period of savings as possible up to Christmas, and they are of opinion that the Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies should be approached with a view to obtaining a tentative approval to the Rules, and that the provisional sanction of the City Council should be sought to the Rules at the next meeting of the Council. Your Sub-Committee feel that it would be most unwise to allow a period to occur between the closing of the present Bank and the opening of the New Bank when no deposits could be taken, which is likely to occur if the sanction of the City Council cannot be obtained to the Rules, etc., before the first meeting in October.
Your Sub-Committee realise that the amount of work involved in the immediate future is such that adequate assistance should be afforded to the Manager, and they recommend that a competent Deputy should be procured as early as possible at such remuneration as the Chairman (Alderman Chamberlain) the Chairman of the Sub-Committee (Councillor Appleby) and the Manager are able to arrange.
Your Sub-Committee recommend that the engagement of staff for the New Bank (including the utilization of the present staff where advisable) should be referred to them together with equipment of premises, printing, etc.
Your Sub-Committee have considered the question of hours of business at the Head Office and Branches and they recommend the approval of the following:
HEAD OFFICE: Mondays 10 to 2-30 and 5-30 to 7-30
Tuesdays 10 to 2-30
Wednesdays 10 to 2-30
Thursdays 10 to 1
Fridays 10 to 2-30
Saturdays 10 to 1 and 5-30 to 7-30
BRANCH
OFFICES: Mondays 12 to 2-30 and 5-30 to 7
Tuesdays 12 to 2-30
Wednesdays 12 to 2-30
Thursdays 10 to 1
Fridays 12 to 2-30 and 5-30 to 7
Saturdays 10 to 1 and 5-30 to 7
but that your Sub-Committee be authorised to make any deviation as regards Branch Office hours where they may find it desirable.
Your Sub-Committee report that the Chairman and Manager have
had an interview with Mr Walter Barrow, a Director of Messrs. Cadbury Brothers, regarding the New Bank taking the place of the Savings
Fund conducted for many years at their works. The suggestion is put forward by Mr Barrow as a result of an application which the Manager
made for the opening of a Branch Bank at the Institute in Linden Road. Mr Barrow will confer with his co-directors again and communications
with the Manager thereon. Your Sub-Committee recommend that the matter be left in the hands of the Chairman and Manager to act as
they think best.
TABLE "A" - LIST OF PREMISES SECURED FOR THE PURPOSE OF BRANCH BANKS
Rental
1
No: 299 Monument Road, Ladywood
16/-
per week inclusive.
2
No: 50 Coventry Road, Hay Mills
Retained at 2/6 per week.
3
No: 117 Great Lister Street, Duddeston
20/- per week and
rates. Tenant paying half.
4
No: 163 Stratford Road, Sparkbrook
Retained at 5/- per week.
5
No: 270 Lozells Road, Villa Cross
£45 per annum
and rates.
6
The Council House, Handsworth (one room)
Terms to be fixed.
7
The Institute, High Street, Selly Oak
£19 per annum
8
The Institute,
Church Road, Northfield
£19 per annum
TABLE "B" - BIRMINGHAM MUNICIPAL BANK
Parliamentry
Wards
Population
Location of
Divisions
July
1914
Branch Offices
HANDSWORTH
Handsworth
26,622
Sandwell
18,924
Council House,
Soho
27,131
Soho Road.
ASTON
Aston
41,627
Junction
of Barker St.
Lozells
34,669
and Lozells Road,
Villa Cross
ERDINGTON
Erdington North
16,115
Junction
of Barker St.
Erdington South
17,516
and Lozells Road,
Washwood Heath
33,745
Villa Cross
DUDDESTON
St Mary's
32,672
117
Great Lister St
Duddeston & Nechells
41,065
close to Bloomsbury
YARDLEY
Saltley
22,469
Small Heath
29,278
50 Coventry
Road,
Yardley
16,505
close to Kings Road
DERITEND
St Bartholomew's
39,136
St Martin's & Deritend
41,459
SPARKBROOK
Sparkbrook
35,861
163
Stratford Road,
Balsall Heath
40,713
opposite Farm Road
MOSELEY
Acocks Green
26,958
Sparkhill
22,644
Moseley
& Kings Heath
25,888
KINGS NORTON
Selly Oak
26,092
Institute, Selly Oak
Kings Norton
21,856
Northfield
7,766
Institute,
Northfield
EDGBASTON
Edgbaston
33,115
Harborne
15,652
Market Hall
17,070
LADYWOOD
Ladywood
30,003
Junction Monument
Rd
Rotton Park
40,151
Icknield Port Road
HOCKLEY
All Saints
43,161
St Pauls
29,725
209 RESOLVED:- That the foregoing report be approved for presentation to the General Committee.
In J P Hilton's book Britain's First Municipal Savings Bank -
Part 2 Chapter 3 (Preparations for Opening the Municipal Bank) commences:
In intelligent anticipation of Parliamentary powers being
granted, the Council at their meeting on the 29th July, 1919, approved of draft rules, and authorised the Bank Committee to take such
steps as were necessary to start the new Bank as early as possible. The Royal Assent was given on the 15th August, 1919, the regulations
were issued by the Treasury on the 25th August, the rules approved by the Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies on the 27th August
and by the Treasury on the 28th August.
The committee lost no time in setting about it - in fact, they set up a record for Municipal
hustle, and on the 1st September, 1919, the Bank was opened with a Head Office and seventeen branches.