The Committee were of the opinion that a dance should be held fairly soon, and Mr Ellison, who had made several enquiries respecting a suitable place, stated that we could obtain rooms at the Queen’s Hotel on 18th November or 6th December.
The charge for the rooms would be £10-10-0, and the Queen’s Hotel would provide a running buffet at a charge of 3/6 per head. It was pointed out that accommodation would be provided for 190 dancers, and taking into consideration the band, and extras, a charge of 6/- per person would cover expenses.
With regard to the Annual Dinner, the Chairman suggested that, in view of the fact that a number of presentations would have to be made on that occasion, it would be more suitable to follow with a Concert instead of a dance as last year.
He also mentioned the difficulty in obtaining a room that could be cleared quickly, and offered to try and obtain the Reception Room in the Council House providing a concert was arranged instead of a dance, as the Reception Room could not be used for dinner and dance.
The question of establishing a Staff Welfare Fund was discussed, and Mr Hilton explained to the Committee the manner in which it was proposed to establish and administer the Fund.
The scheme provides for each member of the Staff to contribute 2d per week, to be deducted from salary, and at the end of each quarter, the Bank Committee would contribute an amount equal to that contributed by the Staff.
The money accumulating in the Fund was to be devoted to Social and Welfare work, and could be drawn upon to assist the finances of such functions as, the Annual Dinner, the Annual Outing, Dances etc., so that the cost to each member of the Staff would be lessened.
Also, a grant could be made on the occasion of marriage or retirement of officers, independently of any subscription list which might be opened.
It was to be understood that, while members of the Staff would benefit by the reduced cost of tickets for various functions, the reduction would not apply to relations or friends.
Mr Hilton explained that the Welfare Fund would be managed by three members of the Bank Committee, and three members of the Staff who would be appointed by the Staff Committee.
He pointed out that the Welfare Fund Committee would not affect the working of this Committee in any way, and that all requests for grants must be made through this Committee.
The Committee unanimously agreed that the establishing of such a Fund would be an excellent thing, and they were asked to nominate three members of the Bank Staff to serve on the Welfare Fund Committee.
The following members of the Staff were unanimously elected:
Miss E Bullock; Mr A S Taylor; Mr H G Wright
The Secretary reported that the following members of the Staff had been elected to constitute the Staff Committee for the ensuing year:
Misses Crawford, Lewis and Morrison
Messrs Abbiss, Carver, Corles, Buxton, Ladbrooke, Parsonage, Raftery, Tooby and Viney.
It was unanimously agreed that Mr J P Hilton be re-elected Chairman of the Staff Committee.
Mr Hilton having taken the Chair, it was resolved that Mr S G Brotherton be re-appointed as Secretary of the Committee.
The provision of a programme for the summer months was discussed and resulted in the following dates being considered suitable for various events:
May 23 - Tennis Tournament at Yardley
June 20 - Gelling Cup Golf Match at Lickey
July 4 - Tennis Tournament at Kings Norton
Aug 1 - Annual Outing
Aug 15 - Auditors’ Cricket Match
Aug 29 - Tennis Tournament at Kings Norton
Sep 12 - Bowls Match
Sep 19 - Golf (Foursome Medal Comp) at Lickey
It was decided to charge an entrance fee of 6d per competitor in the Tennis Tournament and the Golf Competition.
It was felt that prizes ought be to be offered to members of the Bank Cricket Club and it was Resolved: that application be made for two sums of £2-10-0 each to provide a prize for the leading batsmen and leading bowlers at the end of the season.
In connection with the Auditors’ Cricket Match on 15th August 1929, it was
Resolved: that application be made for the sum of £7-10-0 to cover the expenses of hiring a suitable ground and providing hospitality in the way of tea, it being the Bank’s turn to entertain.
With regard to the Annual Outing, Mr Abbiss reported that enquiries had been made at Trentham Gardens and that it seemed a most suitable venue as there would be accommodation in the event of inclement weather.
For a large party such as the Staff Outing there would be a reduced entrance fee of 3d per member.
Quotations were submitted from the Midland ‘Red’ to convey us to Trentham Gardens for 7/- per head, and from Wells & Mayner for 4/6 per head.
After lengthy discussion it was
Resolved: that the outing be to Trentham Gardens and that Wells & Mayner be instructed to provide conveyance at 4/6 per head. Mr Buxton and Mr Abbiss to satisfy themselves that the buses would be satisfactory.
Menus were submitted and it was decided to offer to the Staff the choice of tea at 1/9 or 2/6 per head.
Also, as some difficulty arose last year with regard to tips to the drivers, it was decided to add 3d to each ticket to provide gratuities.
The total cost to each member would be 7/6 or 6/9 according to the tea selected and it was
Resolved: that application be made to the Welfare Fund for 4/- per head in order to reduce the cost to members of the staff.
It was proposed to invite the members of the Bank Committee on the same terms and this was unanimously agreed upon.
The Chairman stated that a proposal had been put forward by a member of the Staff (Mr A J Smith) to hold a dinner on the 1st September 1929, in order to celebrate the tenth Anniversary of the opening of the Municipal Bank, and it was decided to discuss the proposition at an early date.
The Chairman informed the Committee that some trouble had arisen in connection with the last Tennis Tournament held at the Corporation Sports Club Ground at Yardley on May 23 1929.
It appeared that although about 30 players took part in the tournament, only one (Mr Raftery) was a member of the Tennis Section of the Sports Club.
The suggestion put forward by officials of the Sports Club was that the Bank Staff were gaining an unfair advantage by playing all afternoon for 6d per head, especially as only 8 or 9 members of the Staff had joined as general members of the Sports Club and paid 2/6.
Mr Buxton, one of the Tennis Sub-Committee, explained that there was no attempt to obtain any unfair advantage, and that the Sec. of the Tennis Section and Mr Cartwright, had requested a fee of 6d per head, knowing the circumstances.
In order to confirm that they understood the position, Mr Buxton spoke to them on the morning of the meeting, explained just how many members we had and was told again that we should be required to pay 6d per head.
This further enquiry was made, not with a view to holding the next tournament under such conditions, but to satisfy this Committee that whatever rules the Bank had broken the blame lay not wholly upon the Bank.
Resolved: that Messrs Carver and Buxton be requested to interview Messrs Body, Browne and Cartwright and clear any misunderstanding which exists in connection with the last Tennis Tournament on 23rd May 1929.
On the question of the poor support given to the Sports Club by the Bank Staff, several members of the Committee gave it as their opinion that the lack of support was due to a lack of knowledge of the operations of the Sports Club.
It was generally felt among the Committee that, if it were explained to the Staff that one could be a general member of the Club for an annual subscription of 2/6, there would be a membership worthy of the Bank Staff.
The Annual Dinner was considered, and it was stated that a dance in addition to the dinner would be impossible if held at the Grand Hotel, and Edgbaston Assembly Hall was mentioned as a suitable venue.
It was felt that there ought to be a few concert items provided for those members of staff who do not dance.
It was Resolved that the Annual Dinner be held on Wednesday, January 8th 1930, arrangements to be made by the following sub-committee:
Messrs Tooby, Parsonage, H G Wright (co-opted) and Miss Lewis.
The Chairman stated that he had received a tentative promise from Mr Neville Chamberlain to be present at the function.
The following report regarding the dance to be held on 30 October 1929, was given by Mr Carver on behalf of the Sub-Committee appointed.
After obtaining prices for the hire of suitable rooms for the dance, the Sub-Committee was of an opinion that the best accommodation would be obtained at the Edgbaston Assembly Rooms, the charge being 22 guineas.
Unable to obtain these rooms on a Wednesday evening, the Sub-Committee recommended that the date be altered to Thursday 24 October and had provisionally booked the rooms for that evening.
Quotations for catering had been obtained and the Sub-Committee favoured one by Pattison-Hughes at 2/9 per head for 150 people.
The Rhythm Boys band consisting of 5 members at a charge of £6-10-0 was recommended.
It was proposed to hold the dance from 8 o’clock until 1 o’clock, and to arrange special ‘buses as on previous occasions.
On the basis of 150 people (Staff Members) attending the dance the cost, in view of an allowance of £1 for gratuities, would be 6/10 per head, and the tickets would be 7/-.
The meeting was called for the purpose of considering what steps should be taken in view of the poor support given to the dance to be held at the Edgbaston Assembly Rooms on 24 October 1929.
Mr Carver, for the Dance Sub-Committee, presented the following report regarding the dance.
Up to the time of the meeting, requests had been received for 100 tickets only, 60 of which were for use by Staff Members the remainder being required for friends.
The total cost which the Committee had to meet was £30-12-0 and on these figures, 150 tickets would be required to be sold in order to cover the cost.
Many opinions were expressed and reasons suggested in connection with the lack of support, and it was mentioned that a number of the Staff intended to come to the December dance and were consequently missing the one in October.
After a lengthy discussion it was Resolved: that the Committee do not feel justified in proceeding with the dance in December in view of the poor support given to the Dance under consideration, and that a circular letter be sent to all members of the Staff who had not requested tickets for the 24 Oct.
The Secretary reported that, in connection with the Annual Ball held on 24 October 1929, a loss of £2-2-0 had resulted but was met from the balance standing in a Dance Account. A grant of £8-6-0 had been made from the Welfare Fund in respect of 83 staff members at 2/- per head.
The Committee expressed the opinion that, in view of the circumstances, the result of the Ball was satisfactory.
The action of the Secretary in increasing the application for a grant from 1/- per head to 2/- per head was confirmed. This course was taken on account of the dance proposed for 4 Dec 1929, being cancelled.
The Committee discussed the Dance which it was proposed to hold on 19 February 1930.
Mr Buxton, for the Sub-Committee, reported that he had receive 110 replies to his circular requesting those interested to state their choice as to where they would wish the Dance to take place.
Opinion was very varied and it was obvious to the Committee that arrangements would have to be made for a room to accommodate about 100 persons.
The question of price was discussed and it was felt that a number of people would be induced to support the dance if the cost was lessened, and after making several enquiries it was found necessary to alter the date to Wednesday 5 March, when the required accommodation could be obtained at the Midland Hotel.
Resolved: that a dance be held on 5 March at the Midland Hotel, the tickets to cost members of the Staff 4/- each and friends of members 6/- each.
It was proposed by Mr Carver, seconded by Mr Viney and unanimously agreed that Mr J P Hilton be requested to continue to serve as Chairman of this Committee.
It was explained that changes in administration would render necessary the election of a new Secretary and it was left that the present Secretary continue in office until the next meeting of this Committee.
The Staff Representatives on the Welfare Fund Committee, viz Miss Bullock, Messrs A S Taylor and H G Wright were unanimously re-elected for the ensuing year.