April 21st 1947
1. Report of Staff Welfare Sub-Committee.
The following report of the above-mentioned Sub-Committee was
presented:
General.
Since the late meeting I have paid visits to 40 Branches. Owing to the bad weather, it was not possible
for the cleaners to keep the Branches as clean and tidy as usual, but under the circumstances, I was satisfied with the general appearance
of the premises. During the very cold weather, the heating of the Branches was maintained as well as possible and I had no general
complaint from the Staffs.
One of the boilers at the Small Heath Branch had to be repaired, and the heating installation at the
Halesowen Branch failed. At both Branches, oil stoves and electric fires were fixed up, and the Staffs were able to obtain hot drinks
during the day, and a hot mid-day meal. The domestic equipment is now being brought up to date, and all cooking utensils are in order.
During
the Annual Balance, in addition to catering for the large Staff at Head Office, I was able to supply food to three Branches. During
the week-end of the Balance, the following members of the Bank Committee visited the Staff at Head Office:
The Chairman, Alderman
Harrison Barrow.
The Chairman of the Welfare Sub-Committee,
Alderman Mrs Hyde. Councillor Martin.
I
also visited three members of the Staff who were absent from duty through illness.
Overalls for Female Staff.
There is no
alteration in the overall position, and it is impossible at present to purchase suitable material without giving up coupons. A few
more members of the Staff have purchased overalls and received special allowances.
Socials.
A Whist Drive was held on March
19th, which was attended by the Chairman, Alderman Harrison Barrow, and the following members of the Committee:
Alderman Mrs
Hyde
Councillor Thomas
A very enjoyable evening was spent by all.
The voting for a new Staff Committee took place last week
and a meeting will be held this week at which it is hoped to arrange a program of social events for the Summer.
Chairs for Branches.
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chairs have now been cleaned and repolished by the Bank's Engineer and his assistant, and have been sent to the Branches. One of the
remaining chairs was found unsuitable, and returned to the Estates Department, and will be replaced in a few days by a more serviceable
one. The 4 remaining chairs need special overhauling as the upholstery is torn. As the Engineer does not think he could do this work
satisfactorily, would the Welfare Sub-Committee consider having this work done by Mr Saunders, of College Road, Erdington?
I
obtained an estimate from Mr Saunders for supplying 14 second-hand re-upholstered chairs, but have since learned from Mr Skillicorn
of the Estates Department that one or two hostels might be closing down in about a couple of months' time, when more chairs may be
available. He will communicate with me as soon as he knows definitely. In the circumstances, therefore, I suggest that Mr Saunders'
estimate to be held in abeyance for the time being.
14th April 1947.
(SIGNED) R M BROWN
Visits to Branches.
The question
was discussed generally of visits to branches by members of the Committee and the General Manager undertook to make suitable arrangements
for members of the Committee to visit branches from time to time.
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July 21st 1947
Report of Staff Welfare
Sub-Committee.
The following report of the above-named Sub-Committee was presented:
1. Report of the Staff Welfare Officer.
The
appended report of the Staff Welfare Officer has been received and approved, and the actions therein referred to confirmed.
2.
Interior Decorations - Branches.
Your Sub-Committee recommend that the General Manager be authorised to arrange for such interior cleaning or redecorating at branches as may be urgently required.
3. Visits to Branches.
In addition to the eight branches
referred to in the report of the Staff Welfare Officer, seven branches have been visited by members of your Committee and your Sub-Committee
propose that visits be made to the remaining branches at favourable opportunities.
4. Chairs for Branches.
Your Sub-Committee
have directed that the reupholstering of the four chairs mentioned in the report of the Staff Welfare Officer be done by the Bank
Engineer and his assistant, but that 7 new chairs be purchased from Mr Saunders, Furnisher, College Road, Erdington, at a cost of
£40 as quoted.
Report to Welfare Sub-Committee.
General.
I have to report that since the last meeting I have visited
all Branches of the Bank, and have also paid visits to members of the staff absent on sick leave.
During the last three months,
the cleaners have been attending more regularly at the Branches, and there is a general improvement in the cleaning of the premises.
Re-building is now taking place at Moseley. This causes a lot of dust in the Branch, but it is being regularly cleaned and kept as
tidy as possible.
The floors of the Bank and messroom at Small Heath were badly worn. Permission was given by the General Manager
for these to be electrically sanded, and this has greatly improved the appearance of this Branch. The ceilings and walls of the domestic
quarters at this Branch and also at Aston, need cleaning down, and the General Manager has asked Mr Glover of Messrs Frank Wilde &
Glover to inspect and report on the matter.
We have now obtained through the Central Purchasing Department a supply of bandages
and sterilized dressings for the Branches. These will be kept in stock at Head Office and distributed when supplies at the Branches
are getting low.
Visits to Branches.
On Friday evening, April 25th, the Welfare Committee, together with the General Manager,
and myself, visited the following Branches:
Balsall Heath
Moseley
Kings Heath
Brandwood
Maypole
Springfield
Sparkhill
Sparkbrook
They
inspected the premises and saw the conditions under which the staff worked.
Overalls.
The position has not changed, as suitable
material cannot yet be purchased coupon free.
Social Activities.
At a meeting of the Staff Socials Committee held in April
the following programme of events was arranged:
29th May: A Golf Tournament
19th June: An evening excursion to the theatre at
Stratford-on-Avon
7th July: Bowls Match
23rd July: Tennis Tournament
21st August: Flannel Dance to be held at the Botanical Gardens,
Edgbaston
21st September: A day's outing to Oxford, with a conducted tour through some of the colleges
In addition to the above,
the Bank Cricket Club has been revived, and fixtures are arranged weekly with the other Corporation Departments.
Chairs for Branches.
Forty-three
chairs were originally purchased. Of these thirty-nine have now been delivered to the Branches, and the remaining four have been collected
by Mr Saunders, Furnisher, of College Road, Erdington, who has sent an estimate for their repair and re-upholstering. This is submitted
herewith for consideration by the Committee.
Regarding chairs for the remaining Branches, I again communicated with Mr Skillicorn
of the Estates Department, who informed me that all suitable chairs from the hostels were now being used for the furnishing of the
old people's homes, as sponsored by the Lord Mayor.
(Sgd) R M BROWN
After receiving the above report, the Bank Committee resolved that the General Manager be authorised to arrange for such interior cleaning and redecorating as may be urgently required; and for the reupholstering of four chairs and the purchase of seven new chairs.
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October 10th 1947
1.
Report of Staff Welfare Officer.
I have visited all branches of the Bank and have to report that the improvement in the
cleaning of the premises has been maintained. During the dry weather the tiled floors have not needed the usual amount of scrubbing,
and more attention has been given to the polishing of the wood floors in the Banking Halls and Messrooms. At the Ladywood Branch the
floor is being re-stained, and will then be kept polished. In one or two instances, I have suggested the fixing of a small
shelf under the sink for the storage of pans. These suggestions have been put forward for the General Manager's consideration.
At
Bordesley Green where building alterations are in progress, complaints were made of draughts in the messroom, as at the present time
there is only a temporary board in place of the glass window. The Manager is endeavouring to get the builder to fix the windows as
soon as possible.
Overalls for Female Staff
The position regarding the supply of material for overalls has not altered.
I have received four more applications for the special allowance made towards the cost of purchasing overalls.
Social Activities
Since
our last meeting the following socials have taken place:
July 23rd: A Tennis Tournament held at Queens Road, Yardley. About 20
members took part in a "knock out" tournament.
August 12th: A Cricket Match when members of the Staff over 40 years of age played the
younger members. This was held at Yardley.
September 21st: A day's Outing to Oxford. 78 members of the Staff travelled to Oxford by
motor coach. They were accompanied by the General Manager and the following members of the Bank Committee and their friends:
Alderman
Mrs Hyde
Councillors Achurch, Balmer, Cooper, Martin, Simpson
The outward journey was made via Stratford and Shipston. After lunch,
conducted tours of some of the principal colleges including Magdalen, New, Christchurch, Trinity and Wadham, were made. These were
followed by tea and the return journey was through Banbury and Warwick. A very interesting and enjoyable day was spent by all.
On
October 6th the Staff Socials Sub-Committee met to arrange a program of events for the Winter months. It is hoped to hold the following
socials:
November 12th: A Whist Drive at Head Office.
December 16th: A Christmas Party at Head Office.
January 10th: A Children's
Party at Head Office.
February 26th: The Annual Ball. (The venue for this has not yet been decided but it is hoped to hold it at Head
Office).
March 11th: A Whist Drive at Head Office.
In addition to the above, it is hoped to re-introduce the Club Night on Tuesdays
from 6-30 to 9 pm. when games of billiards, snooker, table tennis etc can be enjoyed. The Staff Committee have asked the General Manager
for permission to use the Assembly Hall on these occasions.
Chairs for Branches.
The additional 8 chairs required have been
ordered from Mr Saunders of College Road, Erdington. These have not yet been delivered.
(Signed) R M Brown
2. Visits to
Branches.
The General Manager has been requested to arrange further visits to Branches by Members of your Committee at convenient
opportunities.
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