| Admin History | The Committee, originally known as 'Special Commitee - Branch Premises', was appointed in March 1937 to consider matters relating to protection, accommodation and alteration at the branches and generally other matters affecting the branches. In October 1937 a new Commitee was formed whose terms of reference were augmented to include questions of rebuilding of certain branches. The work of this Committee was suspended during the war. The Committee was reappointed in November 1947 and, as its terms of reference included matters relating to London as well as the branches, it received the title of 'Commitee on Bank premises'. The committee was also know as 'Premises Committee'.
The terms of reference of the Committee, as agreed by the Court of Directors in 1986, were as follows:
- The Committee shall advise the Court of Directors, through the Committee of Treasury, on any matters concerning the building, sale or purchase of premises for the Bank in London and the provinces which may be referred to the Committee after preliminary approval by the Court.
- Where a project is referred to the Committee, this shall normally be done in the earlier stages, before plans have been precisely formulated and models constructed.
- The Committee shall have authority to make engagements and fix rates of remuneration as may be required for the purpose of obtaining bills of quantities, estimated costs and any necessary technical assistance.
- Having agreed upon the preliminary plans and having considered estimates and any advice offered by relevant officials of the Bank the Committee shall: (a) make appropriate recommendations to Court for approval of the total cost; (b) appoint architects, quantity surveyors, consulting engineers and such other professional advisers as it considers appropriate; (c) appoint a main contractor and, if necessary, adjudicate upon any tenders for either main contractor or principal sub-contractors; (d) assume general responsibility for the execution of decisions of Court by overseeing works and receiving periodic reports on their progress and costs; (e) report to Court at the conclusion of major projects and at other times at the Committee's discretion.
(Information taken from file 3A160/9) |