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BRIDGEGATE EAST RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION (BERA) Minutes of the AGM held in The Albion, on Tuesday 4th February 2025

In attendance

Bill Grady (Chair), Fiona and Adrian Rushforth, David Flood, Christina Mercer, Sue Matthew, Tony and Gwyneth Doggett, Jim and Patricia Lewis, Roy and Janet Webb, Hazel Roberts, Mark and Helen Foden, Tim Powell, Janet Place, Anna Newman, Councillor Paul Chamberlain

Apologies for Absence

Apologies for absence were received from Anne Grady, Jim Parrish, John Bottomley, Pam Powell and Councillor Katrina Kerr

Welcome by BERA Chair

Bill welcomed everyone to the meeting. He said he wanted to address the question ‘why does BERA exist?’ as out of 250 residences in the area we only had 32 members last year. He stressed that the success of BERA does depend on everyone in the area. BERA exists to:

• Provide a voice at planning and licensing meetings. This includes trying to get the Cumulative Impact policy used. This states that if a new licence application can’t prove that there will be no increase in crime, noise, litter etc. then it should be refused
• Update residents on local news and activity
• Hold councillors to account. He mentioned a successful meeting recently with himself, Fiona, Adrian and Katrina Kerr which was very helpful and informative. It has been decided that the exec will meet with councillors more often.
• Hold social activities for members. There have only been two in the past year, including a carol singing evening, but the plan is to hold more in the future

Approval of 2024 AGM Minutes

The minutes of the 2024 AGM were proposed as a true record by David Flood, seconded by Tim Powell and unanimously approved

Matters Arising

All matters arising are dealt with as agenda items

Report on 2024 BERA Activities

• Bill thanked Jim Parrish for his continuous reviewing of planning and licensing applications in the BERA area. Jim is especially concerned with any that would violate the heritage/conservation area.
• Jim and Bill went to the licensing meeting for Amni objecting to their licensing application as it had no conditions attached. They were successful in getting the same conditions applied as to others in the BERA area.
• Recommended changes by BERA to the noise management plan for the Rooftop Social Club were supported by the environmental wing of the Council. We now have a contact email and phone number for the club to use if there are any problems noted by residents e.g increased noise or ASB. These contacts have been passed to BERA members.
• The outdoor structure at 616 was erected without planning permission and objected to by BERA. It was subsequently taken down.
• Early morning refuse collection – Bill thanked David Flood for all his work on behalf of BERA on stopping the early morning emptying of bins in Pepper Street. Christina pointed out that deliveries were also taking place early in the morning and she had to stop an early morning delivery to the Albion
• Bill thanked Helen for all her work on the Drill Hall Gardens (see agenda item). He pointed out that if residents were working on the Gardens they would need to be insured by BERA.

Drill Hall Gardens

Helen gave a brief history of the Gardens, saying that it was owned by the Council but had been largely neglected and overgrown It became a prime area for rough sleeping, drug taking and anti social behaviour. There have been some very constructive meetings, especially with Katrina Kerr, who, as well as offering £500 set up meetings with StreetCare, who promised to do regular tidy ups and Designing Out Crime. The latter suggested railings and signage to give it an identity and make it look cared for by residents. Helen has submitted an application for £5000 from the Police Commissioner Fund and has set up a Friends of Drill Hall Gardens Whats app group. Chester Zoo are interested in supporting the project which initially will take the form of advice about increasing biodiversity, advice on planting and some training.

Helen has also met representatives from similar projects such as Sandy Lane and the Countess of Chester Country Park to get ideas from them. One idea is to get local businesses and schools to adopt a small part of the Gardens, which they would then look after. Tim Powell pointed out that businesses have a social corporate responsibility and maybe a social event could be organised inviting senior managers from local business to see if they would be willing to invest or help out in some way. Helen said this had already been flagged once we have a clear idea of what we are going to do with the gardens. Patricia Lewis suggested asylum seekers in the area may like to get involved in a community project such as this.

BERA Website Review

Fiona summarised the content of the BERA website (www.berachester.com) . This includes a summary of what BERA is about, including our constitution and names of the executive. It has useful links to Council services and she has also asked for contacts to be added for reporting rough sleeping. Minutes of both BERA and CRAG (the umbrella group for Chester Residents’ Associations) meetings are also on the website, together with local news, policing updates and various relevant surveys. These are available on the members sections, which become available when subscriptions are paid.

Finally, Fiona asked members to consider any other information they would like to be included on the website

2024 Finance Report

Bill Grady, as Treasurer, issued the report. Tony Doggett and Daniel Squibb have reviewed the accounts and agreed they were a true record.

Priority Items for BERA for 2024

• Monitoring the Quicks site. Bill said that there was a new planning application in to convert it to residential accommodation, which Katrina Kerr said has a greater chance of being accepted following the recent changes in planning recommendations. It was noted that the site is now up for sale.
• Records Office. BERA will keep an eye on any planning applications. They have told Katrina that the preference is residential accommodation
• Off the Wall – there have been complaints about the noise and antisocial behaviour from these premises, so BERA will monitor and take any required action
• Waste management – will continue to monitor

Appointment of Officers

The following were all unanimously re-elected to the BERA executive (proposed by Hazel Roberts, seconded by Sue Matthew):

Bill Grady – Chairman and Treasurer

Jim Parrish – Deputy Chair

Fiona Rushforth- Secretary and Membership Secretary

Bill Grady - Treasurer

Anne Grady, David Flood, Adrian Rushforth and Helen Foden – Street Representatives

Appointment of Two People to Review the 2025 Accounts

Daniel Squibb and Tony Doggett agreed to continue to carry this out. They were proposed by David Flood, seconded by Patricia Lewis

Any Other Business

• It was proposed by Tim Powell that we have a corporate membership open to local businesses. It was agreed this was a good idea and will be discussed at the next exec meeting
• John Bottomley had emailed to say the rubbish tip at the top of St Olave Street was still there. He did say he was happy to chase this up again
• Adrian Rushforth was asked if there was any update on repairs to the Walls. He said that as the Council had appointed a new contractor, Colas, the process of assessing the damage and repairs had to be restarted.

Close

There being no further business, Bill thanked everyone for attending, especially Councillor Paul Chamberlain. He also thanked Christina Mercer for once again hosting and for all her support throughout the year to the community. He then closed the meeting

F Rushforth 04/02/2025

		BERA Accounts to 2024
Date	Description	Expenditure	Income
31/12/2023	Opening balance			£681.56
	Membership fees (32x6 plus 1x10)		£202.00	£883.56
	Website management	£120		£763.56
	Albion Carols 2023	£75.00		£688.56
	CRAG 2024	£25.00		£663.56
31/12/2024	Bank balance			£660.56
	Cash in Hand			£33.00
	Total	£220.00	£202.00	£663.56