Please find below the agenda for the BERA 2022 AGM which will be held at 7pm on Wednesday 5th January. It will be confirmed nearer the time if this is to be by Zoom or in person at The Albion.
Please let me have any additional items for the agenda by 31st December.
The minutes of last year’s AGM are shown at the foot of the email below the agenda.
Please also note that we have three vacancies on the Exec: it’s not a lot of work – but sharing the load would be greatly appreciated – so please do think about volunteering.
Thank you.
Kind regards. Mike Hogg – BERA Chair.
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BERA 2022 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM) 05/01/22
@ 7pm by Zoom or @ The Albion (to be confirmed)
AGENDA
1) WELCOME BY BERA CHAIR (MIKE HOGG).
2) APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE.
3) APPROVAL OF 2021 MINUTES (BELOW AGENDA)
4) MATTERS ARISING.
a. City Walls subsidence impact
b. CRAG
c. ASB:
i. uniformed police resourcing
ii. diverted giving
d. Bridge Street Café window repairs
e. Recorder Steps
f. Public Realm
g. Bikers & The Groves
h. Bridgegate Chambers
i. Park Street repairs
j. E-scooters
5) REPORT ON 2021 BERA ACTIVITIES (ADDRESSING YOUR CONCERNS) (MIKE HOGG)
a. Quicks
b. The City Walls
c. Public Realm
d. Drill Hall Gardens
e. Park / Duke Street One-Way system abuse.
6) 2021 FINANCE REPORT (BILL GRADY).
(Including 2022 ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP FEES).
7) APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS (see footnote).
8) APPOINTMENT OF TWO PEOPLE TO REVIEW THE 2022 STATEMENTS OF ACCOUNT
9) BERA WEBSITE REVIEW (FIONA RUSHFORTH)
10)YOUR PRIORITY ITEMS FOR BERA FOR 2022.
11)A.O.B. (BERA CHAIR).
12)CLOSE. (BERA CHAIR).
FOOTNOTE:
The BERA Executive FORMALLY comprises the following NINE roles – plus Membership Secretary.
| ROLE | CURRENT INCUMBENT | STANDING FOR RE-ELECTION (YES/NO) | NOTES |
| CHAIR | MIKE HOGG | YES | |
| SECRETARY | FIONA RUSHFORTH | YES | |
| MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY | DANIEL SQUIBB * | YES | |
| TREASURER | BILL GRADY | YES | |
| STREET REPRESENTATIVES: | |||
| VOLUNTEER, STEELE & ST OLAVE STREETS. | CARLY WILSON | YES | |
| ALBION & PARK STREETS | VACANT | ||
| ALBION PLACE & ALBION MEWS | VACANT | ||
| DUKE STREET | VACANT | (A) | |
| CITY WALLS | ROY WEBB | YES | (B) |
| LOWER BRIDGE ST EAST. | DANIEL SQUIBB * | YES | (C ) |
NOTES:
(1) * Daniel Squibb combines both roles.
NOTES IN TABLE:
(A) INCLUDING CLAYTON, WINDSOR & DUKES COURTS.
(B) BETWEEN THE WISHING STEPS & BRIDGEGATE.
(C) INCLUDING BRIDGE PLACE.
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BRIDGEGATE EAST RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION (BERA)
Minutes of the AGM held via Zoom,
on Tuesday 12th January 2021
In attendance
Mike Hogg (Chair), Lynne Hayward, Fiona and Adrian Rushforth, Neil Dixon, Tom Harrison, Daniel Squibb, Adam Edwards, Roy and Janet Webb, Rob Williams, Carly Wilson, Patricia and Jim Lewis, Jim Parrish, Jane and George Brooke, Jane Patrick
Welcome
Mike Hogg welcomed everyone to the meeting.
Apologies for Absence
Apologies for absence were received from Bill Grady, Zoe Rees
Approval of 2019 Minutes
The minutes of the 2020 AGM were unanimously approved (Proposer – Fiona, Seconder – Tom)
Matters Arising
· City Walls Subsidence Impact – Mike asked Adrian Rushforth to update the meeting on this, as he was the person who contacted Welsh Water. He confirmed that they had carried out a survey of the length of the Walls between the Wishing Steps and Bridgegate. They discovered a break in the pipework outside the Recorder House, which was subsequently repaired. Roy confirmed that this has resulted in his insurance company agreeing to pay for repairs to his house, caused by the subsidence of the Walls. He thinks that Sue Matthews is in the same position regarding her house. Mike thanked Adrian for his efforts on this.
· Pepper Street North Hotel and Restaurant – BERA had agreed to this licensing application. Work on the exterior and much of the interior has been completed but it is now on hold due to Covid
· 21a City Walls – unusually, BERA put in an objection to the planning application for this building as it was felt to be extreme, affecting both the area and several neighbours. Two planning applications were rejected and the house has now been bought by a private individual, who does not plan to change the external footprint
· Funds Usage – the general opinion is that BERA funds should be used to help tidy up the neighbourhood and organise social functions
· CRAG – Mike gave an overview of CRAG and its involvement in a variety of groups and organisations such as Inner City Cell and Outside In. The latter includes the launch in the near future of alternative giving for the homeless, whereby people can donate via card readers in various shops and other premises
· ASB – this mainly involved and small group of people who had a disproportionate effect on the City. A survey of residents showed that it affected whether people ventured into the city or not. These people have now been targeted by police, resulting in much less ASB in the City
· Homelessness including left belongings – the Police Commissioner approved funding to tackle this issue. Homelessness has been reduced by using temporary accommodation and their belongings put into a secure store instead of being left on the street
· Bridge Street Cafe Window Repairs – Mike investigated this with the Council, but was told they could only act of they were dangerous, which is not the case. He was asked who the landlord is. Mike said he would try and find out
Report on 2020 BERA Activities
· Quicks site – a hotel developer put in an offer, but it was refused. There are currently no plans to develop it. The problem of fouling by pigeons at the Duke Street entrance has been noted, but is exacerbated by the fact the pigeons can get into the building. The owners have offered to pay to have the problem resolved, but will not happen during lockdown
· The City Walls – Northgate is now open and there is a temporary walkway between Wishing Steps and the Eastgate clock where the Walls collapsed. There is a loose parapet at Bridgegate , which now has temporary supports. Permanent work will be carried out in the Spring, as the mortar used needs warmer temperatures to set. Adrian asked about the repairs the the Recorder Steps as he had been told in 2016 that the momey was in place to repair them. Mike said this money was being used for more urgent repairs
Action: Mike will ask for an update on the Recorder Steps
· Public Realm – The Council has produced a document listing their responsibilities and which areas residents can help out on.
Action: Mike to review document and then circulate to members
· Drill Hall Gardens – the funds earmarked for looking after this area have been moved into BERA funds. Neil spoke to a Council worker who was working there and complained about the weeds in Albion Street. These have now been cleared. This led to a discussion about the slippery surfaces on the Walls and Park Street as the Council were not gritting there. Carly said that if you lodge a complaint on the Council website they do deal with it
Action: Mike to collate complaints and pass on to the Council. He will also circulate useful contact details for different Council departments
· Park/Duke Street One Way System abuse – this has dramatically reduced since the introduction of Clockwise; this is probably due to the fact that the traffic is moving quicker along Pepper Street so drivers do not feel the need to try a shortcut
2020 Finance Report
Bill Grady, as treasurer, could not make the meeting so had passed the accounts on to Mike. He reported an opening balance of £323.15 and a closing balance of £573.69. The detailed accounts are attached.
Jim Parrish had reviewed the accounts and agreed they were a true record.
Annual Membership Fees
It was proposed that, as BERA has a healthy bank balance and also not been able to do as much due to Covid, the membership fee for 2021 would be waived. This was proposed by Jane Patrick and seconded by Jim Parrish.
Appointment of Officers
Mike reported that Tom Harrison, Rob Williams and Neil Dixon were standing down from the committee as they were moving out of the area. He publicly thanked them for their hard work and support to BERA.
The following were all unanimously re-elected to the BERA executive
Mike Hogg – Chairman
Fiona Rushforth- Secretary
Daniel Squibb – Membership Secretary
Bill Grady – Treasurer
Roy Webb and Carly Wilson – Street Representatives
This left three vacancies. Mike asked for volunteers, but there was no response. He said he did have one volunteer who was not at the meeting but he would contact him. He asked that if anyone knew someone who would be interested to get in touch with him. Tom offered to stay on the Committee, as he still had a property in the area, until a replacement was found. This was gratefully accepted.
Appointment of Two People to Review the 2020 Accounts
Jim Parrish and Carly Wilson volunteered and were unanimously approved
BERA Website
Mike said that it was felt that the website needed updating and so BERA had spent £150 to have this carried out. The website had gone live that afternoon. Fiona demonstrated the website, which can be found at berachester.com. As there is no membership fee this year, anyone wanting to join would need to fill in the application form on the website and submit it. They will then be issued with a password which would give them access to the members’ area. Here they would find meeting minutes and be able to contact the committee with any concerns. The website also has a live feed from Cheshire Live, giving all local news. Any other relevant information, such as updates from the Council, will also be posted on the site so it will be a one stop shop for all local information. The website was very well received and felt to be money well spent. Fiona will administer the website in the future, after the developer has finished building all the ‘back end’ supports
Priority Items for BERA for 2021
Mike asked that all members email him with issues they wanted to be considered by the end of January
Action: Fiona to email members with this request and also add to website
Any Other Business (BERA Chair)
· Clockwise – linked to this, it was noted that the one way signs had been repainted on Park Street as requested by BERA.
· Strategic Transport Taskforce – this has been set up to look at the future of transport in Chester, to support it both socially and economically. CRAG is part of this. It is wide ranging (not just debating bus lanes!) and does include a cycling group
· Hydro Hub – this is a proposal to revive a small hydroelectric station by the Old Dee Bridge, both to produce electricity and as an exhibition centre to showcase local environmental projects, such as HyNet, the proposed project to put hydrogen through gas pipelines instead of methane for specific large local businesses. Mike has also proposed an annual ‘green’ eco fair, with stalls along the river so relevant local companies can show what they are doing for the environment. They also propose to put the waterwheel back into use. Patricia asked if this would cause an issue with noise, but was assured there would be none.
· Bikers and the Groves – the bikers have now been given four parking spaces along the Groves, instead of the original area further along the river, which is a no traffic zone. The Council have said they will monitor the number of bikes and scooters using the parking spaces and then assess what should happen next. They will publish their findings for public consultation
· Bridgegate Chambers – Mike informed the meeting that a planning application was in to convert the building back into private apartments
Any Other Business (Members)
· Adam pointed out that Park Street was badly in need of resurfacing
Action: Mike to ask Council
· Carly said that her security camera had picked up instances of ASB by people using the electric scooters. Dan pointed out that these were only legal if being used in trials and previous trials in other area had resulted in an increase in ASB, such as stealing mobile phones and generally becoming a nuisance on roads and pavements. Patricia also pointed out that when they are abandoned on pavements or roads they could be a hazard for someone who is visually impaired. Dan suggested that they might just be used in certain areas such as the park and also pointed out that users were liable to get points on their licence if they committed a road traffic offence. It was suggested that this item could be added to the priority list.
· Neil thanked Jim Parrish for his help in keeping the Drill Hall Gardens tidy and also thanked Mike for his hard work. He said goodbye and wished everyone well in the future
There being no further business the meeting closed at 8.30pm
F Rushforth 15/1/21