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BRIDGEGATE EAST RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION (BERA) Minutes of Executive Meeting. Tuesday 13th January 2026 in The Share Shop

In attendance 

Bill Grady (Chair), Fiona Rushforth , Jim Parrish, Anne Grady, David Flood , Adrian Rushforth, Helen Foden

Apologies

Paul Kimpton

Drill Hall Gardens

Helen gave the following update and cost estimates:

We have had a reply from Colas, who said they could not help with the paving and groundworks until at least April, due to other commitments. Therefore, as we need to spend at least the council’s contribution within the prescribed timeframe, we need to look at options for funding this work ourselves.

Adrian has contacted the contractor recommended by John Crisp (Cody) and he is visiting the site this week to provide a quote for us although he is booked up until May.

Helen has been in touch with Salty Siteine (the council’s Infrastructure Team Leader) who has given us an estimate of £1800 for leveling the paving, which we can compare with the one from Cody.

 

Action: Helen to find out whether this estimate includes both materials and labour, whether the contractor could also provide a quote for repairing the brickwork, and what their availability is.

Helen has also emailed the conservation Officer Tayler Davies to ask if he has any thoughts- yet to hear back.

Helen has emailed the people at the Military Museum to chase the “potted history” of the Drill Hall so that we can use that in an interpretation board design. Once we have that we can start getting quotes.

Helen has also spoken to the joiner who has offered to make benches for us. We need to decide what we want and he’ll try to accommodate it.

 

Once we know how much the infrastructure repairs are going to cost we can better assess which other elements of the project we can deliver on. The original budget was shared with the committee and a suggestion of the elements we should focus on is shown below. These figures were produced by the council’s QS for the purposes of our funding applications and I think we could probably get some things cheaper by shopping around, but it gives us a rough idea, and the items picked out would come in within budget with some left for contingency and to add in the brickwork repairs.

 

Item	Cost
Paving - Lift paving, restore stone foundations and relay existing paving as image below, jet wash paving and remove soil/detritus	£2,172.00
Paving to sunken seating area - Allow for existing paving to be lifted and relaid, additional paving to be added to create level walkway (a number of additional paving slabs can be found on site)	£1,890.00
Repairs to brickwork in circular planter (We would need a price for this as the original budget included a price to take down and rebuild which we do not have the funds for)	TBC
Interpretation Board - Allow for 1No [1500x1500mm] interpretation boards to be wall mounted to north wall (contents TBC)	£2,100.00
Ecology - Allow for installation of 2No bird boxes, 1No bat box and creation of 2No bug hotels.	£360.00
Lighting -  Allow for new wall mounted solar lighting (approx 10)	£360.00
Native Planting - Allow for supply and planting of naitve species in all boarders.  Plant types TBC	£720.00
Storage - Allow for small storage shed or chest	£840.00
Total	£8442.00

We now have public liability insurance in place, and volunteers Clare and Ben have been working over the last few weeks to dig over the planting areas and aim to have the whole area done by the end of January.

 

We are still waiting for the £500 from the trust managed by Aaron and Partners.

 

The type of bench was discussed and recycled plastic was suggested as it was hardwearing. The cost of this would need to come out of the raised funds. If we go ahead with this, then Helen will discuss with the joiner donating materials whether he might be able to make some planters instead.

 

The purpose of the Gardens was discussed. It was felt to be too small to include a children’s play area and it was agreed that the focus should be on encouraging wildlife and creating a relaxing and peaceful space that could be used by and cared for by the community. The gardens will also provide a useful meeting space for community gatherings, such as BERA socials, barbeques etc.

 

It was decided that we would ask for volunteers at the AGM to take charge of various aspects of this project. It was also agreed that the money we have had donated for this project should be put into a separate bank account. It was also agreed to keep Karina Kerr involved in the progress of the project.

 

Finance Report

Bill has produced this report which will be audited by Jim Parrish, Dan Squibb and Tony Doggett before the AGM

 

Matters Arising from AGM

1. The idea of corporate membership had been raised. This will be discussed again at future meetings
2. John Bottomley had said he would raise the issue of rubbish being dumped in Steele Street

Action: Fiona to email him to see what progress has been made

1. David reported that the early morning disturbances from refuse collections has improved but still needs monitoring as it is still happening occasionally. Katrina reported that the Council had written to the operators and restaurants pointing out that they were in breach of their planning and licensing regulations

 

AGM Planning

1. All exec members said they were willing to stand for re-elections. Bill stressed that we need a treasurer, as he felt he should not be both Chairman and treasurer
2. It was agrees to hold the AGM in the Albion and a date of Tuesday 24^th February was suggested

Action: Fiona to email Christina to ask if this was a suitable date and if she was happy to hold it again. If she agrees, Fiona will email members with the information

1. It was agreed to invite our councillors, Katrina Kerr, Ben Walker and Paul Chamberlain

 

Proposed AGM Agenda

 

1)    Welcome by BERA Chair

 

2)    Apologies for Absence

3)    Approval of 2025 minutes

4)    Matters Arising

5)    Report on 2025 BERA Activities (Bill Grady)

6) Drill Hall Gardens (Helen Foden)

7)  BERA website review (Fiona Rushforth)

8)  2025 Finance Report (Bill Grady)

9) Report on Planning and Licensing Applications, including Quicks Building and The Records Office (Jim Parrish)

10) Report from Councillors

11) Proposed dates for BERA Activities in 2026

12) Your Priority Items for BERA for 2026

13)  Appointment of Officers

14) Appointment of two people to review the 2026 accounts

15) A.O.B.  (BERA Chair)

16) Close (BERA Chair)

 

AOB

Jim reported that the netting at the Quicks building has been vandalised. As a result, pigeons are once again roosting there and producing a mess on the pavement

Action: Fiona to inform Katrina Kerr

Date of Next Meeting

AGM – 23rd February (TBC)

Exec Meeting - TBC