Minutes of CRAG Members’ Meeting on Thursday 18th July 2024 @ St. Peter’s @ The Cross Chester

In attendance:
1. Mike Hogg - Chair(MJH) Cheshire Heritage & Sustainability Enterprises (CHASE)
2. John Walker Vice-Chair (JW) 1761 RTM Limited (1761)
3. Pauline Brown (PB) Westminster Park Residents’ Association (WPRA)
4. Simon Burtonshaw-Gunn (SBG) Cestria Building Tenants’ Association (CBTA)
5. Roger Wynne (RW) Friends of Grosvenor Park & Groves (FOGG)
6. Pat Wynne (PW) FOGG
7. Bill Grady (BG) Bridgegate East Residents’ Association (BERA)
8. Anne Grady (AG) Bridgegate East Residents’ Association (BERA)
9. Don McRae (DM) Friends of Grosvenor Park & Groves (FOGG)
10. Mick Confrey (MC) King Street Residents Association (KSARA)
11. Helen Speke (HS) Queens Park Residents’ Association (QPRA)
12. Tim Schofield (TS) Queens Park Residents’ Association (QPRA)
13. David Starbuck-Edwards (DS-E) Dee Hills Park Estate Association (DHP)
14. Colin Potts (CP) Shipgate Management Association (SMA)
15. Rob Hulme (RH) Commonhall Street Residents Association (CRRA)
16. Trevor Farrell (TF) Hough Green Residents’ Association (HGRA)
17. Andrew Kendall (AK) Curzon Park Residents’ Association (CPRA)
18. Sandra Magilton (SM) WPRA
19. Jane Kite (JK) St Peter’s @ The Cross
20. Rev. Jonathan Phillips (JP) St Peters at the Cross
21. Annabel Turpin (AT) CEO Storyhouse
22. Bense Burnett (BB) Chester OCP Experiencing Group Lead

Apologies:
1. Vanessa Bond (VB) White Friars Residents’ Association (WFRA)
2. David Colclough (DC) Commonhall St. Residents Association (CSRA)
3. Julie Colclough (JC) Commonhall Street Residents Association (CSRA)
4. Jennifer Crew (JCr) Westminster Park Residents’ Association (WPRA)
5. Deborah Reid (DR) King Street Residents Association (KSARA)
6. Ann Farrell (AF) George Street
7. Chris Hughes (CH) Chair FOGG
8. Clive Bond (CB) White Friars Residents’ Association (WFRA)
MINUTES 18th July 2024

Item 1. Introduction:
MJH opened the meeting and thanked all members for attending. He also welcomed AT and BB and introduced them to the CRAG attendees.

Item 2. Culture in Chester:
BB & then AT set out and shared their vision and objectives for culture in general and the role of Storyhouse in particular in shaping and developing Chester. BB pointed out that culture attracts investment whilst investment does not necessarily generate culture or success – and that those cities and towns that have and are thriving all have culture at their heart. He gave several examples (e.g. Manchester & Folkestone) and also outlined why moving towards achieving UNESCO recognition and status was an important aspirational goal. He also stressed that culture is of and from community – one reason why he was particularly keen to share with CRAG the initiatives on which he is working.
AT built on these themes – explaining in particular where Storyhouse is – and where it is trying to go – again stressing the links with community, particularly given the
charitable status of Storyhouse.
A Q&A followed, much of which centred around support for what BB & AT were seeking to do, but concern as to whether it would happen, particularly regarding sources of
funds and investment.
BB reiterated his point about the evidence from other towns and cities that “capital follows culture” but was not underestimating the challenge.

MJH thanked BB & AT for joining the CRAG meeting and sharing their vison & views. He further explained that BB & AT would also be expanding on these themes at the CRAG
Conference on 22nd October. BB & AT closed by saying how much they had appreciated the opportunity to engage with CRAG.

Item 3. Minutes of the meeting held on 4th April 2024:
These were reviewed, considered to be a true record, approved and signed by the chairman.

Item 4. Matters arising:
The commitment of CW&C officers to the general election has delayed engagement on the matter of the siting of 5G masts.

Item 5. CRAG 2024 Conference (22nd October 2024 @ Chester Racecourse):
JW & PB outlined the Conference programme and progress to date, explaining the theme “Chester on the move” and three key topics (Art & Culture, The River and
Key City Landmarks – their goals & heritage. The programme (including speakers) is almost finalised and will be circulated to all CRAG members ASAP. A new feature
this year is that we have invited pupil delegates from City school 6th forms to learn & contribute. Once published, all CRAG member Execs are encouraged to attend and bring other members of their RA with them.

Item 6. 15th July Partner Meeting with Cheshire PCC Dan Price:
MJH explained that CRAG and its partners (BID, Cheshire Police & CW&C officers with responsibilities for the Chester City Centre) had met with the new Police &
Crime Commissioner Dan Price, one of his two deputies and the PCC office CEO. Our other partner in these activities (Pubwatch) had been invited but was unable to
attend.
The purpose of the meeting was to demonstrate the “Team Chester” approach to tackling City centre issues to the PCC and to reassure him that there is a value to
continuing with the additional specific funding that his predecessor had provided for things such as the drug dogs. It was felt by all that the meeting went very well –
with a warm reaction and engagement from Dan & his team. Dan also shared a number of new initiatives that he intends to implement, including a citizens’
policing panel (to which CRAG will be invited as an observer) and also lower thresholds and the removal of the matched funding requirement for community
safety grant applications to PCC funds.

Item 7. A.O.B:
(i) Groves Benches: RBW explained that all of the Grove Benches had been cleaned, painted & repaired as part of the CW&C organised May spring clean. He also said that Cllr Katrina Kerr had advised that council officers were under instruction from the CEO Delyth Curtis to provide a “one-stop shop” wherever possible.
(ii) Cheshire Police Residents’ Voice tool: Inspector James Wilson has requested that all RA members complete this as often as possible in order to give him and his colleagues the evidence they need to secure and focus police resources.

Resident's voice | Cheshire Constabulary
(iii) CW&C reporting tools: CRAG members have had a wide range of experience using these tools – some good, some bad. Whilst SM is going to send MJH one particular example to send to CW&C, AK suggested that we record lists of challenges and problems and then invite an appropriate council officer to a future CRAG meeting to discuss potential
improvements.

Item 8.Dates of Next Meetings:
The following dates have been agreed for the meetings to be held in 2024
Q3: Thursday 19th September (AGM) – location TBC.
Q4: Thursday 12 December – location TBC.
MJH Closed the meeting at 2030 and thanked all attending and Jane Kite & Rev Jonathan for hosting the meeting.

Minutes of CRAG Members’ Meeting on Thursday 18th July 2024 @ St. Peter’s @ The Cross Chester

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