Minutes of the 13th Meeting of the Dartford Allotments Steering Committee

Princes Sports and Leisure Centre on Monday October 19, 1998 from 8.00 pm

Present: Mr R Stone (Swanscombe), Mr J Rowden (Bean), Mr B Ringrose (Wilmot Road), Mr A Hewitt (West Dartford Allotment & Garden Society), Mr G Laidlaw (Dartford Road), Dr R Wiltshire (QED Steering Group), Mr R Johnson (Secretary).

1. Apologies for Absence: None.

2. Minutes of the Twelfth Meeting: Accepted

3. Matters Arising from the Minutes of the Twelfth Meeting

3.3.7) B&Q Quest Scheme: Chair to attend conference on scheme in Birmingham on October 26. A student from NWK College who has been benefiting from the scheme at Dartford Road Allotments will be taking his own plot in Sutton-at-Hone early next year.

4. Early Day Motion 1598 (Allotment Gardening)

QED has received a letter of support from Dr Howard Stoate on our campaign on EDM 1598. Wavendon Allotment and Garden Society (Milton Keynes) have created a page on their website in support of EDM 1598.

5. DETR's Response to "The Future for Allotments"

The main positive points are:

• Support for inclusion of allotments in LA21 Activities and Leisure Strategies.
• Support for Local Government Association in defining best practice regime for allotments.
• Prospect of enhanced recognition of allotments in PPG17 (guidance notes for planners).

6. Participation in Local Government Association Allotment Advisory Group

Chairman has been invited to attend second meeting of this group on October 23.

7. QED Virtual Potting Shed

A web page has been added for Crockenhill Leisure Gardeners and Allotment Association, and Alric Avenue Allotments have been linked to Kingston Borough Council's website.

8. QED Allotments Newsletter

The initial print run was 1000 copies and more may be required. Organisations outside the Borough have shown interest where the newsletter is seen as part of a best practice regime for allotments. Much interest in the newsletter was shown at the "Local Food Indicators" workshop hosted by S.A.F.E. Alliance on October 17 in St. Albans attended by the Chair.

9.Joint Activities with QED Waste Management Group

(a) Supplies: Pallet supplies have become a problem and this will be taken up at the next meeting of the QED Waste Management Group on October 21. Volunteers are required to sustain participation in this group.

(b) Primary Schools' Pumpkin Competition 1999 (in association with KCC): Rules for this venture and a leaflet have been undertaken with KCC Property Services and Uplands Allotments Association (with special thanks to Mr Linton Carby). Wentworth CP School have already expressed an interest.

10. Participation in "The Land Is Ours" Seminar

This seminar on allotment promotion is to be held at NFCF, Bristol on November 7. Chair to seek funding from QED budget enabling Mr R Stone to attend as QED representative and ensure proper recognition of LA21 in any promotional material

11. QED Welcome Pack for New Residents

This is an idea from the QED Health Group. It was agreed to produce an allotment promotions leaflet, secretary to produce initial artwork for discussion.

12. Presentation to QED Groups on the Local Plan Review, Kent Thames-side and Sustainable Development

This presentation will take place at the Civic Centre in November, on a date to be announced.

13. Dartford Festival Allotments Competition 1999

The awards ceremony for the 1998 competition will be held in December. Draft rules for the 1999 competition were discussed and agreed with minor alterations.

14. Darenth Country Park QED Project

The Darenth Country park Advisory Group has not yet met this autumn. Volunteers are needed to help the Park Ranger with work around the park site on Thursdays.

15. Recruitment

Details of QED Allotments activities have been supplied to a plotholder in Longfield. BBC Radio Kent gave us a favourable mention on October 18. An initiative to revive the allotment potential of the Tredegar site has been started by its tenants.

16. QED Trip to Faversham, October 24

This trip which is open to all QED participants has been fully subscribed.

17. Any Other Business

An article appeared in the HDRA Newsletter regarding LA21: Mr R Stone to respond. A Letter from Mr W Mundy of Kent Beekeepers on the siting of beehives on local allotment sites was discussed.

18. Date of Next Meetings

The meeting was requested to provide a list of future meeting dates by DBC to ensure that QED activities can be co-ordinated with council business. The following are the dates agreed:

December 7, 1998; February 1, 1999; April 5, 1999; June 7, 1999; July 5, 1999; September 6, 1999; November 1, 1999.

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