Present: Mr M Pratt (Environmental Health Manager DBC), Mrs J Bourne (QED Health Group), Mr M Still (Tredegar), Mr D Risby (Tredegar), Mr B Ringrose (Wilmot Rd), Dr R Wiltshire (Research Officer).

Mr R Johnson (Secretary).

1. Apologies for Absence: Mr R Stone, Mr & Mrs W Hamilton.

2. Minutes of the Twentieth-First Meeting of the Committee: Accepted.

3. Matters Arising from Minutes of the Twentieth-First Meeting: None.

4. Health & Safety and Allotments

Mr M Pratt gave the committee an appreciation of the Health & Safety at Work legislation and its relevance to allotment sites. Although legally the acts in themselves do not apply directly to allotment sites, elements that are required to be undertaken within a workplace environment are applicable and these include:

a) Risk Assessment of tasks to be undertaken, which in many cases only require good practice and common sense to ensure personal safety and a safe environment for others.

b) Control of chemicals to ensure they are used in the correct manner and stored safely with no risk to other people with special regard to protecting children.

c) Safety awareness and appropriate protective equipment for people using mechanical equipment.

d) The need for insurance.

e) The legal position of allotment groups if they pay third parties to undertake work on site.

The committee thanked Mr Pratt for taking the time to present this talk.

5. Research Officer's Report

a) Since the last meeting advice on allotments in Local Agenda 21 and related matters has been provided to allotment groups in Boston (USA), Bristol, Bromley, Greenwich, Kettering, Leicester, Maidstone, Manchester, Sandwell, Stoke-on-Trent and West Bromwich and to the councils of the City of Bristol, Christchurch, City of Oxford, and Wansbeck and to Gardening Which?, BBC London Live and BBC World Service.

b) The Paper on allotments in Local Agenda 21 written jointly by Dr Wiltshire and Professor Ren Azuma (Mie University, Japan) appeared in the international academic journal Local Environment in May. A further paper (co-authored with Ren Azuma and David Crouch) was delivered by Dr Wiltshire at a Conference on Sustainable Development and Environmental Justice in Boston (USA) in May/June, when a visit was made to the Berkeley Street Community Gardens in Boston's South End.

c) Dr Wiltshire attended an International Conference on Sustainable Development at the University of Leeds in May on QED's behalf and has submitted a full report to the QED Steering Group. A paper was delivered at a Conference by Leigh Holland of De Monfort University which referred favourably to the QED Allotment Group's work.

d) Dr Wiltshire is to attend a one-day seminar on "Research and the Media" organised by Going for Green on 7th June.

6. Best Practice Regime in Devolved Management for Allotments

The proposal authorising the Research Officer to convene and facilitate the activities of the Group as stated on the agenda was discussed and passed by the Committee.

7. Dartford Community Safety Strategy

a) Allotment Watch: Mr Ringrose stated that the response to this initiative has been disappointing with no positive replies to the circular sent out with the previous minutes and an intent to proceed by only three sites.

b) Marking Kits: Due to the lack of response the decision to purchase marking kits will be deferred until the next meeting.

8. Joint activities with the QED Pollution and Waste Management Group:

a) Composting Leaflet: It is hoped that an existing leaflet on composting produced by Bexley Council can be utilised for use within Dartford.

b). Composting Display at Dartford Festival 2000: Details awaited from Mr Stone who is co-ordinating.

c). Wood Chippings: DBC's contractor can make these available to sites that want them, contact Dr Wiltshire on procurement.

9. Joint Activities with the QED Health Group:

a) Raised Bed Display at Dartford Festival 2000: Mrs Bourne reported that the raised beds are complete on he Dartford Road Site and the open day event scheduled for 24th June midday to 4pm will be attended by our local MP Dr Howard Stoate, photographs of the open day and raised beds will be available for exhibiting at the Dartford Show.

b) Herbs for Health: Mr A Hewitt to report at the next meeting.

10. Joint Activities with the QED Biodiversity Group:

a) Memorial Plaque to Lawrence D Hills: Mr Stone to report at the next meeting.

11. Dartford Festival 2000

a) Arrangements for displays/staffing: Details will be discussed at the next meeting.

b) Dartford Festival Allotments Competition: Valid entries for all three categories have been received.

12. Meetings, Excursions and Conferences

a) FCF&CG AGM Bristol 10th July: Dr Wiltshire will attend and there is funding for another member of the Group to attend.

b) Second London Farms and Gardens Festival, Capel Manor, 23rd September: There is the possibility of a coach trip to this if enough interest is forthcoming.

c) Community Gardens Conference, Nottingham, 13-16th September: Two delegates for this will be funded by QED.

13. Chair of QED Steering Group

Nominations for this function are being sought and anyone interested should contact Dr Wiltshire.

14. Any Other Business.

The Committee discussed and withheld approval for QED being cited in a forthcoming handbook on allotments produced by Ms Sophie Andrews. There was discussion regarding the use of allotment sites for NVCQ training - Dr Wiltshire to contact Capel Manor. Composting - Bromley's municipal green waste policy was discussed.

15. Date of Next Meeting: July 3, 2000 from 8.00 pm at the Princes Sports and Leisure Centre (Festival Planning only). Next regular meeting on September 4, from 2000 from 8.00 pm at the Princes Sports and Leisure Centre.

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