Present: Mrs S Woodfall (DBC), Mr R Howard (Gore Rd), Mr J Rowden (Bean), Mr M Still (Tredegar), Mr T Humphries (Dartford Rd), Mr R Stone (Chair), Dr R Wiltshire (Research Officer), Mr R Johnson (Secretary).

1. Introduction and Welcome to Guest Visitor.

Our guest visitor was welcomed to the meeting and introduced to the committee. Mrs Woodfall has recently joined the staff of DBC as Environmental Promotions Officer which is a part time appointment and also undertakes (in a voluntary capacity) organising Rochester Farmers Market in association with Agenda 21 Medway.

2. Apologies for Absence: None.

3. Minutes of the 37th Meeting of the Committee: Accepted.

4. Matters Arising from Minutes of the 37th Meeting:

7a) Mr Stone gave a presentation of his report on the University of Reading Allotments Conference.

8a) Mrs Woodfall outlined the changes at DBC with regard to Agenda 21. The DBC Agenda 21Strategy and the Best Value Strategy were being assessed as part of the Community Planning Process. A new initiative is being undertaken where DBC and Gravesham Council will be working together and Agenda 21 will be within this structure as part of the environmental considerations. The committee was sad to hear that due to the changes at DBC Mr P Kessel will no longer be involved in Agenda 21. Mr Kessel has been tremendously supportive of QED Allotments since its inception and the committee expressed a vote of thanks for his efforts.

5. Research Officer's Report:

a) Attended Allotments Regeneration Imitative (ARI) Steering Group Meeting on 16th July, at which the possibility of additional funding for ARI was discussed.

b) Provided ongoing support to Bethan Stagg and Deborah Burne the ARI Development Workers in Birmingham and Newcastle. Since the last meeting of the committee, ARI has published advisory leaflets featuring the QED logo, "Money Maze" (on funding) and "Toilet Paper" (on provision of toilets), and a third ("Safe Sites" on combating theft and vandalism) will be published shortly.

c) Attended third meeting of the Gardening Research and Information Network (GRAIN) on 15th July at Unstone Grange, nr Chesterfield.

d) Talks given on behalf of Tring Town Council on its new allotments strategy (11th June) and at the London Green Party's Allotments Conference at City Hall on 31st July.

e) To attend the GreenSpace Community Networking Day at London Guildhall on 23rd October.

f) Advice on allotment issues given to plotholders in Cirencester, Gosport, Leytonstone, Merseyside, Roehampton and to Guildford Borough Council, BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour and Today programmes, BBC Radio Sheffield, and a journalist from the Sunday Times (Scottish Edition).

g) Chaired FCFCG AGM on 9th July.

h) Bath and NE Somerset Allotments Alliance added to the QED Virtual Potting Shed.

i) QED Allotments Group featured in an article in the Financial Times on 21st June, and QED was thanked for its support for ARI in Chairman's address to NSALG AGM (July: published in issue 3 of the Allotment and Leisure Gardener).

j) A dispute over the loss of one of QED's loan copies of "Growing in the Community" with Gosport Allotment and Gardeners Association has been resolved through replacement with a new copy at the latter's expense.

6. Joint activities with other QED Groups:

a) QED Pollution and Waste Management Group - none (latest meeting cancelled).

b) QED Health Group - Mr Crowe trying to get this underway.

c) QED Biodiversity Group - Mr Still reported that he has distributed tools donated by Wilkinsons who wish to continue support next year.

7. Visits and Conferences:

a) Dr Wiltshire to attend "Horticultural Geographies" conference at the University of Nottingham on 17-18th September.

b) A trip to attend the HDRA's "Potato Day" and see the recently opened attraction "The Vegetable Kingdom" at Ryton and visit the "Guinea Gardens" was discussed for next February.

8. Any Other Business:

a) Mr Still reported that a plot at Tredegar has been rented for a school group comprising of autistic children and their teachers.

b) Mr Humphries reported that the Dartford Festival Allotments Competition was successfully completed with Mr Richard Dolby (Bexley) as judge, as was hoped more competitors were on their plots for the judging and this feature will be continued next year. The winners were:-

1. Borough Shield - Mrs P Robinson and Mrs J Brennen (Dartford Road)

2. Fred Brown Cup - Mr J Marks (Dartford Road).

3. Best Parish Allotment - Mr E Dixon (Kirby Road).

Presentation will be held later in the year at the Civic Centre. It was considered that publicity for the event could be improved and Mr Howard had difficulty in obtaining official photographs after last years event.

c). Dr Wiltshire reported that the QED Autumn Newsletter is underway and he tabled the annual report for inclusion, which was accepted by the committee.

d) Mr Howard tabled a vote of thanks to Mrs Sandra Woodfall for attending the meeting.

9. Date of Next Meeting: The next meeting will be Monday 3rd November 2003 from 8.00 pm at the Princes Sports and Leisure Centre.

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