Present: 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. Apologies for Absence: None.

2. Minutes of the 38th Meeting of the Committee: Accepted.

3. Matters Arising from Minutes of the 38th Meeting:

7a) The committee accepted Dr Wiltshire's report on the Horticultural Geographies Conference held at Nottingham University that was circulated with the minutes.

4. Research Officer's Report:

a) Attended Allotments Regeneration Initiative (ARI) Steering Group Meeting on 13th October in Birmingham, and provided ongoing support to Bethan Stagg and Deborah Burne, the ARI development workers. Plans for a third round of grants are at an early stage.

b) Attended London Green Group Annual Reception on 7th October at City Hall, GreenSpace Community Networking Day on 23rd October at London Guildhall, and London Food Links Working Group meeting on 3rd November at Sustain.

c) To give keynote address to North West Counties Association of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners half yearly conference on 22nd November in Stockport.

d). To attend London Allotments Federation steering group meeting on 4th November at City Hall, and a conference on Local Food Links on 27th November at the Kindersley Centre, Berkshire.

e) Since the last meeting of the DASC, advice on allotment issues given to plotholders in Gosport, Nottingham and Warwick, to Canewdon Parish Council, London Borough of Sutton and Southfleet Parish Council, to journalists from the Sunday Telegraph and Boston Globe, to Gateway Publications (regarding a new magazine for allotment holders), and to students at the University of Nottingham and Long Island University.

f) Submitted comments on the Mayor of London's Draft "Best Practice Guide to Preparing Open Space Strategies", and an article on allotment vandalism to the London Food Links magazine, Jellied Eel.

g) Following a formal submission to Dartford Borough Council, the Supplementary Planning Guidance for the West Hill Hospital site has been modified to emphasise accessibility of Tredegar Allotments to the site.

5. Joint activities with other QED Groups:

a) QED Pollution and Waste Management Group - no report.

b) QED Health Group - no report.

c) QED Biodiversity Group - Mr Still reported that Tredegar Allotments has donated an off-cut of pond liner for a local school project.

6. Visits and Conferences:

a) At the Steering Group AGM funding was approved for a coach party to visit the annual HDRA "Potato Day" event at Ryton on 1st February.

b) Dr Wiltshire is to give a paper on ARI funding at the Integrated Sustainable Development Conference in March at Manchester.

7. Dates of Meetings in 2004:

The following dates were agreed : 2nd February, 5th April, 7th June, 6th September and 1st November.

8. Any Other Business:

a) Dartford Festival Allotments Competition awaits a date for presentation.

b) QED Steering Group need to know if QED Allotments Group are participating in the 2004 Festival, at present the only activity planned is distribution of doggy bags and literature by a roaming team.

9. Date of Next Meeting: The next meeting will be Monday 2nd February 2004 from 8.00 pm at the Princes Sports and Leisure Centre.

End: Return to the QED Allotments page ...