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: Mr R Howard.

2. Minutes of the 39th Meeting of the Committee: Accepted.

3. Matters Arising from Minutes of the 39th Meeting:

6a) Mr Stone reported that a party of seven made the trip to "Potato Day" at HDRA Ryton, an enjoyable day was experienced with a large range of potato varieties for sale coupled with other potato themed events, plus a visit to the latest HDRA attraction "The Vegetable Kingdom".

8a) Mr Humphries reported that presentation of the cups for the 2003 Allotments Competition has taken place which received publicity in local newspapers.

4. Research Officer's Report:

a) Attended ARI Steering Group Meeting on 19th January in London, and provided ongoing support to Bethan Stagg and Deborah Burne, the ARI Development Workers. Plans for a third round of grants will be published in the third ARI Newsletter later this month. £0.3m in new funding from the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation will finance (i) grants of £2,500 to £25,000 for 15-30 new "Flagship Sites", (ii) a "Good Sites Guide", (iii) a "Beer and Buses" scheme giving travel bursaries for groups visiting good practice sites, (iv) a regional "Allotment Regeneration Mentors" scheme, and (v) research on the impact of ARI leading to a supplement to the good practice guide, "Growing in the Community". Since the last meeting ARI has published two new fact sheets, "Safe Sites" and "Project Allotment".

b) Attended interministerial meeting on allotment regeneration beyond ARI on 18th January at the Department for Education and Skills.

c) Attended London Allotments Forum Steering Group meeting on 4th November at City Hall, North Kent Gateway Partnership Open Day on 12th Nov 2003 at Acacia Hall, and a conference on Local Food Links on 27th November at the Kindersley Centre, Berkshire (Secretary's note: report on the latter tabled and accepted by the committee).

d) Gave keynote address to North West Counties Association of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners Half Yearly Conference on 22nd November in Stockport.

e) Submitted an article on allotment sheds to the London Food Links magazine, Jellied Eel.

f) Responded to Dartford Borough Council's Working Group on Tourism and Heritage Survey.

g) Appointed a consultant to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's forthcoming National Survey of Allotments, Community Gardens and City Farms.

h) To attend London Allotments Forum Steering Group Meeting on 4th February at City Hall, London Food Links Working Group Meeting on 9th February at Sustain, and National Qualification for Community food Workers Advisory Group on 23rd March at Stratford.

i) To give presentations to allotment holders on 24th March at the Centre for Environmental Initiatives in Sutton and to the International Sustainable Development Research Conference March 29-30 in Manchester.

j) Since the last meeting the websites for allotment federation in Somerset and Stockport and for the Sturminster Allotments Association (Bristol) have been updated in the QED Virtual Potting Shed.

k) Since the last meeting of the DASC, advice on allotment issues given to plotholders in Bexley, Edinburgh, Gravesend, Grimsby, Manchester, Mansfield and Ramsgate, to Harrogate and Stockport Borough Councils and the London Borough of Barnet, and to BBC Television South East. Reference to QED's participation in ARI has appeared in EARTHlines, Women's Environment Network Newsletter, British Youth Council News, and the National Council for Voluntary Youth Services Newsletter.

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 as part of a North West Kent Project a Biodiversity survey is to be carried out at Tredegar Allotments.

6. Groundwork Project: At the QED Steering Group Meeting on 14th January a representative from Groundwork Kent Thameside explained that the organisation is interested in establishing an allotments project for people with disabilities, including young people. Since the latter are to come from a school in Meopham, it was suggested that Meopham Allotments Association be contacted (the Research Officer subsequently supplied contact details). Interest was also shown in the raised bed facility at Dartford Road, but the Groundwork representative was advised that she would have to contact Dartford Road Allotments Association directly about this. It was explained that the contact details for the incoming trustees at Dartford Road were unknown at present, but would become available in due course.

7. Dartford Festival 2004: Mr Humphries submitted the competition schedule for the 2004 Allotments Competition and stated that terms and conditions will be the same as the 2003 competition. He also noted that the Borough Shield is running out of vacant plaques for the engraving of winners names, the possibility of purchasing a new shield was discussed and recommended for discussion at the Steering Group Meeting.

8. Visits and Conferences: Mr Stone to discuss suitable venues with Mr Hinchcliffe from the W.D.A. & G.S.

9. Any Other Business:

a) Dr Wiltshire noted that allotments receive a favourable mention in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's greenspace strategy document for Thames Gateway, Creating sustainable communities: Greening the Gateway.

b) A letter from Mr W Munday Chairman of Dartford Branch of Kent Beekeeper's was discussed and it was agreed that the secretary request more information concerning the location of his proposed new teaching facility.

c) Gore Road Allotments have received a circular soliciting information on site facilities, plot sizes and costs: No committee members present had any knowledge of similar circulars being received at their sites.

10. Date of Next Meeting: The next meeting will be Monday 5th April 2004 from 8.00 pm at the Princes Sports and Leisure Centre.

Secretary's Note: Items for Spring 2004 Allotments Newsletter to Dr Wiltshire by the end of February please.

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