Present: Kate Harmer (Dartford and Gravesend Building Preservation Trust), Tony Morris (Kent Wildlife Trust), Ian Hammerton (Woodlands Trust Joydens Wood Support Group), David Meade (Woodlands Trust Joydens Wood Support Group), Richard Wiltshire (QED Allotments Group), Alan Cremer (Dartford Borough Council). )
1) Apologies for Absence: None.
2) Minutes of the Previous Meeting: Accepted.
3) Matters Arising from the Minutes:
a) Wildlife Garden: It was not known whether Eric had received a reply from Padraig Herlihy. Further discussion deferred to the next Meeting.
b) Articles from Groups for Website and Dartford Informer: Dartford Borough Council's "Silver" Green Apple Award, which acknowledged Dartford as the "third greenest borough in the South of England" has been extensively reported in the local press. The success of QED had been a big factor in the award.
c) Local Biodiversity Action Plan: Ian had received a telephone response from John Arnold on behalf of David Fletcher earlier in the day in connection with the letter sent to Mr Fletcher on this subject. Mr Arnold had said that the plan will be placed on deposit in July 1999, when public comment would be invited. Ian had explained the function of this Group and offered our assistance through the supply of information, an offer which Mr Arnold had noted. Some concern was expressed within the Group that the LBAP had been confused with the current Borough Local Plan Review, and Ian agreed to seek clarification on this from Mr Arnold. [UPDATE: Subsequent clarification obtained by Ian is that the Borough Council is in the process of reviewing its current Biodiversity Action Plan, which contains policies about natural resources, SSSI, areas of Nature Conservation, etc., that there is a proposal to establish local Nature Reserves on the marshes and at Ebbsfleet, and that the QED Biodiversity Group has now been placed by the Borough Council on the relevant list of consultees. It has also become clear that the plan that will be placed on deposit in July 1999 is indeed the Borough Local Plan, not the LBAP].
d) Gardening for Life Leaflet (Comments): Richard asked for comments to be sent to him by February 1: a draft leaflet would be tabled at the next meeting of the Group.
e) Dartford Marshes: Nicholas Pearson Associates: It was explained that this organisation had been undertaking an ornithological survey of the Littlebrook site prior to Dartford Borough Council entering into a partnership with others to develop the site. Some regret was expressed by the Group regarding the potential loss of this valuable wildlife site, and the Group expressed the desire to be kept informed of future developments, particularly in light of the positive statements in support of an open space strategy in the Borough Local Plan Review Consultation Document.
4) Group Aims and Objectives: The Group agreed that further efforts were required to increase attendance at meetings.
5) QED Website: Richard reported that there are still only pages for two of the members of this Group on the website, Joydens Wood Support Group and NW Kent Countryside Project, and an upgrade of the latter to include information about the speakers' scheme is in hand. It was agreed that as many links as possible should be added to websites for the national or regional arms of organisations represented within the Group. The addition of the proposed QED Environmental Information Centre would help to attract schoolchildren to the website and to the information provided there about members of this Group.
6) Swanscombe Tree-Planting Scheme: This is proceeding well in partnership with the North West Kent Countryside Project. Four hundred trees are to be sought of species recommended by KCC's Landscape Division, and there will only be a small charge for some of the trees.
7) The Great Dartford Pumpkin Competition: Richard summarised the purposes of this competition, which is being run jointly by the QED Allotments and Waste Management Groups.
8) Kent Area Local Environment Agency Plan: Members of the Group to reply individually.
9) Any Other Business: There was some discussion on when a presentation on local planning was to be given. It was agreed that this would be raised at the next meeting of the Steering Group. There was also a long discussion of how exactly the Issue Groups within QED articulate with individual Departments within the Council. It was agreed that Richard Pullman would be invited to the next Meeting, to talk on the long term management strategy for Dartford Heath. David reported that he had approached Ian Bolton about attending future meetings.
Date of Next Meeting: Tuesday March 2, 1999, from 7.30 pm at Dartford Civic Centre.
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