Present: Alan Thrussell (Chair), John Gunn (UNA) Pat Still (Advocacy), Dave Crowe (City of Westminster College), Richard Wiltshire (QED Allotments Group), Thelma Mills (Thames Gateway Health Trust), Alan Cremer (DBC).
1) Apologies for Absence: John Mangan (Thames Gateway Health Trust)
2) Matters Arising from the Notes of the Previous Meeting:
It is hoped that about 100 M.P.'s will sign Dr. Stoate's Early Day Motion concerning the advantages gained from working an allotment.
Mr. Rob Hardy is now in post as Deputy Director in Environment and Leisure Services, and will have a large responsibility for Dartford Borough Council's Local Agenda 21 Strategy.
The Group expressed its concern about the future of Archery House as rumours of its imminent closure are circulating. Alan Cremer will write to John Mangan.
The Public Enquiry into the future of the Stone Lodge Leisure Centre has now finished. The result is not yet known.
Health Action Zone: There is a meeting scheduled for November 11. from which Alan Thrussell will report. The progress so far is described as ìponderousî.
Visit to Brogdale: The weather was inclement but the visit was very enjoyable and well organised. The Group members who attended offered their thanks to Richard and the Allotments Group.
Twinning: Pat expressed her opinion that the Dutch and French seem to be well organised in terms of allotments. The Dunkerque LA21 Officer visited Dartford recently, and Dunkerque and Capella in the Netherlands may be followed up as possible twinning partners.
Dr. Howard Stoate MP: A letter from Dr Stoate concerning B&Q's "Green" campaign will be replied to by Alan Cremer.
3) Report from the Steering Group Meeting
The recent Youth Group meeting was very poorly attended.
It is hoped that the Transport Group will meet soon under temporary Chairmanship.
The Steering Group will consider its collated response to the LA21 Review document at its next meeting.
The purchase of the laminator which had previously been approved is now completed.
The Group was reminded that any funds left in the QED budget at the end of the financial year will not be allowed to roll-over.
Richard Wiltshire was granted funding for the purchase of a scanner to improve the Website which is constantly increasing in size.
4) Residents' Welcome Pack
The purpose of the pack will be to welcome new residents to the Borough, to inform them about the facilities which are available, and that there is life and caring people here. Its emphasis will be on local and not general information. It is hoped that it will be sponsored by contractors and developers of new estates, and possibly at a later stage estate agents and housing associations. It is hoped that we will be able to work in partnership with developers, many of whom provide their clients with brochures already, to produce a high-quality, glossy welcome pack. Phil Kessel will be asked to try to provide a list of possible sponsors who can be contacted. If a start can be made soon it may be possible to begin a pilot scheme with the developers of the Darenth Park housing scheme. Dartford Borough Council could utilise the Welcome pack by including licence forms for rubbish collection with guides and directions to the local dumps. An adapted version of the Council's Services or the new D.B.C. booklet could be included.
The information contained in the pack should be succinct, relevant, with a heavy local bias. Important dates, sports facilities, local services, recommended local walks etc. could all be included. The cost will clearly be a factor but this can be mitigated by sponsorship. There was general agreement that the pack must be well constructed and attractive if it is to be of benefit. One possibility is a two-sided A5 with ìabout your houseî on the left-hand side and more general local information on the right. It could also include an introduction to QED. A folder with a QED logo might be easier to up-date but might cost more than a stapled booklet. Some of the packs will be translated into the more commonly used languages later. The Steering Group will form a small Working Party to further this project.
5) Future Projects and Activities
Food: There is currently considerable overlap between Groups. Some areas may need clearer definition. A Group concentrating on Healthy Eating could be a discreet Group or could form part of the Health Group. The issue of genetically modified organisms may also be taken up.
Tredegar Road Allotment: Since funding is being sought to provide an allotment project for Asian women the Health Group may be involved with the resurrection of this site.
Healthy Travel: It was suggested the Group might work in partnership with the Transport Group to promote schemes such as Cycle to Work Day, Rambling etc..It was thought that the D.B.C. Review needs input also.
Mental Health: The Group is anxious not to overlook this important topic. A Mental Health Conference will be held on February 8 at Stone.
Other Events: It was suggested that a series of Open Evenings on a wide range of relevant topics could heighten the profile of QED. Possible topics might be AIDS, Mental Health Issues, diet, nutrition. To succeed they would need to be well supported, so joint presentations with Rotary Clubs, Women's Institutes etc. might work well. Marketing and use of the media are important.
6) Local Plan Review: Will be discussed later.
7) Proposed Timetable of Meetings in 1999
The Group will meet on January 20, March 17, June 1 with an optional meeting on June 23rd, July 28th, September 8th, and November 10th. All meetings to commence at 7.00pm at the Civic Centre.
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