Present: Julie Morton (Chair), Paul Smith (Chair, QED Waste Management Group), Richard Wiltshire (Chair, QED Allotments Group), Alan Thrussell (Chair, QED Health Group), Ian Hammerton (Chair, QED Biodiversity Group), John Gunn (UNA), Laurence Gandy (CVS), Phil Kessel and Alan Cremer (DBC).
1) Apologies for Absence: John Britt (Groundwork), Dev Sharma (Race Equality Council), Rob Hardy (DBC).
2) Minutes of the Last Meeting
Had been received and were approved.
3) Accounts
Phil Kessel reported that the balance of the QED account is currently £2,989.52p.
4) Matters Arising from the Minutes
Visit to Brodgale and Stonebridge Pond Allotments: Despite extremely inclement weather the visit had been very enjoyable. It was suggested that the visit might possibly be repeated next year.
5) Group Reports
Transport: As it has not been possible to convene a meeting for some time it was agreed that an attempt will be made to arrange a meeting which Julie will chair as an emergency measure, Phil Kessel will contact John Strong to obtain his sanction.
Waste Management: Paul Smith requested expenditure of £15 to obtain membership of the Community Recycling Network. This was agreed.
Youth Action Group: Phil Kessel reported that the last Youth Group meeting had been attended by only two people with two apologies. He raised the topic of the new "Big Issues Initiative" which is youth-based and raises issues of particular interest to the young. The Youth Group is to approach them with a possible view to arranging a joint effort. One or two new members have shown an interest, and the Group is to focus for the present on existing Youth organisations and Clubs to try to raise more interest. They will concentrate on the theme of joining the Group and having some influence on Council business which concerns young people. Ian Hammerton mentioned the Bexley Environmental Challenge in which 27 schools took part. He will obtain more details and report to the next Steering Group meeting.
Health Group: The Group is quite robust. Alan Thrussell reported the "Healthy Living Centre" Initiative in Swanscombe. The Group's attitude towards the proposed "Welcome Pack" is very positive. A publicity shoot with the Allotments Group has been arranged at Dartford Road Allotments to highlight the B&Q "Quest" donation for the purchase of tools for the NW Kent College horticultural therapy group. The group this year is composed entirely of people with mental health problems.
Allotments Group: In association with the Local Government Association the Group has a brief for defining best practice in Local Agenda 21. The scheme for helping disadvantaged gardeners is progressing well (see above).
Biodiversity Group: The Chair welcomed Dr Brodie from the Environment Agency, who has a particular responsibility for LEAP. A "trawl" has been made of organisations which it would seem appropriate to take an interest in the Biodiversity Group. Ian still awaits an answer to his letter to David Fletcher. The group is concentrating for the moment on aims and objectives for the coming year.
Newtown: Julie is arranging with the local Co-operative Society store a scheme for recycling carrier bags. It is possible that they might also be a source of publicity for QED.
Swanscombe and Greenhithe: A visit has been made to the new school to further the tree-planting scheme. It was suggested that the QED Youth Group might try to join the CYA and the future secondary school students in a common endeavour. It was also suggested that a formal visit by the Steering Group might be arranged in the future.
6) Requests for Expenditure
a) Funding was requested for Richard Stone to attend the NFCF/TLIO event in Bristol on November 7. This was agreed, with the additional agreement to pay reasonable subsistence cost to be arranged through Phil Kessel subject to the submission of receipts. Phil Kessel will advise the Group about DBC's agreed subsistence allowances.
b) Richard Wiltshire reported that Malcolm Still has taken over the management of the partially derelict Tredegar Allotments. He requested that QED clear the inherited debt of £115.02p as there is clear potential for QED/LA21 projects to be initiated on the site. This was agreed provided it was made clear that this is a one-off payment and that QED will accept no liability for any further claim.
c) A favourable estimate has been received for a laminator. It was agreed that this will be purchased.
7) Local Agenda 21 Review
Phil Kessel has addressed the Health Group on this document and will be happy to do the same for other groups. It is important that comments are received now for Committee Reports at the end of the year.
8) Proposed New Residents Welcome Pack
Each Group is requested to send information to Alan Cremer for inclusion in the pack. It was thought to be advantageous for a representative from each group to work on this. It was suggested that since most "developers" produce welcome packs we should write to them to obtain examples.
9) Information Presentations
Phil Kessel has spoken to the Planners to try to organise a plenary session for QED members in order for them to inform us of the current situation. It seems unlikely that this will be possible until the Stone Lodge Development Inquiry is concluded.
10) Publicity
It was agreed that we will speak to DBC Public Relations Department to enquire again about the promised articles in the Informer and News Shopper. Julie Morton will communicate with a lady at Glaxo-Wellcome with the possibility of obtaining some free leaflet holders.
11) Other Business
i) Julie Morton and Alan Cremer will together travel on December 8 to receive the QED Green Apple Award.
ii) Groups are reminded that they should be thinking about the format and content of next year's Festival exhibit.
iii) The Vicar of Holy Trinity Church has approached us to see if QED can co-operation any way in Heritage Week.
iv) A Local Agenda 21 Seminar with DBC Member is being planned.
v) The overall theme for the 1999 Dartford Festival will be "The World in Harmony".
12) Dates of Future Meetings
These were agreed for 1999 as follows: January 6, February 25, April 7, June 2, July 14, September 1, October 6 and November 11.
It was agreed that in future meetings will be planned to last from 7.00 pm until 9.00 pm.
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