Present: Julie Morton (Chair), David Meade (Chair, QED Waste Management Group), Richard Wiltshire (Website Manager), Richard Stone (Chair, QED Allotments Group), John Gunn (QED Health Group), Mike Pratt (for Swanscombe and Greenhithe QED Community Group), John Britt (Groundwork Kent Thameside), Laurence Gandy (NW Kent CVS) and Alan Cremer (DBC).
1) Apologies for Absence: Pat Martin and Dev Sharma.
2) Minutes of the Last Meeting: Were accepted.
3) Matters Arising from those Minutes:
Richard Wiltshire offered to speak at one of the Health Group open sessions.
4) Accounts:
The current balance sheet was tabled.
5) Requests for Funding:
Funding was agreed for the production and distribution of the next Allotments Newsletter and the Gardening Leaflet. It was also agreed that three new QED signs be purchased for Dartford Road Allotments.
Funding was also agreed for travelling expenses for the speaker at the Light Pollution meeting.
6) Group Reports:
Allotments Group: The Minutes of the Group's last meeting were tabled. Richard Wiltshire has taken over as Research Officer. Richard Wiltshire reported an article in "Gardening Which" describing the QED website and its relationship to local Agenda 21. The composting packs have been delivered to schools participating in the Pumpkin Competition. Seeds will be arriving from King's and the NSALG. Regarding PPG17 revision. Dr. Stoate is to take up the question of the lack of facilities for older people. The Dartford Road Allotments' project will be mentioned in Horticultural Therapy's Journal's "Growthpoint".
Biodiversity Group: Will be meeting on March 2nd.
Health Group: Minutes of the last meeting were tabled. The Mental Health Day was very successful. Leaflets advertising the Skin Cancer Briefing day were tabled.
Newtown: Julie Morton has written to the Co-Operative Society regarding carrier bag recycling and is awaiting a reply. Newtown is thinking of reviving the traditional "Escape from London" contest in the Summer. Contestants will start at the Old Bailey and will make their way back to Newtown using no mechanical transport. Sponsorship may be sought for this project.
Swanscombe and Greenhithe: The Swan Valley Community School tree-planting will take place on March 30th at 2.00 pm.
Waste Management: As a result of the resignation of Paul Smith David Meade has now become Chair of the Group. Akzo Nobel are to supply barrels for the collection of rainwater. Julie Morton has organised a Light Pollution meeting for Friday February 26th.
Youth Action Group: The QED Youth Group has joined forces with the Big Issue Group. The Big Issue Group has sent out 50 copies of a questionnaire to seven schools. Three schools have returned them so far. The results are to be collated and presented to the Youth Conference to be held on March 6th at which it is hoped some members of the Big Issue Group will be present.
7) New Residents Welcome Pack:
The Allotments group has prepared its contribution to the pack and offers technical support to other groups. Mike Pratt offered to be part of the sub-group dealing with this project. Russell Bowie will be attending the Steering Group meeting on April 7th. and professional input will be sought from DBC's Public Relations Department. It was agreed that a "Focus Person" from among the groups will be appointed. If no one is forthcoming it seems likely that the project will not continue
8) Dartford Festival:
It is as yet unclear what the roles of the Directorate of Environment and Leisure, Environmental Health Services and QED and Local Agenda 21 will be exactly at this year's Festival. It is assumed that QED will require less space than before. Mike Pratt volunteered to try to discover by the next meeting exactly what our input is to be, and the amount of space that will be required for/available to QED and LA 21.
9) KCC Document:
The publication from KCC entitled "Our Strategy for Local Agenda 21" was tabled. It was agreed that this will be discussed at the next meeting.
10) Other Business
Richard Wiltshire reported that the Dartford Road Allotments Association has joined the National Federation of City Farms. This is to be relaunched at the House of Lords in March and QED is to be represented by Professor David Crouch.
A proposition to form a Food Issues Forum has been made. A statement of intent was tabled which the Secretary will refer to other QED Groups for comment.
11) Dates of Future Meetings
Future Meetings will be held at Enterprise House at 7.00pm on April 7, June 2, July 14t, September 1, October 6, and November 17.
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