1) Present: Julie Morton (Newtown, Chair), David Meade (QED Pollution and Waste Management), Richard Wiltshire (Website Manager), John Britt (Groundwork Kent Thameside), Alan Cremer, Phil Kessel (Dartford Borough Council).
2) Apologies for Absence: Julia Marshall (QED Biodiversity), Richard Stone (QED Allotments), Pat Still (QED Health), Laurence Gandy (CVS).
3) Minutes of the Previous Meeting: Accepted.
4) Matters Arising: None.
5) Statement of Accounts and Requests for Expenditure: The balance of the QED budget is currently £5,050-36p. £32-45p has been spent on notice boards for use at the Dartford Festival.
A proposal for a PhD Research Project was submitted by Duncan Philips (enclosure). The project overall is estimated to cost in the region of £7,500 and the Steering Group was asked to consider partly funding the project. Members are asked to consider the proposal and to contact Duncan or Alan Cremer if they would like more information. The proposal will be sent to all members of the Steering Group, and Duncan will attend the next meeting to speak to it if it is wished. This item will appear on the next agenda.
6) Reports from QED Groups:
Allotments: Nothing extra to report.
Health Group: Proposed visits appear later on the Agenda.
Biodiversity: Rob Hardy will attend a future meeting to discuss the Central Park Wildlife Garden and the Local Biodiversity Action Plan. It is possible that the Consultants may be invited to attend. It was agreed that a mechanism for the Biodiversity Group to look at Planning Applications with possible Biodiversity connotations will be looked at again.
Waste Management and Pollution: A draft of new Terms of Reference had been circulated. These were adopted nem.con.. (Enclosure)
Newtown: Julie Morton reported that she has been looking for a location for a new dog refuse disposal bin. There are three bins in use already. It had been suggested that the wall of the Church Hall might be appropriate, especially as dog-training classes take place there. Some concern was expressed about the proximity of this site to the school. Julie will investigate further. Alan Cremer will talk to Dave Thomas about the current stock of the QED labelled dog waste bags.
7) Dartford Festival: Rethmann's will be asked to assist with the transport of materials from Dartford Road to Central Park. In conjunction with Fry Training Phil Kessel has produced a Food Hygiene leaflet for distribution at the Festival. This will be reproduced after approval by Fry Training and Richard Wiltshire. All members will be circulated to ask if and when they will be available at the Festival. Action: Alan Cremer.
8) Publicity: DBC to be asked again about possible use of the Floral Display in the Park. The question of the proposed Welcome Pack was raised again. This will be discussed at future meetings.
9) Kent Environment Business of the Year: Phil Kessel to follow this up.
10) Conferences and Visits:
Gardens for People Conference: This is a follow-on meeting from the one held in March 1998. Richard Wiltshire, Richard Stone, Graham Laidlaw, Jan Bourne, Said Gousy, Robert Johnson, Julie Marshall, Pat Still and Malcolm Still have already expressed a wish to attend. It was agreed that QED will fund 12 places at the conference. It was suggested that a DBC gardener or grave-digger might be invited to attend as QED's guest. It was agreed that details will be finalised at the Dartford Festival weekend.
Visit to Dartford by Mie Prefecture Women's Environmental Study Group from Japan: This Group will visit on the 27th or 28th of September principally to look at the organisation of our allotments. This is part of Community Environment Enhancement Potential.
Forming Bonds Conference: The "Going for Green" National Forming Bonds Conference will be held on Thursday October 28th at the RAF Museum Hendon.
Horticultural Therapy Projects: In conjunction with the QED Health Group it is proposed to visit sites in Sutton and Reading where Horticultural Therapy Projects are in place, now under the banner of THRIVE. This topic will be placed on the Agenda for the next meeting.
Urban Task Force Report: "Towards an Urban Renaissance" will be added to the QED bibliography.
Annual General Meeting of the Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens: A report of this meeting was tabled by Richard Wiltshire.
11) The Plenary Meeting on Local Transport Issues: Julie Morton reported.
12) DETR "Are you Doing your Bit?" Campaign: The video promoting this campaign and literature from the DETR were presented.
13) Other Business: the proposed Transport Group meeting on July 21st will be cancelled. It is hoped that the suggestion boards at the Festival will help in planning the future of the Group.
14) Future Meetings: Meetings in 1999 are planned for September 1st, October 6th, and November 17th.
Please note that Julie Morton is unable to attend the meeting on November 17th. It was agreed that the Group should elect a Vice-Chair who will preside at that meeting. Please send nominations, or volunteer for this post if you wish, to Alan Cremer.
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