Present: Julie Morton Chair, Richard Stone QED Allotments, Richard Wiltshire Website Manager, Pat Still QED Health Group, David Meade QED Waste Management Group, John Britt Groundwork Kent Thames-Side, John Gunn United Nations Association, Alan Cremer Phil Kessel Dartford Borough Council.
1) Apologies for Absence: Laurence Gandy.
2) Minutes of Previous Meeting: Had been received and were approved.
3) Matters Arising from the Minutes: Julie Morton reported that no suitable location has yet been found. This matter will be shelved for the present.
i) Location of dog refuse bin in Newtown: Alan Cremer reported that he had approached Paddy Herlihy on the possibility of the floral display being given over to the QED logo at some time. There is no reason why not in principle, but formal application will need to be made in November.
ii) Floral display in Park: Alan Cremer reported that he had approached Paddy Herlihy on the possibility of a floral display being given over to QED logo at some time. There is no reason why not in principle, but formal application will need to be made in November.
4) Statement of Accounts and Requests for Expenditure: Phil Kessel reported that the gross amount currently in the QED account is £4,419.01p. The Chair of each Group was asked to look carefully for any courses or projects on which they would like to spend money.
i) Membership of the Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens: It was agreed that £45 be spent on affiliating QED to this Federation.
ii) Coach Trip to Reading and Sutton: It was agreed that £285 be set aside for hiring transport to visit THRIVE and a project in Cheam in October. Places would be allocated first to people concerned with the HT scheme .
iii) Other Funding: It was agreed that £100 be allocated to the Great Dartford Pumpkin Competition for prizes etc. David Meade requested that funding be allocated for a community composting scheme to be undertaken jointly with Groundwork. A feasibility study will be done first. It is envisaged that an instruction pack will be produced bearing the QED logo. Permission will be sought from HDRA to reproduce some of their literature. It is hoped that follow-up will include measurements of any decrease in land-fill volume. It was agreed that a sum of £340 be set aside for this scheme. It is possible that premises will be needed to facilitate the scheme. A possible site has been located and £500 was allocated in case a Planning Application has to be made. A further report will be made at the next meeting. It was agreed that conference and subsistence costs of £500 be allocated to David Meade to allow him to attend the Environmental Protection Conference at Brighton.
5) Reports from QED Groups:
Waste Management and Pollution: Nothing extra to report.
Allotments Group: An enquiry had been received from Gravesend about our activities via Allotment Watch on Radio Kent. The 6th. Newsletter containing the Annual Report is about to be circulated.
6) Dartford Festival:
A letter of thanks had been received from Paddy Herlihy and Councillor Bassam for QED's contribution to the Festival. Comments were requested for a feedback meeting to be held on September 2nd.. It was suggested that a different layout of the site might encourage more visitors.
Phil Kessel suggested that next year's festival might provide an opportunity to ìre-launchî the Local Agenda 21 Initiative in consort with QED. It was agreed that Julie Morton would compose a letter to this effect to Rob Hardy and Chris Oliver.
Responses to Requests for Questions from the Public at the Festival:
Ten signed queries had been received. These were referred as follows:
1) Affordable organic foods locally and more awareness of GM foods: Referred to the Allotments Group.
2) The Draft Local Plan is too costly: Referred to Alec Lauder.
3) Ants in a kitchen and dining room: Referred to Mike Pratt.
4) Provision of "expectorate" wardens: Referred to Marie Kelly-Stone.
5) Concern that natural selection is being jeopardised by conservationists: Referred to the Biodiversity Group.
6) Can road surfaces be made suitable for cycles: Referred to Steve Welsh.
7) Why doesn't QED have a leaflet on growing herbs? Why no HDRA leaflets available?: Referred to Allotments Group.
8) The promotion of alternative forms of energy e.g. solar panels: Referred to Ken Lawrie and Waste and Pollution Group.
9) Why is there still no reference to the availability of allotments on the Dartford BC website? Referred to Richard Wiltshire.
10) Why are their no allotments marked on the habitat survey?: Referred to Paul Foster and the QED Biodiversity Group.
7) DBC Strategy Documents: In view of the fact that some members had not yet received copies there was a request that the deadline for responses be extended. Phil Kessel will enquire. The importance of collecting responses from all groups was stressed.
8) Visits
i) Gardens for People Conference: Richard has organised 12 places for the Gardening for People Conference. Participants will rendezvous at the railway station.
ii) Mie Womens' Centre: Arrangements have been made for a meeting at the Civic Centre for the 12 visitors from the Mie Women's Centre from Japan on September 28th. The visitors will be taken to Bluewater and then to Eynsford for lunch. Gift packs for each have been arranged.
9) DETR Consultation Documents: Richard reported the Away With Waste document. Also the Air Strategy for England Scotland and Wales is now going out for public consultation.
10) Dartford Local Plan Deposit Draft: Phil Kessel reported that the likely date for the deposit of the Local Plan will be some time in October.
11) Working Closer with DBC:
Julie Morton had had a successful meeting with Chris Oliver and Phil Kessel. Closer involvement with the Council is to be encouraged. The possibility of a designated person at the Council from whom QED can seek information was discussed. More ideas are sought from QED, particularly from the Biodiversity Group with regard to the Local Biodiversity Action Plan. The possibility of the new post of Community Development Officer, has been mooted as a contact point for QED within the Council. The appointee will have much to do with public consultation.
Julie would welcome responses from groups concerning the current status and the future development of the proposed "Welcome Pack". The idea of a contact officer for each of the QED groups will be investigated.
12) Election of Vice-Chair: David Meade will assume the role of Vice Chair for the immediate future.
13) Date of Next Meeting: October 6, 1999, at 7.00 pm at Enterprise House.
END: Return to QED Steering Group home page ...