Present: Julie Morton, Peter Onley, Richard Wiltshire (for Richard Stone), Pat Still, John Gunn, Rob Hardy, Mike Pratt (for Pat Martin).

1) Apologies for absence: Richard Stone, David Meade, Pat Martin, Phil Kessel.

2) Minutes of previous meeting: Accepted.

3) Matters arising from the minutes:

2) Composting: Rob Hardy reported that a growth bid had been submitted to and approved by the council for £5000 for home composting. This together with 500 compost bins available from last year could form a home composting initiative. It was agreed that this could be progressed through the Waste Group and it was suggested that David Meade, Richard Stone and John Prance / Dave Thomas should meet to discuss prior to the next meeting.

3) No action was necessary as the organisers had formed there own contacts.

4) Statement of accounts: £603.51 will be carried over to the next financial year, this will combine with the new year's budget of £5000 to give a total of £5603.51.

5) Requests for expenditure:

Simon Gelkie: Groundwork application was discussed and whilst it was agreed that the proposal had merit it was felt that this should have been submitted through the QED Biodiversity Group. It was agreed that the proposal should be returned to go back to the Bio Diversity Group for discussion and, if appropriate, endorsement. The paper to be submitted to the Group should include an undertaking that if the project is partly funded by QED then it should be "badged" accordingly.

National Spring Clean: it was agreed that QED would match fund up to SIX skips with the proviso that the initiative is joint badged with QED.

Tool Marking Scheme: it was agreed that the Allotments Group be allowed to purchase stamping/engraving tools to enable a tool marking scheme to be developed, upto a maximum cost of £150. There was much scope for the scheme to act as a catalyst to promote Local Agenda 21. The scheme could be jointly badged QED / Community Safety Strategy.

6) News from QED Groups

Allotments: Newsletter out and distributed. Recent coverage in FT and Guardian. Group developing its national work through Shell Better Britain Campaign roundtable.

Biodiversity: Looking at Local Plan. Identifying all sources of Biodiversity in the Borough. Will be taking part in afence building day on 16 April.

Health: Looking at Community Safety Strategy. Aids in Africa was discussed at the last meeting, this was seen as a real topic that would enable QED to link to a global level.

Swanscombe and Greenhithe: Local issue currently is the number of dumped cars in the area.

7) DBC Local Agenda 21: The chairs received with the last minutes a copy of the LA21 Consultation Draft. The Allotments Group has fed back comments. The action plan section sets out a plan for the Council and refers to a lot of consultation. QED was set up as a channel for communicating with the public but it is not referred to in the action plan. It was felt that there should be a reference to QED being a mechanism to act as a conduit for LA21 issues. Consultation is necessary as part of the Best Value process and effective consultation can only be achieved using a number of different means.

8) Local Plan: It was pointed out that any responses to the Local Plan must be on the correct response forms, which are available from the Civic Centre.

9) Dartford Festival: Rob Hardy is now leading on organising the Festival for the Council. There is a wish to involve more DBC staff not just in the running of the event but also in the displays. He wishes to promote the work of the Council to include such things as Planning. The Marquee has been paid for and it is important to fill it. All Chairs are to go back to their Groups and produce a plan of what they want for the festival. Allotments will be doing displays on Composting, Raised Beds and Security Marking. It was suggested a contact for QED and DBC should meet to coordinate.

10) Welcome Pack: Now to be in A6 size. Each Group to have 3 Pages. Sponsorship is being sought.

11) Central Park Renovations: Update given by Rob Hardy.

12) News from the Website: DETR consultation on Climate Change - ends 2nd June.

13) Any Other Business

Escape to Dartford: Will be done through DBC insurance.

Health and Safety: Training sessions for Groups available from Mike.

Chair: Julie advised the group due to personal commitments she will be stepping down at the next meeting.

14) Date of Next Meeting: May 17, 2000 from 7 pm at Enterprise House.

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