Present: Patricia Still, David Meade, Richard Wiltshire, Justin Bettey (DBC), Phil Kessel (DBC), Malcolm Still.
Apologies: Richard Stone, Jan Bourne.
1. Composting Leaflets
JB stated that Bexley Borough Council had no objections in the QED group using their composting leaflet for a QED version.
2. Allotment Biodiversity
Richard Wiltshire stated that the plan to include some type of Biodiversity project within the Allotments group is ongoing and further discussion within the group is required. A report has now been produced on the project and was circulated to allotment members
3. Biodiversity (KCC Biological Records Seminar)
KCC had invited JB to a Biological Records Centre seminar on 10th November. JB thought that it would be useful if a QED member could attend this seminar. The Seminar was cancelled and KCC informed JB that it was more of a seminar to find a location rather than to discuss Biodiversity. Therefore it was thought not be of interest to the QED groups.
4. Council Framework
PK stated that the new Council structure would be consulted on in the New Year. Therefore the handout provided with the last minutes is not approved.
5. Accounts
At present the balance in the account is £3450.08.
RW stated that he would be attending a "Local Food & Sustainable Development" seminar on the 5th December. The QED budget would be used for costs incurred.
MS discussed the "Potato Day" trip to Ryton on Feb 4th. The cost would be £300. Again it was agreed that the QED budget would cover costs.
DM stated that the cost of producing the composting leaflets would be about £2000. This project will be discussed with the Waste & Pollution group.
PK stated that it might be a good idea to include a 1-page insert into the LA21 Executive Summary regarding QED. This would entail a cost on the QED budget.
Action: QED members to consider this proposal
Festival
The issues of excessive noise at this years Festival were taken on-board at the festival Management Meeting and were minuted. Dates for 2001 Festival are 21/22 July
6. Local Agenda 21
PK stated that the growth bids for LA21 Action Plans were rejected, but PK did secure a growth bid for publication of the LA21 strategy itself. Therefore individual officers responsible for LA21 Action Plans will have to resource funds from other growth bids or there own budgets.
7. Community Planning Week
This is an initiative to "Enhance the Conservation Area of Greenhithe". A four-day event was held where Council Officers answered questions from residents and interested parties. PK & Rob Scott attended the event.
8. Feedback from groups
Allotment:
RW stated that it was the "Advocacy Document" and not the LGA Good Practice Guide for allotments that was due out on the 26th October
Waste & Pollution:
DM asked what had happened to the resident packs, which were being produced by John Gunn. JB has not been able to contact JG
Action: JB to chase up JG and discuss the situation
Health:
Date for the next meeting has been arranged for 17th Jan 2001
PS & JB to produce an agenda
9. Glaxo Evening
The Glaxo Wellocme "Community Evening". This is a gathering of community groups. QED have been allocated 3 invites. Malcolm & Pat Still are to attend, therefore there is one invite remaining
Action: QED members to meet at Gate 4 Thursday 7th at 6:30
10. AOB
Group News
Allotments:
Nothing to report.
Biodiversity:
MS stated that he had been elected as chair for the group and that the group was re-launching itself. The main aspects of the group at present are to set out the "Aims & Objectives" of the group. To continue progress on the Nature project on the Tredegar allotment site and to produce an article for the Borough News in February.
DM stated that it would be a good idea to document the exact details of the nature project so that the Steering group could fully understand it. DM also stated that as the budget year ends in a March that it would be a good time to put a cost to the nature project.
Action: MS has produced a summary of the nature Project for the group, which will be circulated with minutes. MS to allocate some costs to the project.
Swanscombe & Greenhithe:
It was agreed that the group should investigate the status of the group
Action: JB to contact Jan Martin
Planning Applications:
MS raised the "Application for permitted development" at Bean. This was regarding the car-breaking site. PK informed the group that DBC had not granted permission for the development and was still undertaking consultation. MS stated that the concern was that the development is ongoing in a Greenbelt area even though planning consent had not been agreed.
Action: Group chairs to recommend by letter to DBC that this application be objected
DM raised the issue that the developer on Ingress Abbey has applied to DBC to have a condition on their application removed. The condition referred to the inclusion of 95 affordable homes on the development site. The group obviously felt that removal of this condition was of concern to the local area.
Since this meeting JB & MS have discovered that the condition was removed on the first 52 houses only (to enable the developer to raise revenue). The condition was replaced by a legal document stating that the remainder of development must contain 95 affordable homes.
Next meeting: 24th Jan 2001 7:00 Enterprise House
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