Present: M Still, R Wiltshire, D Meade, P Kessel

1) Apologies:

Pat Still (M Still took the Chair in her absence), Richard Stone, Justin Bettey.

2) Minutes of last meeting: Some inaccuracies were noted. RW reported that due to poor weather conditions, the proposed visit by 22 Japanese students was cancelled. The Group expressed concern and disappointment that the recently published LA21 Strategy consultation document had no QED reference. PK accepted responsibility for this, apologised and stated that the intended follow up document would include reference to QED.

JB to action the following:

• Check availability of room for next meeting on 24/4/01
• Follow up the possibility of the NHS Trust/Darenth Park Hospital representation at the Dartford Festival
• Arrange for distribution of the composting leaflets
• Pursue facilitation of the Swanscombe & Greenhithe QED Community Group meetings
• Determine timescales and criteria from Glaxo Smith Kline re adoption of a charity to enable QED to determine if a proposal can be identified, drawn up and submitted

3) Accounts: PK reported that the remaining balance was £2714.93 but this did not include the awaited invoice for in excess of £1700 for the composting leaflet. M Still stated he would shortly be submitting the information to enable the purchase of goods for the Tredegar Allotment work (approx £670).

4) Requests for Expenditure: RW sought approval for QED to fund his conference trip in April re Allotment Gardening where he would also be presenting a paper on the links with LA21/QED. It was agreed that expenditure up to £400, from next year's QED allocation, would be allowed

5) Dartford Festival: To be discussed at the next Steering Group meeting. ACTION: all QED members to consider projects, presentations etc for the Festival and to discuss those proposals at the next meeting (24 April).

It was noted that if foodstuffs were to be displayed/offered for sale, by QED at the Festival that this would need to be discussed in advance with an Environmental Health Officer at the Council. It was agreed that no foodstuffs would be prepared by QED at the Festival.

6) Local Agenda 21: JB stated that the final LA21 strategy had been approved by cabinet and will be released in the next edition of the Borough News.

7) Feedback from Groups:

• RW (on behalf of RS) reported that the March 2001 issue of "The Ecologist" had an article that referred to QED.
• DM requested information re the proposal to introduce a recyclables collection scheme in the Borough (see footnote * for updated details).
• MS reported that the Tredegar Allotments project was progressing.

8) Planning Applications: DM to provide PK with reference details of the recent planning application for Tip 10.

9) Management of QED Minutes: Reference made to the errors in the minutes. Agreed that the draft minutes would be sent to the Chairman for approval before posting and that the minutes would not be entered onto the QED website until they had been signed as an accurate copy at the following Steering Group meeting.

10) AOB:

• PK distributed copies of the Council's Air Quality Review and Assessment Stage 3 Report. He outlined the history behind it and the findings. Any comments would be welcomed.
• The issue of QED participating in the forthcoming opening of the opening of the Darenth Country Park was discussed. The Group felt that the resources were such that QED input would not be possible and regretfully declined to participate.
• PK suggested establishing a QED Success page on the website which could be used to focus on past and current successes and could be updated every 6 months. This was agreed. JB to further this and bring back to another meeting.
• MS advised others that David Sharp of B&Q had offered to assist the QED groups re materials for projects.
• The invitation to the QED Chair from Bluewater re participation in the Community Forum on 22 March 2001 was discussed. It was felt inappropriate for QED representative to attend to answer the questions referred to in the invitation as they related to issues beyond the remit of QED. Also, that QED was an example of community working and that this should be held up as an example of the community working with the local authority rather than being used as an expert panel on specific issues. PK agreed to draft a letter to respond to the invitation declining involvement in the panel of experts but requesting that a QED ìobserverî be invited to attend. MS to sign the letter in the absence of PS.

11) Date of Next Meeting: 24th April 2001 from 7:00: Venue to be determined and notified via the Agenda.

* Footnote: The article in the New Shopper was based on the Council's Best Value Performance Plan. They misinterpreted what the Council said about looking at various schemes and making funds available over the next three years to fund whatever was decided upon. The Council is still looking at options - no decisions have been made. It is possible that next year a few small trials will be conducted.

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