Present:
P Still (Chair), M Still, R Wiltshire, J Bettey, Jan Bourne, D Meade, R Stone, P Kessel .
1) Apologies:
Ian Martin (Groundwork)
2) Minutes of last meeting:
These were agreed except for two errors:
1 It was Richard Stone and not Malcolm that requested expenditure
2 It was Peter Fry not Peter Onley that is to arrange the bee keeping at the festival
3) Issues arising from last meeting:
NHS Trust/Darenth Park Hospital representation at the Dartford Festival:
JB has contacted the Hospital again to see if representation is possible. JB spoke to both the community liaison and dietetics managers. They have notified JB that they will not be attending the festival. MS informed JB that Dr Howard Stoate had stated that he would try and help on the issue of arranging a health related stand at the festival.
Action: JB to contact Dr Stoate; JB to contact St. John ambulance and the Red Cross for possible involvement
Pursue facilitation of the Swanscombe & Greenhithe QED Community Group meetings:
Pat Martin has informed JB that she would like to re-start the QED meetings but is committed to the Salvation Army for another few weeks. She will contact JB with a date for a new meeting.
Composting Leaflets:
RS asked JB if he could deliver leaflets to the local libraries in the Borough.
Action: JB to deliver leaflets to local libraries
4) Requests for expenditure:
Richard Stone informed the group that the trips to Yalding organic farm and the other to Blackthorn Trust (Health project) have been postponed due to lack of interest.
RS supplied the group with a written report on his trip to the Back Garden Seed Saving Conference (attached with minutes). MS also supplied receipts totalling £99.29
RW suggested that the group purchase two copies of the New future for allotments guide. Cost per guide is £15.00
Action: RW to confirm with JB that he will purchase guides
MS suggested that the group purchase a digital camera. RS will look into the various types on the market and cost
Action: RS to bring details to next meeting.
RW informed the group that there would be two visitors to QED allotments. Diana Battaglia is visiting as part of her familiarisation training as the new Eastern Regional Worker for the Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens, of which the QED Allotment Group is a member.
The other visitor is Ms Eri Nakajima from the Ministry of Environment, Government of Japan, who is in the UK researching allotments and community gardens. The group thought that it would be a nice gesture to take them for an evening meal. It was agreed that the Harvester in Dartford would be a good venue meeting at 5.00. All chairs are invited and the cost of the meal (excluding drinks) will be paid for out of the QED budget.
RS informed the group that he had contacted a sign maker who could provide a polished stainless steel plaque on a Mahogany back plate for £150:00. The sign is in memory of Lawrence Hills. RS also stated that it might prove difficult to locate the sign on the Dartford library wall due to planning restraints on listed buildings. PK stated that Dartford Borough Council should be able to allocate a suitable location for the plaque to be erected. The group approved this expenditure.
Action: PK to investigate location for plague to be erected; RS to order plaque.
5) Accounts:
QED account stands at £4854.05.
6) Dartford Festival 21/22 July:
A special festival meeting took place on the 22nd May (please see minutes of that meeting). As an update the group were informed of the following
JB stated that Groundwork had requested to attend the Festival. JB informed Ian Martin that there was unlikely to be room available in the QED tent, but that the Festival organiser (Rorie Poole) should be able to allocate Groundwork an adjacent tent/location.
MS has managed to obtain tools and fencing from B&Q and Wilkinsonís for use at the festival
DM supplied a good diagram of what the QED tent could look like.
Action: DM please bring this along on the Friday set-up day OR send it to JB
Volunteers at the festival will be allocated £5.00 for food and £1.00 for drinks, per day. This will be budgeted from the QED account.
Action: JB will arrange this float and also emergency money for that weekend.
Richard Stone will be providing a stereo for the "Mood"music. PK will supply some choice tapes
JB also to arrange with JP collection and return of MS stuff
Car parking Permits: JB will arrange for 6 parking permits for each of the three days.
Next Festival Meeting:
JB will contact the group with regards a further festival meeting, and decide whether one is required.
7) Feedback from Groups:
(Tredegar Allotments Club) Allotment nature project:
MS reported that Railtrack representatives visited the Tredegar allotment site and were given a tour round. MS put forward the proposed ideas to Railtrack for the land adjacent to the allotment site, should it be allocated to the club. MS is awaiting their decision. (See attached Rail track letter and diagram of site)
Action: JB to colour photocopy and laminate site map (two copies)
MS also informed the group that Tredegar had been successful in their application for a CWS community dividend award to the sum of £2509. MS has purchased a heavy-duty strimmer and rotovator.
8) AOB:
Community Information Pack:
JB discussed with John Gunn the resident's welcome pack. John has some of the pack produced and will be sending it to JB. Some Directorates within the Borough Council are also considering production of a residents pack. JB has become involved to see if an environmental/QED theme would be included.
QED success page:
JB is to create a page on the web site. Firstly JB needs to identify all the QED successes over the last five years. Action: Can group members make suggestions to JB on QED successes?
Date of Next Meeting: 9th July 2001, 7:00
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