Attendance: Phil Kessel, Pat Still, Malcolm Still, David Meade, Richard Wiltshire, David Crowe, Sharon Dodds, Sandra Woodfall.
Apologies: Richard Stone.
Presentation from Sharon Dodds, Community Safety Officer:
Sharon opened her presentation by explaining that her role as community safety officer was moving away from a general crime focus and now looked at general quality of life and making people feel safer. The other members of the team she worked with:
Katie Davidson - Anti Social Behaviour Co-ordinator (Home Office funded) looking at the worst cases i.e. individuals causing problems in the area
Jade Connor - Partnership Liaison officer - supports the Community Safety Officer and different partner agencies - post is Home Office funded
Sharon explained about the posts of Policy Community Support Officers which are to be recruited across rural areas in Dartford in the coming months:
4 posts part funded Home Office and KCC
3 posts part funded Home Office and DBC
Rural areas are the focus point for the KCC posts and this was a condition of the funding source at the Home Office. There is already a Rural Community Officer at Darenth and Bean. The posts will be allocated:
Swanscombe x 2
Joydens Wood/Wilmington x 2
Sutton at Hone/Longfield x 1
Town Centre x 2
The policy community support officer will be easily distinguishable in a uniform, will be on foot, with limited powers. Their focus will more on community issues rather than just enforcement.
Pat enquired about the training that the officers will undertake and if this would cover mental health - Pat reported that mental health issues are not currently covered on general police training.
Sharon agreed to raise the issue of mental health awareness at a meeting with the police. Sandra to pass Pat's details on to Sharon. Action: Sandra
The issue of reporting of problems and requiring evidence was discussed - Sharon suggested the following approach:-
There was a discussion around anti social behaviour orders. David C explained his role as the chair of the health group and wondered if their energy could be put into anti social behaviour work. Sharon explained that the tenants association has a group which meets to discuss anti social behaviour and other initiatives such as neighbourhood watch or crime prevention panel - it was agreed that David C would discuss this directly with Sharon. Action: David C
Sharon was thanked for attending the meeting.
Corrections to Previous Minutes:
Waste Group - the group hadn't met in June because the minutes hadn't been prepared and some group members couldn't make the meeting date
Funding - the funding application from Richard was agreed
Matters Arising from Previous Minutes:
Photos had been taken at Wilkinsons relating to the allotment tools project. An article in the September Council newspaper had appeared as a result. Most of the group members had not received copies of the Newspaper. Phil agreed to inform Kenneth Lawrie about the areas they hadn't been received: Joydens Wood, King Edward Avenue, Havelock Road, Tree Estate. Action: Phil
Poop Scoop Bags:
Phil informed the group that it was intended to pilot the QED Poop Scoop Bag scheme in a local area with a couple of shops. Due to the number of complaints received about dog fouling in New Town he felt this was an area to target and monitoring of complaints would be possible, It was agreed that a draft poster would be bought to the group for approval. Action: Phil/Sandra
There was a short discussion about dog bin clearance near the Dartford Road Allotments.
Issues from the Groups:
Allotments - QED had been mentioned in an article in The Organic Way - a copy of the article to be circulated to group members. Richard informed the group that it will shortly be announced that a further £300,000 nationally will be available for allotments. Richard agreed to let Malcolm know about the funding application process. David C mentioned about an article in the newsletter about horticultural therapy. He then mention that he would be going into hospital shortly and that he wouldn't be able to use all the money he'd been allocated by QED. David C agreed to inform the group by the end of December any monies he was not likely to use. He would submit a new bid in the next financial year. Action: David C
Health - David had attended a meeting of the Health Action Team on 27/3 where his project proposal for data collection was discussed. There were some links with work being undertaken by Dr Ann Palmer and report of which would be available in September. David did feel that his project proposal would compliment the work of Dr Ann Palmer and agreed to send a copy of the draft report for circulation with the minutes. He expressed some concern about the future of the health group.
Waste - David M informed the group that he intended to hold a meeting of the Waste Group in the next 2-3 weeks - the minutes had been produced and David M was to prepare an agenda for the meeting. The room would be booked as soon as David M confirmed the date that the meeting would be held on. Action: David
AGM and ODPM Sustainable community Project: David C would not be available after 9 November. It was agreed that the AGM go ahead on 29 October.
Accounts:
Phil confirmed that the expenditure of the Group to date had been £576.13.
David M reminded the group that it had been agreed that QED would, subject to review, give up to £200 pa to Joydens Wood Support Group. David M said that the tractor needed new wheels at a cost of up to £100. This amount of expenditure was agreed.
It was noted that the tractor still didn't have a QED plaque on it as had been agreed. It was agreed that Phil/Sandra obtain 2 plaques for the beekeeper equipment and the tractor to come from QED funds. Action: Phil/Sandra
David M handed Phil an envelope with a invoice for attendance at a meeting (finance already agreed) and minutes of the Waste Group meeting.
Go Wild in the Garden:
Sandra gave a brief background to the possible scheme:
Go wild in the garden is a pack of information currently available to people living in Bexley who are interested in receiving information about wildlife friendly gardening. Sandra had spoken to Bexley Council about buying into their print run - Bexley Council had agreed to idea - 500 copies of the folder would cost approx £900
Gardening For wildlife is a Kent Wide Scheme operated by Kent Wildlife Trust and relies on Local Authority support to reach the local residents. The local residents are able to apply to the KWT scheme and their garden will be judged - different awards are offered - bronze, silver or gold dependent on how wildlife friendly their gardens are. The scheme is open to any area with wildlife i.e. schools, church, allotment etc., - the cost for LA to participate in 2004 approx £500
Group members had some ideas of different leaflets they would like to see included in the pack including a composting leaflet. Richard suggested linking the scheme with Dartford in Bloom. It was agreed the QED allocate £1400 from the QED budget for this project - any invoices would need to be received in this financial year. Action: Sandra
The co-ordinator for the Kent wide scheme is Pauline Heathcote who is a Dartford Council resident and has been involved in the Biodiversity Group. It was agreed that Pauline be invited to help co-ordinate and promote the scheme locally. Malcolm as the current chair of the Biodiversity Group was happy for this to happen.
Pat reminded the group that the pond at Tredegar Allotments created by North West Kent Countryside Project needed upgrading as previously agreed. Phil asked to be given the relevant information and offered to draft a letter on behalf of QED. Action: Pat and Phil
Any Other Business:
As the AGM would take place in the near future nominations for Chairing the group were required. Pat confirmed that she would be happy to continue as Chair of the QED Steering Group.
The meeting finished at 8.45
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