Present: Justin Bettey (Dartford Borough Council) Barbara Judge (United Nations Association David Meade (Chair), John Prance (Dartford Borough Council).
1) Apologies for absence: Richard Wiltshire (QED Web Site Manager)
2) Notes from previous meeting: These were agreed.
3) Matters Arising:
a) Residents welcome pack: No further information available at present.
b) QED leaflet on Composting: DM reported that a costing for reprinting the Bexley Compositing booklet under the Dartford QED logo had been obtained by RW - first 1000 (inclusive of artwork, plates and copyright) - £1706.18 with subsequent batches of 4000 booklets at £301.40 per batch. Copies of the Bexley booklet to be distributed by JB to group members for their consideration at the next meeting.
c) Visit to inspect a Composting Scheme for Municipal Green Waste in Bromley: JP reported it was unlikely that the visit to Bromley would take place as the shredders used at Bromley had been found inadequate to cope with the volume of material available. DBC were investigating the possibility of installing a shredder at Dartford Country Park.
d) Local Agenda 21: BJ stated that no date had yet been fixed for the meeting proposed by the UNAs in Gravesham, Dartford and Bexley to discuss current prospects for LA21 locally, nationally and internationally. The possibility of including other local authorities within the Thames Gateway and in Essex was being explored. She will keep the Group informed on progress.
4) Recycling/Composting:
a) Facilities for disposal of used cooking oils from domestic sources: JP to determine whether it would be possible for the current facilities for disposal of vehicle engine oils for this purpose.
b) Re-use of life expired wheely bins for use on allotments as composting bins: Policy still to be decided.
c) JP informed the group that:
(i) New regulations are being introduced which will lay down statutory requirements/targets for recycling on waste disposal authorities, it was unclear whether these would also be applied to local waste collection authorities. These issues are to be discussed at a meeting of the Kent Waste Forum.
(ii) Planning permission has been granted by the Environmental Agency for the construction of an incinerator - combined heat and power plant waste at Maidstone for disposal of combustible waste.
5) Environment Monitoring/Quality Indicators: JB stated that the Environmental Audit/Review document had been submitted to the DBC "Cabinet" for consideration and approval for issue. The Air Quality modelling exercise was nearly complete and it was likely that three Air Quality Management Areas would be identified in the Borough.
6) Planning Applications: No areas of concern had been identified.
7) Dartford Festival: DM requested members of the Group to give consideration for display/exhibits for inclusion in next year's Festival.
8) Future Business:
a) Talk on Waste Disposal: JP to identify potential speakers.
b) JB to identify environmental projects for local schools.
9) Any Other Business
a) DM advised the group of any Open Day at the Thames Water Sludge Incinerator Plant at Belvedere on 23/24 September 2000.
b) JB informed the Group of a new day seminar on "Delivering The Government's Waste Strategy in the South East" to be held under the auspices of the "Tidy Britain Group" on 2 October 2000 at The Hawth Theatre, Crawley.
10) Date of Next Meeting: 22 November 2000 at the Civic Centre to commencement at 7.30pm.
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