Present: Richard Wiltshire, Pat Still, David Meade, Phil Kessel.
1) Apologies for absence: Richard Stone, John Gunn, Julie Morton.
2) Minutes of previous meeting: Accepted
3) Matters arising from the minutes: RW advised the group of a recent publication giving advice to residents re local services. This was noted in view of the work being undertaken by John Gunn re the Welcome Pack.
4) Statement of accounts: Hardly any changes since the last report, i.e. £5603.51 to spend.
5) Requests for expenditure:
PS reminded PK that Malcolm was still awaiting the purchase of safety equipment to use with the machinery purchased for use on the allotments.
RW requested that his visit re the Federation of Community Gardeners be financed. It was agreed that he + 2 others would be able to claim return train fares.
RW also requested expenditure for attendance of a 3 day conference in Nottingham on Community Gardens. Agreed that £250 conference fee, rail fare and up to £20.00 per evening would be allowed. Also agreed that any future events involving overnight stays would result in up to £20.00 per night expenditure (on production of receipts).
PS requested £10.00 (?) for attendance of an health conference in June. Agreed.
6) News from QED Groups
Waste: Response provided re Local Performance Plan (LPP). Lack of adequate publicity re Spring Clean Week.
Health: Response given re LPP.
Biodiversity: Response given re LPP.
Allotments: Response given re LPP. RW reported re a Natural Resources Institute initiative on 22 May involving students from foreign countries' agricultural ministries to undertake survey of attitudes.
RW going to Sustainable Development conference in USA to present a paper.
RW attending Going for Green Forming Bonds Network Seminar on 7/6/00.
Open day on 24/6/00 at Dartford Road Allotments re opening of Raised Beds. Howard Stoate, MP, will be attending.
7) Dartford Festival:
PK requested all chairs to consider relevant displays for the Festival. The Festival dates = 22 & 23 July. Ideas that came forward were:
POTENTIAL DISPLAYS (ACTIONED BY):
(All those mentioned above: please contact PK to advise of progress, by 28 June)
8) AGM/Election of new Chair to Steering Group: Following Julie Morton's notice that she had a new job which would no longer allow her to be able to chair the Steering Group or actively participate in the QED initiative, it was decided that the next meeting of the Group should be the AGM and that a new Chair would need to be elected. PK to write to all QED members inviting nominations and also to contact Alex Cerny of the VSU re any inerest from young people on the Millennium Volunteers project.
9) Date of Next Meeting: Originally this was planned for 28 June but PK has re-arranged for 12 July in order for him to progress finding a new chairperson. Venue and Agenda to follow.
FOOTNOTE: Please note that the position of Environmental Promotions Officer has been offered and it is hoped that the new postholder will be in place at the end of July/beginning of August.
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