Minutes of the Marden Community Plan Working Group Meeting held on Thursday 21 September 2006 at 8 pm at The Memorial Hall, Goudhurst Road, Marden

Present: J Verrall, G Tippen, E Davis, M Lutener, C Gosling, K Kershaw, I Balmer, R Adam, S & C Turner

Apologies: K Tippen, E Doswell, J Banks, A Blackmore

Min. 59:  MINUTES of the meeting held on 20 July 2006 were agreed and signed as a true record.  

Min. 60:  MATTERS ARISING. There were none 

Min. 61:  PROGRESS REPORT. G Tippen, Co-ordinator expressed his satisfaction with all the Workstream Reports.  

Economy – I Balmer reported that 85% of the Worksheets were complete and he hoped to have them all finished by the 23 September. He would be away for the next three weeks and absent from the October meeting. Of his interpretation of his results, he felt that the main message is for the need for training, particularly vocational. There is a need for a training facility in the village and possibly a Chamber of Commerce or Business Forum. His findings show that there are a number of graduates working in Marden and that most jobs are filled from newspaper adverts. or word of mouth. 

Environment – K Kershaw reported that work on the Waste Section is almost complete. She is of the opinion that some work should be considered on the subject of sustainability. Richard Adam pointed out that Maidstone Borough Council has issued for consultation, via its website, a Supplementary planning document covering Sustainability. This could provide an opportunity for the Marden Community Plan to investigate a possible local source of bio-fuels etc. as energy for local industry.      

Transport – R Adam reported that the analysis of the Transport questionnaires is complete. He suggested that perhaps by the October meeting, Group members should give their ideas to the Co-ordinator, G Tippen, for the proposed Draft Action Plan. 

Community – G Tippen, who has taken over this Workstream, reported that the work is nearly finalised. The Air Quality questionnaire will be completed by the 22nd.         

Min. 62:  NEXT STEPS – COMPLETION OF ‘SWOT’ ANALYSES: Following a wide ranging discussion, the following action was agreed: -

§          The next scheduled October meeting of the Working Group will be cancelled

• All proposals for the Draft Action Plan to be with G Tippen no later than 5 November.
• G Tippen will e-mail the Draft Action Plan to the Group Members by the 9/10th November

•  

Min. 63: NEXT WORKING GROUP MEETING: Thursday 16 November 2006. 8 pm at The Memorial Hall.

 Min. 64: AOB: C Turner the Treasurer reported that he had not yet received the cheque for the £1000 grant from Maidstone Borough Council.

 This ended the business and the meeting closed at 9.05 pm