Minutes of the Meeting held on Wednesday 30 November 2005 at 8.15 pm at The Scout HQ., High Street, Marden

 Present: J Verrall (Chairman), G&K Tippen, R Adam, E Davis, C&S Turner, I Balmer, S Brompton, C Gosling, K Kershaw,

A Blackmore, J Banks, M Lutener

Apologies: G&P Minter

The normal Steering Group meeting was replaced by a presentation by Sue Beer of ACRK in her rôle of County Co-ordinator for the Kent County area. Sue gave her presentation with the aid of an overhead projector.

 Their remit is to help small communities to achieve their goals and show how funds could be available; she based her presentation on the Market towns toolkit, copies of which she distributed to those who were present.

Sue began by explaining what Market Town Healthchecks are and that it is not necessary for the exercise to be carried out in towns only. Market Town populations range from 2,000 to 20,000 but population is less important than town’s part in supporting its rural economy and the quality of life for those who live in it and the surrounding countryside. The town should be the rural hub. The toolkit contains ? a healthcheck to identify the town’s economic, social and environmental health;

? guidance on producing an action plan to set out projects and initiatives;

? regional support for co-ordinators and project managers to help communities through the heathcheck, as well as advice on training and funding.

The MKTHC is different from a Design Statement of Appraisal.

 Marden Community Plan should devise a Mission Statement with Clear Objectives for the revitalization of the town and the surrounding countryside; and looked at for long, medium and short term. The aspirations should be for realistic and achievable objects. 

Grants could be between £40,000 - £200,000.

32 towns/parishes in Kent are taking part in this exercise in the Kent Rural Towns Group.

Following questions and discussion Sue’s advice was taken and it was agreed that a Management Group of six be formed to decide on future actions. The matter of a Co-ordinator will be dealt with at the next meeting.

The Chairman thanked Sue Beer for her attendance and the meeting closed at 10 pm