Meeting of Stourport-on-Severn Town Council

6.00pm Tuesday 4th May 2021 

Venue: Virtual meeting via Zoom

Agenda 

  1. Election of the Town Mayor for the Year 2021-2022.
    1. To elect the Town Mayor for 2021-22. The Meeting will be invited to propose, second and to resolve the appointment of a Member as the Town Mayor of Stourport-on-Severn for 2021-22:
    2. The Town Mayor will make the Declaration of Acceptance of Office before the Town Clerk and will express thanks for his/her election.
    3. The Town Mayor will announce the person who will be Mayoress/Consort for the Mayoral year 2021-22.
  2. To receive apologies for absence.
  3. To confirm and sign the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on the 9th March 2021. (Appendix 1)
  4. Declarations of Interest - to invite Members to declare any interest in any item on this Agenda.

    1. A vote of thanks will be proposed to the Retiring Mayor and Mayoress (Councillor Ken Henderson and Mrs Julie Guest). A presentation of the past Mayor’s Badge and Mayoress’ Badge will be made at a later date.
    2. Councillor Henderson will be invited to offer the Meeting a brief resumé of his Mayoralty during 2019-20 and 2020-21.
  6. Appointment of Deputy Mayor for 2021-22. The Meeting will be invited to propose, second and to resolve the appointment of a Member as Deputy Mayor for 2021-22.
  7. Payment of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor’s Allowances for 2021-22.
  8. To receive such communications as the retiring Mayor may desire to submit (a separate list of the Mayor’s engagements since the Council’s Meeting on the 9th March 2021 is appended). (Appendix 2)
  9. To receive the Planning Committee minutes of 29th March and 26th April 2021 and approve authorisation for recommendations where applicable. (Appendix 3 and 4)

    1. Appointment of Members to serve on the following Committees. (Appendix 5) (It has been custom and practice of the Council to appoint the Town Mayor as Chairman of the Finance Committee):-
      1. Parks Committee
      2. Finance Committee
      3. Grants Committee
      4. Planning Committee
    2. Appointment of Members to serve on the:-
      1. Town Centre Working Party
      2. Appointments Panel
      3. Civic Hall Partnership Group
      4. Stourport Forward Working Group
      5. Vehicle Activated Sign (VAS) Working Group
      6. Localism Working Party
      7. COVID Working Party
  11. Agree the Appointment of Members to serve on outside Organisations. (Appendix 6)
  12. To consider whether Town Council Meetings should commence at 6.00pm.
  13. Agree dates for all 2020-21 Town Council Meetings. (Appendix 7)
  14. Annual Review of Standing Orders. (Appendix 8) 
  15. To receive an update from Councillor Mrs B Dawes on Safer Neighbourhood Watch.

    With national lockdowns easing and more people utilising shops, town centres and Pubs, we have seen a closer set back to normal Policing trends.

    We have had a focus over the last 2 months on Night Time Economy patrols to ensure that the pubs are complying with Covid rules through licence visits and patrons using the pubs are aware of Police presence and early intervention tactics are being used to identify potential problems at the beginning of the night. This approach across Stourport has been a success and our open Pubs are fully compliant, violent alcohol related crime has not increased and ASB is stable.

    SNT have conducted another successful Op Slowdown on 22/04/2021 focusing on Discovery Road, Hartlebury Road, Wilden Lane- Results of reported drivers are:
    DISCOVERY ROAD- 10 vehicles
    WILDEN LANE – 1 vehicle
    MINSTER ROAD- 3 vehicles
    Another one is planned in the near future.

    Scramblers on Hartlebury Common- this is still congoing and will be for as long as the triangle exists of Travellers who lay claim to the common land, The common being there and the victims of the ASB from the Britannia Gardens estate are there. Huge strides have moved our tactical options forward. The main protagonist family who were from Watery Lane site have now ceased their behaviour after heavy intervention by Police (issued 2 Community Protection Notices) and WCC- installation of overt cameras at the entrance of the site, WFDC- notice on the family tenancy. It is evident though that instances have decreased significantly all be it there is the odd report. Work is ongoing to identify the last couple of riders who persist. A meeting between agencies is planned for 12th May.

    A Section 23 Misuse of Drugs Warrant was executed at an address on the Walshes following reports of increased drugs intelligence. We request that any information or intelligence that Councillors come by regarding drugs pass this to Police- I am happy for my mobile number and e-mail address to be passed to anyone with information- additionally Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

    This last week there has been a focus on Knife Crime Awareness- Op SCEPTRE. SNT have been into the high school for two educational activities with a knife board and knife arch to highlight the dangers of Knife Crime. A knife amnesty is in place at Kidderminster Police Station. We have also conducted “sweeps” of Lickhill Memorial Park, Riverside park and Areley Kings Rec to search for any edged weapons- Thankfully nothing was found.

    SNT are engaged in a multi-agency issue on Areley Court regarding vehicle issues. We are looking at options to deal with this.

    Our three monthly priorities for Stourport going forward are:

    ASB vehicle use/Hartlebury Common
    Shoplifting in the town
    Drugs intelligence.

  16. To receive an update from the Chairman of the Localism Working Party.
  17. To consider the reinstatement of the Twinning Working Group for the purpose of the 50th Year Anniversary between Stourport-on-Severn and Villeneuve-le-Roi.
  18. Welcome Back Fund – To receive a verbal report from the Town Clerk. (Appendix 9)
  19. Accounts.
  20. Any other business in accordance with Standing Orders.
  21. Exclusion of the Press and Public
    To consider passing the following resolution: “That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the press and public be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of “exempt information” as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act”.
  22. To consider an update from the Chairman of the Localism Working Party.