Minutes of a meeting of STOURPORT-ON-SEVERN TOWN COUNCIL
Held on TUESDAY 10TH MAY 2022 6.30PM at THE CIVIC HALL, NEW STREET, STOURPORT-ON-SEVERN
Present
In the chair The Town Mayor Councillor T Berry
Councillors C Barnett, T Berry, B S Dawes, M C Freeman, J Griffiths, P Harrison, K Henderson, V Higgs, B Jones, D Little, R Lloyd, N Martin, C Rogers, D C Russell, D Sheppard, J Thomas and H Williams
Minutes
1. ELECTION OF THE TOWN MAYOR FOR THE YEAR 2022-23
a) Councillor D Little nominated Councillor T Berry to be appointed as the Town Mayor for 2022-23. Councillor C Rogers seconded the proposal and Councillor Berry was duly confirmed as Town Mayor. The Declaration of Acceptance of Office was duly signed.
b) Councillor Berry thanked Council for their support and confirmed his wife A Berry as Mayoress for the Mayoral Year 2022-23. He stated his charities would be announced in due course.
2. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
There were no apologies for absence.
3. MINUTES
It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 12th April 2022 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.
4. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Councillor Dawes declared an ODI in agenda item number 13 as she was being proposed as Deputy Chairman for the Ethics and Standards for Wyre Forest District Council.
5. VOTE OF THANKS TO THE RETIRING MAYOR
Councillor Little proposed a vote of thanks to Councillor Russell as retiring mayor in what had been a very difficult year for him and his wife due to Covid. He had done a fantastic job and was thanked from all the Councillors. Councillor Henderson said a very special thank you to Councillor Russell and his wife in choosing AMMF as one of his charities for the year as it held special memories for the late Lin Henderson. Councillor Lloyd congratulated Councillor Russell and his from himself and his group in what had been trying circumstances.
6. STATEMENT BY THE RETIRING MAYOR
Councillor Russell thanked Council for their comments, kindness and support in what had been a bad start due to Covid. He had met a lot of lovely people and thanked the Town Clerk, Annette Phillips and his family.
7. APPOINTMENT OF DEPUTY MAYOR FOR 2022-23
Councillor Little proposed Councillor Freeman for Deputy Mayor, this was seconded by Councillor Rogers. Councillor Martin proposed Councillor Lloyd for Deputy Mayor, this was seconded by Councillor Barnett. Upon a vote, Councillor Freeman was duly confirmed as Deputy Mayor for the Mayoral Year 2022-23.
8. MAYORS COMMUNICATIONS
The Mayor engagements were circulated and noted.
9. PLANNING COMMITTEE MINUTES OF 3RD MAY 2022
The Chairman of the Planning Committee informed Council of the planning application recommendations to be made to the district council. The minutes of the meeting held on 3rd May 2022 were approved. Councillor Berry informed Council that he had attended the Wyre Forest District Council Planning Committee on 18th April 2022 to speak on Planning Application number – WF.21/1064/HYB Demolition and development of 94 dwellings at Former Parsons Chain, Worcester Road, Stourport-on-Severn.
9. a) Political Balance
The political balance was considered. Councillor Griffiths presented an alternative proposal on behalf of the Labour Party and informed Council they would like to propose that the number of committee members be increased from 3 to 5 for the Town Centre Working party, Stourport Forward Working Group and Vehicle Activated Sign Working Party. This was because in previous years, the Labour Party had been represented on these working party meetings. The Town Clerk referred Council to the legislation for Political proportionality at Council meetings regarding the allocation of seats – Section 15 Local Government and Housing Act 1989. Upon a vote, the Labour Party proposal was defeated. Councillor Griffiths asked for it to be noted that she was disappointed in the vote.
b) APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS TO SERVE ON THE FOLLOWING OUTSIDE COMMITTEES
Parks Committee
Councillor J Griffiths, Councillor K Henderson, Councillor D Little, Councillor R Lloyd, Councillor D Russell
Finance Committee
Councillor T Berry, Councillor V Higgs, Councillor D Little, Councillor J Thomas
Grants Committee
Councillor K Henderson, Councillor V Higgs, Councillor R Lloyd, Councillor H Williams
Planning Committee
Councillor T Berry, Councillor M Freeman, Councillor V Higgs, Councillor D Little, Councillor R Lloyd
Appointment of members to serve on the:
Town Centre Working Party
Councillor D Little, Councillor D Sheppard, Councillor H Williams
Appointments Panel
Councillor J Griffiths, Councillor D Little, Councillor R Lloyd, Councillor C Rogers
Civic Hall Partnership Group
Councillor K Henderson, Councillor D Little, Councillor N Martin
Stourport Forward Working Group
Councillor C Rogers, Councillor D Russell, Councillor J Thomas
Vehicle Activated Sign (VAS) Working Group
Councillor T Berry, Councillor J Thomas, Councillor D Russell
Localism working party
Councillor T Berry, Councillor R Lloyd, Councillor H Williams, Councillor V Higgs
10. AGREE THE APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS TO SERVE ON OUTSIDE ORGANISATIONS
a) Stourport-on-Severn Civic Society - Councillor D Little
b) Areley Kings Village Hall Trust - Councillor B Jones and Councillor R Lloyd
c) The Church House Charitable Trust - Councillor K Henderson
d) Kidderminster and District Citizens´ Advice Bureau Management Committee - Councillor N Martin
e) Kidderminster and District Youth Trust - Councillor D Little
f) Wyre Forest District Youth Strategy Group - Councillor N Martin
g) Wilden Village Hall Management Committee - Councillor T Berry
h) Hartlebury Queen Elizabeth 1 Foundation (Appointment of Nominated Trustee) - Councillor H Williams
i) Elizabeth Mills Centre - The Mayor - Councillor T Berry and Councillor D Little
j) Stourport-on-Severn Carnival Society - Councillor D Little and Councillor N Martin
k) Stourport Forward (Now joint with Stourport Town Centre Forum) – Councillor C Rogers
l) Wyre Forest District Council Local Plans Review Panel - Councillor D Little and Councillor V Higgs
m) Worcestershire CALC (Area Meetings) – Councillor D Sheppard and Councillor H Williams
n) Worcestershire CALC Executive Committee - Councillor H Williams
11. DATES FOR THE 2022-23 TOWN COUNCIL MEETINGS
It was RESOLVED that the dates for the 2022-23 Town Council meetings would be as follows:
Tuesday 7th June 2022
Tuesday 12th July 2022
Tuesday 6th September 2022
Tuesday 4th October 2022
Tuesday 8th November 2022
Tuesday 6th December 2022
Tuesday 10th January 2023
Tuesday 7th February 2023
Tuesday 7th March 2023
Tuesday 4th April 2023
Tuesday 9th May 2023
12. ANNUAL REVIEW OF STANDING ORDERS
It was RESOLVED to adopt the Standing Orders.
Councillor Dawes left the meeting at this point, 6.58pm.
13. AMENDED MEMBER CODE OF CONDUCT
The Town Clerk informed Council that the district council were recommending that the amended code of code, as detailed in Appendix 9 of the agenda to the Council meeting was adopted. After a discussion, it was proposed that the current Code of Conduct did not need amending as it was sufficient. Upon a vote, it was decided not to adopt the amended code.
Councillor Dawes came back to the meeting at this point, 7.02pm.
14. UPDATE FROM COUNCILLOR MRS B DAWES ON SAFER NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH
Councillor Dawes informed Council that a meeting had been held with the Assistant Police & Crime Commissioner on 20th April 2022. He reported that he was impressed with how the Town Council had regular contact with SNT and would be proposing that other Town/Parish Councils did the same. Some of the points raised were speeding and drugs. He would report back to the Police & Crime Commissioner.
15. UPDATE FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE LOCALISM WORKING PARTY
The Chairman of the Localism Working Party updated Council as follows:
Riverside Toilets – The Town Council took ownership of the toilets on 28th April 2022. Council agreed to install CCTV at a cost of £720 plus VAT.
Elizabeth Mills Centre – Wyre Forest District Council would pay for repairs to the boundary walls. Once this had been completed, the transfer to the Town Council could take place.
Stourport Community Centre – lease still in draft format and waiting for comments. It was agreed that no more localism would take place for at least the next six months as the assets taken over needed to be monitored and assessed.
16. RIVERSIDE PADDLING POOL
The Town Clerk advised Council that following the budget approval of £32,000 for 2022/2023 for the paddling pool. Following a discussion, Council agreed to open the paddling pool on 27th May until 4th September 2022 (inclusive). It was perceived that the budget would go over the £32,000 but Members stated it was important for the town that facility remained open for the season.
17. ACCOUNTS
The Town Clerk reported that Accounts for May totalling £8,363.32 had been paid since the last meeting and it was RESOLVED that the report be noted and approved. A Schedule of the Accounts paid was appended at the end of these Minutes, in the Council’s Minute Book, and was available for general inspection.
18. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
Councillor Martin thanked Councillor Thomas for arranging for temporary toilets whilst the Riverside toilets had been closed for several days whilst the handover to the Town Council was happening.
The Town Clerk was asked to pass on thanks to the Parks staff for the work they were doing and for the wonderful display of flowers in the gardens.
The meeting closed at 7.13pm