Minutes of a meeting of STOURPORT-ON-SEVERN TOWN COUNCIL

Held on TUESDAY 4TH OCTOBER 2022 6.30PM at THE CORONERS COURT, CIVIC CENTRE, STOURPORT-ON-SEVERN

Present

In the chair The Town Mayor (Councillor T Berry)

Councillors C Barnett, J Byng, M C Freeman, J Griffiths, P Harrison, K Henderson, V Higgs, D Little, R Lloyd, N Martin, C Rogers, D C Russell, D Sheppard, J Thomas and H Williams.

Minutes

48. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors B Dawes and B Jones.

49. MINUTES

It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 6th September 2022 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.

50. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of interest.

51. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME

No members of the public were present at the meeting, nor had questions been submitted to the Town Clerk.

52. MAYORS COMMUNICATIONS

The Mayor’s engagements were circulated and noted. He reminded Members that Remembrance Sunday Parade would be held on Sunday 13th November and Three Kings Parade & Christmas Light Switch-on would be on Friday 25th November 2022.

53. MOTIONS SUBMITTED UNDER STANDING ORDERS

No motions had been received in accordance with Section 6 of the Council’s Standing Orders.

54. PLANNING COMMITTEE MINUTES OF 27TH SEPTEMBER 2022

The Chairman of the Planning Committee informed Council of the planning application recommendations to be made to the district council. He advised Council that Planning Application No. WF.22/0565/FUL - Land At Os 380600 273300 Burlish Wood, Kingsway, Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire had initially been approved at the last meeting. However, some members had been approached by residents living near the proposed site stating they had concerns about the access, therefore the application had been amended to deferred so additional information could be obtained.

Planning Application No. WF.22/0180/HYB - Minerva Point, Worcester Road, Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire, DY13 9AS was also still deferred even though Highways had provided a new proposal. This proposal proved unacceptable.

The minutes of the meeting held on 27th September 2022 were approved.

55. CIVILITY AND RESPECT PLEDGE

Council were asked to consider signing to the Civility and Respect Pledge following communication from Worcestershire CALC. Following a discussion, it was agreed that Council would sign up to the pledge. The Town Clerk was asked to action.

56. APPOINTMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE TO THE YOUTH NETWORK

The Town Clerk had received a request from Wyre Forest District Council for a nomination to represent Stourport Town Council at the newly formed Youth Network. It was RESOLVED that Councillor Lloyd be the representative for the Town Council.

57. UPDATE FROM THE CHAIR OF THE TOWN CENTRE WORKING PARTY

The Chairman of the Town Centre Working Party advised Council that at the last two meetings, the Heritage Harbour Port proposal had dominated the meetings. The application paperwork had been received and grant funding was being looked at.

Councillor Thomas was thanked for his involvement in arranging for the wall at Engine Lane to be demolished as it was dangerous. It was pleasing to see that the new bricks had been delivered in readiness for the wall to be rebuilt.

The August meeting of the working party had included a discussion on the state of Stourport town centre. Stourport Civic Society and some members of the public had been invited to the meeting as they had expressed concerns. Concerns included buildings which required repairs and maintenance and properties such as the old Buftons site, which although having had planning permission granted, still remained vacant and boarded up.

A motion was proposed and seconded that the Council write to Wyre Forest District Council (WFDC) asking them to issue Section 215 Notices to properties in the town centre to repair/maintain their properties especially those in Bridge Street, Stourport-on-Severn. A list of properties had been prepared by the Conservation Officer at WFDC.

58. UPDATES FROM REPRESENTATIVES ON OUTSIDE BODIES

Council received the following updates:

Councillor Williams

QEI Foundation. This was formed in 1987 and was previously QE Grammar School in Hartlebury. Grants were awarded for education purposes outside the curriculum for the education society. The areas of benefit included Stourport High School, Hartlebury Primary, Wilden Primary and Burlish Primary Schools. The foundation had 10 trustees.

Worcestershire CALC. At the last executive meeting, the subject of devolution was raised. Warwickshire, Somerset and Gloucestershire were looking into the idea of unitary authorities but Worcestershire were not interested at this stage.

Planning. An issued had been raised with recent approval of planning applications in Stourport. There had been five major applications approved, all of which were ½ mile from each other. Each one had been approved by the Highways department at Worcestershire County Council on an individual basis and no issues raised. It is believed that once all these sites are built and occupied, Stourport will become gridlocked not only on weekends and bank holidays but on an ongoing basis. It was agreed at the meeting that CALC be approached to contact the Highways department to ascertain if anything could be done in the future to consider applications like this together and not in isolation.

Councillor Lloyd was the town representative on Areley Kings Village Hall. He informed Council that the hall was a great venue, finances were good, there were lots of regular bookings and they were very active in obtaining grant funding.

Councillor Rogers advised Council that Stourport Forward were holding a Christmas Market on the car park at the rear of the Civic Centre on 4th December 2022.

Councillor Berry was the representative for Wilden Village Hall. There have been issues recently as all previous trustees had unfortunately passed away and therefore new trustees had been appointed. This had involved changing all bank accounts. The floor in the hall was collapsing so quotes were awaited for the repair. The next meeting of the committee would be held at the end of October.

The above updates were noted.

59. UPDATE FROM COUNCILLOR B DAWES ON SAFER NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH

There was no update this meeting.

60. UPDATES FROM COUNCILLOR H WILLIAMS ON EMERGENCY PLANNING

Councillor Williams had attended a Worcestershire CALC meeting on 29th September 2022 where emergency planning had been discussed. Representatives from Pershore, Malvern and Hill Croome had not got any formal plans in place but what they had were mainly for flooding. Following a discussion, Councillor Martin would obtain the current emergency plan from Wyre Forest District Council. It was agreed that a small working party be formed to discuss the possibility of an emergency plan for Stourport Town Council.

61. UPDATE FROM COUNCILLORS N MARTIN AND J THOMAS (CABINET MEMBERS FOR WYRE FOREST DISTRICT COUNCIL) AND COUNCILLORS P HARRISON AND C ROGERS (STOURPORT COUNTY COUNCIL COUNCILLOR)

Councillor Martin informed Council that she had attended a recent meeting whereby it was hoped to set up a warm room for the elderly and vulnerable people in the area to assist them with their heating bills. Age UK could also be involved.

A new homeless building in Castle Road, Kidderminster had received planning approval at the district council Planning meeting on 20th September 2022.

It was noted that an Older Persons’ Showcase event at Stourport Medical Centre would held be on 6th October 2022.

62. UPDATE FROM THE MAYOR AND TOWN CLERK ON THE CIVIC HALL

Council received an update on the Civic Hall. The Chairman advised that the Trustees of the Civic Hall had received notice that prior to the lease expiring on 31st December 2022, Expressions of Interest would be sought for a new lease at the Civic Hall. An advert would be placed in the local press, on the Town Council website and on social Media. The Town Council had a duty to obtain the best value for money for the community of Stourport. A timetable had been established and would involve meetings of the Finance Committee. A report would be represented to Council at the 6th December 2022 meeting.

63. ACCOUNTS

The Town Clerk reported that Accounts for September totalling £50,738.16 been paid since the last meeting and it was RESOLVED that the report be noted and approved. A Schedule of the Accounts paid and additional details was appended at the end of these Minutes, in the Council’s Minute Book, and was available for general inspection.

64. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

There was no other business.

The meeting closed at The meeting closed at 7.25pm