Minutes of a meeting of MEETING OF STOURPORT-ON-SEVERN TOWN COUNCIL
Held on TUESDAY 5TH DECEMBER 2023 6:30 PM at HELD IN THE CORONERS COURT, CIVIC CENTRE, NEW STREET, STOURPORT-ON-SEVERN
Present
In the chair The Town Mayor Councillor M C Freeman
Councillors T Berry, J Griffiths, P Harrison, K Henderson, B Jones, D Little, R Lloyd, N Martin, C Rogers, I Schmeising-Barnes, T I Schmeising-Barnes, J Thomas and H Williams.
Minutes
83. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from Councillor E Burnip, B Dawes, D Morris and A Sutton.
84. MINUTES
It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 3rd October 2023 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.
85. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
There were no declarations of interest.
86. MAYORS COMMUNICATIONS
The Mayor engagements were circulated and noted.
87. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
There was no public question time.
88. MOTIONS SUBMITTED UNDER STANDING ORDERS
No motions had been received in accordance with the Council’s Standing Orders.
89. FINANCE COMMITTEE MINUTES - 31ST OCTOBER 2023
In response to questions, it was confirmed that the paddling pool surface was deteriorating badly and was in need of replacing. Members were also informed that despite all avenues having been sought, unfortunately there was no other choice but for the debt relating to allotment rent to be written off. The minutes of the Finance Committee meeting held on 31st October were approved.
90. PLANNING COMMITTEE MINUTES - 31ST OCTOBER 2023 AND 28TH NOVEMBER 2023
The minutes of the Planning Committee meetings held on 31st October 2023 and 28th November 2023 were approved subject to removing the Town Clerk from the list of attendees as she had not attended the meeting and the addition of planning application numbers WF.23/0760/TPO and WF.23/0688/HOU to the deferred section of the minutes.
91. VERBAL UPDATE FROM THE TOWN CLERK ON HIGH STREET TASK FORCE
The Town Clerk provided Council with the following update. A workshop had been held but unfortunately there had been no representative from Wyre Forest District Council. A follow up call had been held with Farrer Huxley (High Street Task Force) to discuss how to move the project forward. A discussion ensued and it was resolved that the following decision be sent to Wyre Forest District Council.
Decision: Wyre Forest District Council assist Stourport-on-Severn Town Council in moving forward with the High Street Task Force as the Town Council do not have the expertise or capacity to go alone. The following is a selection of items to be considered:
- Expertise, i.e. arranging consultations, applying for funding etc.
- Assist with establishing an evidence base
- Opportunities for the town
- Prepare a vision plan for the future of Stourport-on-Severn.
92. UPDATES FROM REPRESENTATIVES ON OUTSIDE BODIES
Councillor Rogers informed Council that Stourport Forward had recently held a board meeting and were looking to form a joint venture with the Heritage Group.
93. UPDATE FROM COUNCILLOR MRS B DAWES ON SAFER NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH
There was no update this meeting.
94. UPDATE FROM COUNCILLORS P HARRISON AND C ROGERS (STOURPORT WORCESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL COUNCILLORS)
Members were informed that some street lighting had been replaced but if they appeared blue in colour, it needed to be reported to Worcestershire County Council Highways. Following a request regarding the cleaning of the lampposts on the Bridge in Stourport-on-Severn, Councillor Rogers agreed to follow this up.
95. ACCOUNTS
The Town Clerk reported that Accounts for October was £58,751.95 and November was £72,672.03 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.
96. EXCLUSION OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC
Decision: "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 items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of "exempt information" as defined in paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act.
97. VERBAL UPDATE FROM TOWN CLERK AND CHAIRMAN OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE ON 8A BRIDGE STREET, STOURPORT-ON-SEVERN
Members were updated with proposals that had been received from Wyre Forest District Council regarding 8A Bridge, Stourport-on-Severn.
The meeting closed at 7:03 PM