Minutes of a meeting of MINUTES OF A MEETING OF STOURPORT-ON-SEVERN TOWN COUNCIL
Held on TUESDAY 7TH MAY 2024 6.30 PM at HELD IN THE CORONERS COURT, CIVIC CENTRE, STOURPORT-ON-SEVERN
Present
In the chair The Town Mayor Councillor J Thomas
Councillors T Berry, E Burnip, B S Dawes, M Freeman, J Griffiths, P Harrison, K Henderson, B Jones, D Little, R Lloyd, N Martin, D Morris, C Rogers, I Schmeising-Barnes, T I Schmeising-Barnes, A Sutton and H Williams.
Minutes
1. ELECTION OF THE TOWN MAYOR FOR THE YEAR 2024-25
a) Councillor K Henderson nominated Councillor J Thomas to be appointed as the Town Mayor for 2024-25. Councillor D Little seconded the proposal and upon a vote, Councillor Thomas was duly confirmed as Town Mayor. The Declaration of Acceptance of Office was duly signed.
b) Councillor Thomas thanked Council for their support and said it was a honour to be elected and he would fulfil the role to his best ability. He stated that his mayoress and 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 2nd April 2024 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.
4. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Councillor Thomas declared an Other Disclosable Interest in Agenda Item No.8 – Planning Committee minutes of 30th April 2024, minute number 80 (f) WF.24/0224/RES as he had put in a written objection to Wyre Forest District Council and Malvern Hills District Council.
5. VOTE OF THANKS TO THE RETIRING MAYOR
Councillor Little proposed a vote of thanks to Councillor Freeman and Samantha Lees as retiring mayor and mayoress. He stated that he had done a tremendous job and had attended lots of engagements.
6. STATEMENT BY THE RETIRING MAYOR
Councillor Freeman had enjoyed his year and said that he and his Mayoress had been welcomed at all engagements he had attended. He thanked the Town Clerk and PA/Administrator for their help during his mayoral year. Councillor Rogers informed Council that Councillor Little had stepped down as Conservative group leader for the town council and thanked him for his past service.
7. APPOINTMENT OF DEPUTY MAYOR FOR 2024-25
Councillor Berry proposed Councillor Williams for Deputy Mayor, this was seconded by Councillor Morris. Upon a vote, Councillor Williams was duly confirmed as Deputy Mayor for the Mayoral Year 2024-25.
8. MAYORS COMMUNICATIONS
The Mayors engagements were circulated and noted.
9. PLANNING COMMITTEE MINUTES OF 30TH APRIL 2024
The Chairman of the Planning Committee informed Council of the planning application recommendations to be made to the district council.
He reported that the Planning Committee had refused Planning Application Number WF.24/0224/RES for reserved matters for the erection of 145 dwellings at land adjacent to 101 Areley Common, Stourport-on-Severn. He also confirmed that responses had been made to Wyre Forest District Council on the consultation for the Draft Stourport No.1 and No.2 Conservation Area Appraisal and the consultation on Design, Amenity and Shopfronts SPD.
In response to a question, it was also confirmed that Planning Application Number WF.24/0168.FUL – Change of use to restaurant at 7 Bridge Street, Stourport-on-Severn was also recommended for refusal.
Councillor Martin advised Council that for any controversial planning application, it was important for residents log their comments online. The minutes of the meeting held on 30th April 2024 were approved.
10. a) POLITICAL BALANCE
The political balance was noted and it was acknowledged that the Local Government & Housing Act 1989 (s15) and the Local Government (Committees & Political Groups) Regulations 1990 only applied to principal councils.
b) APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS TO SERVE ON THE FOLLOWING COMMITTEES
FINANCE COMMITTEE
- Councillor T Berry
- Councillor D. Little
- Councillor J Thomas
- Councillor T Schmeising-Barnes
PARKS COMMITTEE
- Councillor E Burnip
- Councillor P Harrison
- Councillor K Henderson
- Councillor B Jones
- Councillor D Morris
- Councillor I Schmeising-Barnes
GRANTS COMMITTEE
- Councillor R Lloyd
- Councillor K Henderson
- Councillor T Schmeising-Barnes
- Councillor A Sutton
PLANNING COMMITTEE
- Councillor T Berry
- Councillor M Freeman
- Councillor R Lloyd
- Councillor D Morris
- Councillor I Schmeising-Barnes
HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE
- Councillor J Griffiths
- Councillor D Morris
- Councillor R Lloyd
- Councillor C Rogers
- Councillor I Schmeising-Barnes
c) APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS TO SERVE ON THE FOLLOWING
STOURPORT FUTURE WORKING PARTY
- Councillor T Berry
- Councillor B Dawes
- Councillor J Griffiths
- Councillor B Jones
- Councillor D Little
- Councillor T Schmeising-Barnes
- Councillor A Sutton
- Councillor J Thomas
- Councillor H Williams
(This was the former Town Centre Working Party & High Street Task Force Group)
CIVIC HALL WORKING GROUP
- Councillor M Freeman
- Councillor K Henderson
- Councillor N Martin
STOURPORT COMMUNITY CENTRE WORKING PARTY
It was agreed that this Working Party be amalgamated with the Parks Committee
VEHICLE ACTIVATED SIGN (VAS) WORKING GROUP
- Councillor B Dawes
- Councillor D Morris
- Councillor J Thomas
LOCALISM WORKING PARTY
- Councillor J Griffiths
- Councillor D Morris
- Councillor H Williams
- Councillor R Lloyd
CONTINGENCY PLANNING WORKING PARTY
- Councillor T Berry
- Councillor T Schmeising-Barnes
- Councillor J Thomas
- Councillor H Williams
11. 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 (CAB) Management Committee - Councillor N Martin (The Town Clerk would contact the CAB as Council were informed that there was no longer a requirement for Town Council representation.)
e) Wilden Village Hall Management Committee - Councillor T Berry.
f) Hartlebury Queen Elizabeth 1 Foundation (Appointment of Nominated Trustee) - Councillor H Williams.
g) Elizabeth Mills Centre - The Mayor – Councillor J Thomas and Councillor K Henderson.
h) Stourport-on-Severn Carnival Society - Councillor D Little and Councillor R Lloyd.
i) Stourport Forward – Councillor C Rogers.
j) Wyre Forest District Council Local Plans Review Panel - Councillor D Morris and Councillor J Thomas.
k) Worcestershire CALC (Area Meetings) – Councillor T Schmeising-Barnes and Councillor H Williams. l) Worcestershire CALC Executive Committee - Councillor H Williams.
m) Civic Hall – Councillor B Dawes.
n) Youth Network – Councillor R Lloyd.
o) Stourport Heritage Port – Councillor T Berry.
12. DATES FOR THE 2024-25 TOWN COUNCIL MEETINGS
It was RESOLVED that the dates for the 2024-25 Town Council meetings would be as follows:
Tuesday 4th June 2024
Tuesday 9th July 2024
Tuesday 3rd September 2024
Tuesday 1st October 2024
Tuesday 5th November 2024
Tuesday 3rd December 2024
Tuesday 7th January 2025
Tuesday 4th February 2025
Tuesday 4th March 2025
Tuesday 8th April 2025
Tuesday 13th May 2025
13. ANNUAL REVIEW OF STANDING ORDERS
The Town Clerk advised Council that following new and updated employment, it was important that the Council had policies in place. It was RESOLVED to adopt the following:
(i) Annual Review of Standing Orders.
(ii) Clear Desk Policy.
(iii) Driving for Work Policy.
(iv) Grievance and Disciplinary Policy.
(v) Anti-Harassment and Bullying Policy.
The Chairman thanked the Town Clerk for ensuring the Town Council had all working practices in place.
14. UPDATE FROM COUNCILLOR MRS B DAWES ON SAFER NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH
Councillor Dawes informed Council that there was no update from PC Maher. She proposed that Councillor Rogers be the representative going forward. This was agreed by Council. The Town Clerk would contact PC Maher and invite him to the next Council meeting.
15. VERBAL UPDATE FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HIGH STREET TASK FORCE WORKING PARTY
Councillor Griffiths updated Council with the following: A survey had been prepared and would be sent to all councillors asking for comments to be made. Posters would also be displayed once the survey had been issued. It was hoped that the new Stourport Future Working Party (Town Centre Working Party/High Street Task Force Working Party) would meet shortly.
16. UPDATE FROM COUNCILLORS P HARRISON AND C ROGERS (STOURPORT COUNTY COUNCIL OUNCILLORS
There was no update this meeting.
In response to questions, Councillor Rogers advised that he would ask if an Highways representative could attend a future meeting of Council. He also stated that there was still an issue with RAAC at the County Building in Worcester and this was being investigated.
17. BUSINESS PLAN
The Town Clerk advised Council that the business plan needed to be updated and it was proposed that the Councillors Berry, Griffiths, Lloyd, Rogers, T Schmeising-Barnes and A Sutton would attend a meeting with the Town Clerk to work on the plan.
18. ACCOUNTS
The Town Clerk reported that Accounts for April totalling £59,359.06 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.
19. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
The meeting closed at 7.34pm