Tuesday 17th June 2025

PRESENT:

The Town Mayor: Councillor J Thomas (In the Chair)

Councillors T Berry; E Burnip; J Griffiths; P Harrison; K Henderson; B Jones; D Little; R Lloyd; D Morris; C Rogers; I Schmeising-Barnes; T Schmeising-Barnes; A Sutton; H Williams.

A minute’s silence was held at the start of the meeting to remember Councillor Allan Wood, former Town Mayor of Stourport-on-Severn, following the news of his death.

18. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
    
    Apologies for absence were received from Councillors B Dawes, M Freeman, and N Martin.
    
    
19. MINUTES
    
     It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 13th May 2025 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.
    
    
20. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
    
    There were no declarations of interest.
    
    
21. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
    
    There was no public question time.
    
    
22. MAYORS COMMUNICATIONS
    

    The Mayors engagements were circulated and noted.

    The Town Mayor encouraged Members to attend and support an event in War Memorial Park, Stourport-on-Severn on Sunday 29th June 2025 which had been organised by Greener Stourport.
    Councillor Thomas also encouraged Members to show support for an event being organised to support the Mayors chosen charities. The event would be held on Friday 4th July 2025 at The Civic Centre, Stourport-on-Severn, featuring live music and American themed food choices.

    The Town Mayor advised Members that Stourport-on-Severn Town Council had been asked to provide a response to a survey from Wyre Forest District Council regarding the move to a unitary authority. The questions from the ‘Shape Worcestershire’ survey would be circulated to all Members. Councillor Thomas requested that Members responded in order for Stourport-on-Severn Town Council to submit a considered response which reflected the views of Members.

23. UPDATE FROM COUNCILLORS I CRESSWELL AND K PERKS (STOURPORT WORCESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL COUNCILLORS)
    

    Councillor I Cresswell attended and provided an update, in addition to reading a statement from Councillor K Perks, who had been unable to attend the meeting.

    The statement from Councillor Perks advised Members that he would be investigating the possibilities of installing a VAS (Vehicle Activated Sign) machine along the Lower Lickhill Road, Stourport-on-Severn, as well as considering options to combat parking issues along both the High Street, Stourport-on-Severn and Bowpatch Lane, Areley Kings.
     
    Councillor Cresswell advised that he had spoken to colleagues in order to understand the root causes of the traffic issues in Stourport-on-Severn, and to explore options which would alleviate these issues.

    A Member raised an issue regarding the traffic light at the junction of Vale Road and Mitton Street, Stourport-on-Severn, which had been involved in an accident and remained damaged for approximately 6 months. Councillor Cresswell resolved to have this looked into. 

24. INTERNAL AUDITORS REPORT
    
    The Chair of the Finance Committee, Councillor Berry, provide an overview of the Internal Auditors Report. The recommendations of the report were discussed, and it was resolved that the Internal Auditor would be invited to attend a meeting of the Finance Committee to review the effectiveness of the Internal Audit 2024/25. It was also resolved that the Assistant Clerk would have the Internal Auditors report published on the Town Council website.
    
    
25. ANNUAL GOVERNANCE STATEMENT 2024/25
    
    The Treasurer presented the Annual Governance report and Members resolved that the Annual Governance Statement 2024/25 be approved.
    
    
26. ANNUAL ACCOUNTS FOR 2024/25
    

    The Treasurer advised of a slight overspend during 2024/25, chiefly due to the works which had taken place to the paddling pool slipping from the previous financial year into the 2024/25 financial year.

    An increase in staffing costs had also impacted spending during the financial year 2024/25. A report had been taken to the Finance Committee during Autumn 2024, where approval had been given to appoint two new staff members.

    The Treasurer advised that the reserve balance was currently £57,000.00.

    A Member asked a question regarding allotments and the cost of allotments to Stourport-on-Severn Town Council. The Treasurer commented that rents were reviewed annually and were benchmarked against other local authorities offering a similar service. Whilst the report appeared to indicate that allotments represented a cost to the Town Council, in fact a large portion of the costs directly related to staffing costs. The Treasurer commented that a review of how salary costs were distributed between different Town Council activities may have an effect on this figure. The Treasurer added that the Town Council were committed to providing allotments for the benefit of local residents.

    The Treasurer was thanked for his work in preparing the accounts. It was noted by the Town Mayor that this would be the Treasurers last time attending Council, as he was due to retire shortly. The Treasurer was thanked for his dedication and service to Stourport-on-Severn Town Council. Councillor Thomas added that the outgoing Treasurer had been a shining light and had worked tirelessly for the benefit of the Town Council.

27. PLANNING COMMITTEE MINUTES OF 10th JUNE 2025
    

    The Chairman of the Planning Committee provided an overview of the applications which had been discussed at the most recent meeting of the Planning Committee.

    A discussion took place regarding application WF.24/0858/RG3 (The Old Bake House, Raven Street, Stourport-on-Severn) which had been granted approval by Wyre Forest District Council. Stourport-on-Severn Town Council Planning Committee had previously recommended the application be refused. Councillor Sutton advised that it had been a condition of the planning permission that a future plan for the site be provided. The Chairman of the Planning Committee commented that the plans had not yet been provided, and that no date had been given for this to be provided by.

    It was resolved that the minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on 10th June 2025 be approved.

28. VERBAL UPDATE FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE STOURPORT FUTURE WORKING PARTY

    Councillor Griffiths provided an update. The Working Party had made good progress in producing the Vision document. It was anticipated that the document would be circulated to Council for review in the near future. At the last meeting of the Stourport Future Working Party on 17th June 2025, they received a presentation from Stourport Forward, with a view to promoting joined up working with other local partners.

29. VERBAL UPDATE FROM THE EVENTS WORKING PARTY
    
    Councillor T Schmeising-Barnes provided an overview of the first meeting of the Events Committee. Councillor T Schmeising-Barnes had spoken to Severn Valley with a view to publicising events which would take place in Stourport-on-Severn. It was noted that a number of significant events would take place in Stourport during 2025/26 including the 100th anniversary of Stourport Boat Club and StourJam.
    
    
30. VERBAL UPDATE FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE LOCALISM WORKING PARTY
    

    The Chairman of the Localism Working Party provided a summary of the discussions which had taken place with Wyre Forest District Council (WFDC). WFDC had identified assets which were in scope for consideration by Stourport-on-Severn Town Council, ahead of possible asset transfers which may take place during the course of devolution.

    Councillor Williams advised that some of the requested supplementary information not yet been provided by WFDC. All information that had been received to date had been circulated to the Working Party members.

    Councillor Williams advised that a meeting was due to take place with WFDC on 17th June 2025, before the next meeting of the Town Council on 15th July 2025. Councillor Williams asked Members to consider granting the Localism Committee permission to make appropriate recommendations to WFDC at this meeting, pending receipt of the requested additional information from WFDC. All Members resolved to grant this permission to the Chairman of the Localism Working Party.

    The Chairman resolved to report back at the next meeting of Stourport-on-Severn Town Council.

31. UPDATES FROM COUNCILLOR REPRESENTATIVES ON OUTSIDE BODIES
    

    Councillor T Schmeising-Barnes advised that he had attended an interesting Worcestershire County Association of Local Councils (CALC) meeting on 12th June 2025. An overview of the updated planning process at Wyre Forest District Council had been discussed, alongside the provision of Gypsy sites within the Wyre Forest District Council Local Plan.

    Councillor Lloyd had attended two meetings of the Carnival Committee since the last meeting of Stourport-on-Severn Town Council. Councillor Lloyd reported that preparations are well under way and appear to be well organised. A member asked whether the Town Council would have a stand at the event this year. The Assistant Clerk would consider this.

32. ADOPTION OF NEW POLICIES
    

    It was RESOLVED to adopt the following:

    1.  Safeguarding Policy
    2. Whistleblowing Policy
       
       
33. ACCOUNTS

    It was reported that Accounts for May 2025 totalling £80,074.54 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.

34. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

    There was no other business.
    
    

35. 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.
    
    

36. VERBAL UPDATE FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE LOCALISM WORKING PARTY

    This agenda item was no longer required.

37. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
    
    There was no other business.

Town Mayor

The meeting closed at 7.26pm.