MEETING OF STOURPORT-ON-SEVERN TOWN COUNCIL

Tuesday 1 September 2026

Venue: Coroner's Court, Civic Centre, Stourport-on-Severn

Present

In the chair: The Town Mayor Councillor T Berry

Councillors: J Beckingham, B 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 Schmeising-Barnes, A Sutton, J Thomas, H Williams.

Officers: S Saunders – Town Clerk, S Harris – Assistant Clerk, D While – Responsible Financial Officer, B Green – Events Officer.

Minutes

  1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

    There were no apologies for absence received.

  2. MINUTES

    It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 14th July 2026 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.
  3. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

    Councillor Williams declared an Other Disclosable Interest in Agenda Item No. 7 ‘Motions Submitted under Standing Orders’ as he had signed a letter of objection to Wyre Forest District Council with regard to the proposed sale of Burlish Meadows.

    Councillor Rogers declared an Other Disclosable Interest in Agenda Item No. 7 ‘Motions Submitted under Standing Orders’ as he was a Wyre Forest District Council Cabinet Member. Councillor Rogers advised that he would not take part in the discussions but would remain in the room with the permission of the Member who had proposed the Motion.

    Councillor Lloyd declared an Other Disclosable Interest in Agenda Item No. 9 ‘To receive the Planning Committee minutes of 4th and 25th August 2026’ (Planning Application WF.26/0535/FUL). Councillor Lloyd advised that he had been previously employed by Kidderminster Harriers Football Club.

    Councillor Martin declared an Other Disclosable Interest in Agenda Item No. 7 ‘Motions Submitted under Standing Orders’ as she was Chairman of the Wyre Forest District Council Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

    Councillor T Schmeising-Barnes declared an Other Disclosable Interest in Agenda Item No. 9 ‘To receive the Planning Committee minutes of 4th and 25th August 2026’ (Planning Application WF.26/0535/FUL) as he belonged to the group ‘Friends of Burlish Meadows’ which had opposed the sale of land at Burlish Meadows.

    Councillor Williams declared an Other Disclosable Interest in Agenda Item No. 7 ‘Motions Submitted under Standing Orders’ as he had written a letter of objection regarding the proposed sale of a section of Burlish Meadows to Kidderminster Harriers Football Club.

  4. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME

    One member of the public, Linda McKenzie, attended the meeting and addressed Council as follows:

    “Good evening, I am addressing you as a representative of the Friends of Burlish Meadows.

    WFDC have announced that they are considering the disposal (21 acres) of Burlish Meadows to Kidderminster Harriers for artificial grass pitches. This is a conservation area that links to local nature reserves.

    The Friends of Burlish Meadows oppose this sale and there are more than 3,500 verifiable objections on an e-petition, as well as personal email objections.

    Whilst we can support Kidderminster Harriers Football Club as a club we oppose the destruction of this publicly accessible rare acidic grassland in order to support a commercial enterprise.

    Burlish Meadows is in the Green Belt, and you know how important that is to preserve the setting, and special character of historic towns such as Stourport.

    Burlish Meadows is the largest area of open space within Stourport’s boundaries and provides many physical, mental health and well-being benefits and is free for all to access and is an area of flat, accessible land to disabled persons.

    Worcestershire Wildlife Trust have said the loss of this meadows site would have a serious impact.  It has become a very attractive area rich with biodiversity. Worcestershire Wildlife Trust say the area has intrinsic value as acid grassland, one of the rarest habitats in the county.

    On behalf of the Friends Group, the Civic Society applied for and obtained Registration of the site as an Asset of Community Value. The Friends group comprises charities and wildlife experts and we are currently investigating how we can make a credible bid.

    Stourport Vision was produced by this Town Council, Wyre Forest District Council and Worcestershire County Council and one of the objectives within that is to improve public access to public open spaces and parks. The proposal to sell the meadows is contrary to that Vision. There are also a number of objectives relating to Biodiversity which are in conflict. The respective authorities signed up to this, did they not mean to?

    Burlish Meadows is something we thought we had gained for Stourport… a marvellous country park of 40 hectares, but this valuable habitat and publicly accessible area is being eroded and sold off piece by piece.

    This is why we are asking you, Stourport Town Council, to support us in our campaign by opposing the sale of this land and protecting Burlish Meadows for future generations as well as for the sake of our little corner of the planet which is in crisis as never before.

    I would like to ask what action Stourport Town Council is taking to safeguard Burlish Meadows as a future nature reserve and is Stourport Town Council opposing the disposal of part of the site by Wyre Forest District Council to Kidderminster Harriers.”

    The Town Mayor thanked the speaker.
  5. WEST MERCIA POLICE AND CRIME COMMISSIONER

    The West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) attended to discuss the Town and Parish Survey. He had been seeking the views of local communities as to how safe they felt within their local communities and explained that views expressed via the Town and Parish Survey would be used to shape future police budgets and priorities.

    The PCC encouraged Members to complete the survey and asked that they encourage others to complete the survey also.

    In response to a Members question regarding CCTV, the PCC confirmed that the majority of CCTV cameras in Stourport-on-Severn belonged to Wyre Forest District Council.

    A Member raised a further question with regard to businesses where it had been suspected that they were a front for organised crime. The PCC said that members of the public should report any concerns that they had.

    A further question was raised by a Member regarding the use of horse and carts on public highways in Stourport-on-Severn and in response the PCC asked that the public report any issues to the local policing team. 

  6. MAYORS COMMUNICATIONS
    The Mayor's engagements were circulated and noted. 

  7. MOTIONS SUBMITTED UNDER STANDING ORDERS 

    Two motions had been received in accordance with Section 9 of the Council’s Standing Orders.

    Councillor T Schmeising-Barnes proposed the first motion and advised council that he was concerned about the proposed sale of 21 acres of Burlish Meadows by Wyre Forest District Council to Kidderminster Harriers and the subsequent loss of habitat. 

    Following a discussion, a vote was held. 13 Members voted to approve the motion, 3 Members abstained from the vote. The following resolution was approved:

    “That Stourport-on-Severn Town Council formally opposes the proposed sale of part of Burlish Meadows by Wyre Forest District Council to Kidderminster Harriers Football Club and the subsequent loss of natural habitat.”

    Councillor T Schmeising-Barnes proposed the second motion, which had been related to the first. Following a discussion and a vote, 12 Members voted in favour of the motion, 4 Members voted against and 1 Member abstained from voting. The following resolution was passed:

    “That Stourport-on-Severn Town Council requests to ask that Wyre Forest District Council:

    • Commission a comprehensive, contemporary ecological assessment of the whole of Burlish Meadows (Burlish Country Park) in order to establish the present extent, composition and condition of the restored habitats, and,
    • Formally consider designating the site as a Local Nature Reserve, under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949, in consultation with Natural England and Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, in light of that assessment.
    • Following the ecological assessment, that the boundary of the site to be designated a Local Nature Reserve be defined in accordance with the Local Plan review.”

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

    Councillor Perks was not in attendance.

    Councillor Cresswell addressed Council and said that he had been working to build relationships with the Gypsy and Traveller community in Stourport-on-Severn.

  9. PLANNING COMMITTEE MINUTES – 4TH & 25th AUGUST 2026

    Councillor Lloyd and T Schmeising-Barnes left the meeting at 7.13pm

    The minutes of the meeting held on 4th and 25th August 2026 were discussed and approved.

    Councillor Lloyd and T Schmeising-Barnes returned to the meeting at 7.23pm
  10. PARKS COMMITTEE MINUTES – 21ST JULY 2026

    The minutes of the meeting held on 21st July 2026 were approved.

  11. VERBAL UPDATE FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF VEHICLE ACTIVATED SIGNS (VAS) WORKING PARTY          

    The Chairman of the VAS Working Party advised that VAS machine data had been reviewed. The review had included additional data provided by the new VAS machines located at Worcester Road and Bewdley Road North, Stourport-on-Severn. It was noted that the VAS machine on the Worcester Road, Stourport-on-Severn, in particular, had had a positive effect on speeding traffic.

    A review of current VAS machine locations had taken place. The Highways Liaison Officer at Worcestershire County Council had agreed to review the traffic data for the VAS machine at Redstone Lane, Stourport-on-Severn. It was discussed that this VAS machine might be better located along Hermitage Way, Stourport-on-Severn. Furthermore, the Highways Liaison Officer at Worcestershire County Council would make recommendations for the siting of a new VAS machine along Dunley Road, Stourport-on-Severn.

  12. VERBAL UPDATE FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF EVENTS WORKING PARTY

    The Town Clerk provided an update to Council. The final planning meeting for Carnival 2026 had taken place last week. The Town Clerk provided an overview of the day and thanked staff for their hard work.

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

    The Chairman of the Stourport Future Working Party advised that they had met with Mark Garnier, MP for Wyre Forest, who had formally endorsed the Vision document.

    An ongoing dialogue had been in progress with Worcestershire County Council with regard to highways issues. An officer had been asked to attend a future meeting. 

    A constructive introductory meeting had taken place with a representative from Treasure Island, Stourport-on-Severn. 

    A third steering group meeting would take place on 15th October 2026.

  14. NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN

    The Town Mayor discussed the benefits of a neighbourhood plan, especially in the context of local government reorganisation.

    In response to a Members question regarding the benefits to Stourport-on-Severn, the Town Clerk confirmed that there were advantages to Stourport-on-Severn including possible protections for green spaces and greater input into the location of future developments. The first steps would be to establish a working party and to agree a designated area for a Stourport-on-Severn Neighbourhood Plan.

    Following a discussion, it was resolved that Stourport-on-Severn Town Council would establish a Neighbourhood Plan Working Party in order to progress a Neighbourhood Plan. Councillors would contact the Town Clerk to express an interest in joining the working party.

  15. UPDATE FROM COUNCILLOR C ROGERS: CABINET MEMBER OF WYRE FOREST DISTRICT COUNCIL
     
    An update was not available.

  16. UPDATES FROM COUNCILLOR REPRESENTATIVES ON OUTSIDE BODIES
     

    Council received the following updates:

    • Councillor T Schmeising-Barnes – Worcestershire CALC – a discussion had taken place regarding the new neighbourhood governance legislation and how this would impact town and parish councils.

  17. ACCOUNTS

    The Town Clerk reported that Accounts for July 2026 totalling £112,492.31 and £60,834.42 for August 2026 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

    There was no other business.

  19. 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.

  20. HR COMMITTEE MINUTES – 25TH AUGUST 2026

    The minutes of the meeting held on 25th August 2026 were approved.
     

Town Mayor

The meeting closed at 7.51pm.