Tuesday 14 July 2026

Present

In the chair: The Town Mayor Councillor T Berry

Councillors: 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: Sue Saunders – Town Clerk, Sarah Harris – Assistant Clerk, Debbie While – Responsible Financial Officer, Kate Gynn – Civic Support Officer.

Minutes

35. CHAIRMAN'S OPENING COMMENTS
    A minute’s silence was held for the late Mrs Shirley Little, wife of Councillor David Little. 
36. COUNCILLOR CO-OPTION
    The Town Mayor advised that an application for the vacancy of Councillor for the Areley Kings East Ward had been received and welcomed Mr J Beckingham to the meeting. 
    
    The Town Mayor confirmed that the application had been circulated to Members for consideration and welcomed Members' questions.
    
    Councillor Martin asked Mr Beckingham whether he felt he had sufficient time to commit to becoming a Councillor for Stourport-on-Severn Town Council, in addition to his other responsibilities. Mr Beckingham confirmed that he would be able to manage his time and prioritise his different responsibilities. 
    
    Councillor Lloyd discussed a Facebook group which he had created to promote Stourport-on-Severn business and asked Mr Beckingham how he planned to promote local businesses. Councillor Beckingham responded that he would engage and interact with Facebook posts and would share posts to improve reach. 
    
    Councillor Griffiths asked Mr Beckingham if he had considered how he could contribute to the delivery of the Stourport Vision document. Mr Beckingham said that one of the ways in which he would be able to contribute was through the offering of his perspective as a younger Councillor.
    
    Upon a vote, it was duly resolved that Mr Beckingham was confirmed as a town councillor for Stourport-on-Severn Town Council and the Declaration of Acceptance of Office was duly signed.  
37. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
    Apologies for absence were received from Councillor B Dawes.
38. MINUTES
    It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 16th June 2026 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.
39. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
    Councillor Sutton declared an Other Disclosable Interest in Agenda Item 10 (Planning Application WF.25/0670/106A – Land at OS 379658 269871, Pearl Lane, Stourport-on-Severn) as he was a registered speaker for a resident’s group. Councillor Sutton confirmed he would leave the room.  
40. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
    One member of the public, Mr Neil Jennings, attended the meeting and addressed
    Council as follows:
    
    “Good evening, Mayor, Councillors, and members of the public.
    
    Thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak tonight.
    
    I am here on behalf of my family and our funfair, a business that has proudly been part of Stourport Carnival since 1947. For nearly 80 years, through generations of change, our family has supported this town’s celebrations and helped create happy memories for thousands of local families.
    
    We are not an outside company that appears once a year. We are Wyre Forest born and bred. We are fifth-generation showmen whose roots are firmly planted in this community. We live here, we work here, we pay our business rates and rent, and we have always been proud to contribute to the local economy and community life.
    
    That is why the decision to exclude us from this year’s carnival has been so upsetting. What hurts most is not simply losing a day’s trading. It is the feeling that our family’s history, commitment, and loyalty to Stourport have not been recognised or respected.
    
    For generations, our fair has been part of the carnival tradition. Parents who came as children now bring their own children and grandchildren. We have always understood that our role is about more than rides—it is about being part of an event that brings the whole community together.
    
    We are not asking for special treatment. We are asking to be treated fairly and with the same respect that we have shown this town for decades.
    
    We would even have welcomed the opportunity to attend with just a small children’s ride so that we could continue to be part of the carnival in some way. We were prepared to compromise because remaining part of this tradition means so much to us. Sadly, even that opportunity was not offered.
    
    This decision affects more than a business. It affects a family whose connection to Stourport spans five generations. It affects a tradition that has existed since 1947. Most importantly, it disappoints the many local families who have always expected to see the funfair as part of their carnival experience.
    
    We respectfully ask the Council to reflect on the value of long-standing local businesses and the importance of treating them with dignity, openness, and respect. We hope that future decisions will involve meaningful dialogue so that businesses like ours are not simply excluded without the chance to find a solution.
    
    We remain proud of Stourport. We remain proud to be Wyre Forest people. We sincerely hope that this is not the end of a tradition that has brought joy to generations of local families.
    
    Thank you for listening.”
    
    Councillor Martin confirmed that she had met and spoken to Mr Jennings, alongside Councillor Morris, earlier in the year. |
    
    Councillor Martin said that this was the first year that Stourport-on-Severn Town Council had organised the carnival and that the decision had been made to deliver a scaled-back event this year but that this may not be the case in subsequent years.
41. MAYORS COMMUNICATIONS
    The Mayor's engagements were circulated and noted. 
42. MOTIONS SUBMITTED UNDER STANDING ORDERS 
     There were no motions received.
43. UPDATE FROM COUNCILLORS I CRESSWELL AND K PERKS (STOURPORT WORCESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL COUNCILLORS)
    
    Councillor Perks was not available.  
    
    Councillor Cresswell provided an update to Council:
    
    Agreement had been made by Worcestershire County Council Officers to promote Stourport-on-Severn via suitable online media channels, and he would request this again.
    
    He would be attending the meeting of the Stourport Vision Steering Group on Thursday 16th July 2026.
    
    Councillor Cresswell had attended an event at Hartlebury Castle and advised that the lease had recently expired on the County Museum and negotiations would be resolved shortly.
    
    Work had been taking place in conjunction with some Town Councillors and the Stourport SNT (Safer Neighbourhood Team) on “hotspots” around Stourport-on-Severn. Residents had been encouraged to report issues to the police.
    
    A discussion had taken place regarding highway issues within Stourport-on-Severn, with particular regard to the condition of roads and pavements following street works and planned resurfacing works. In response to a Member's question, Councillor Cresswell asked that town councillors report any sub-standard works in their ward to the Highways team at Worcestershire County Council. He also asked that any town councillor who experienced difficulties in getting an issue resolved should contact him directly. 
    
    Councillor Sutton left the meeting at 19:03. 
44. PLANNING COMMITTEE MINUTES – 7TH JULY 2026\
    Councillor Berry noted that members of the Planning Committee had recently attended training at Wyre Forest District Council, and in line with the training received, Members had provided a response to all previously ‘deferred’ applications.  
    
    In response to a Member's question, the Town Clerk advised that the Town Council could make recommendations for Section 106 monies once an applicable planning application had been submitted to the Town Council.
    
    A Member commented that they were a member of Wyre Forest District Council Planning Committee and had no visibility of responses to planning applications provided by Stourport-on-Severn Town Council Planning Committee. The Town Clerk agreed to review this with Wyre Forest District Council Officers. |
    
    The minutes of the meeting held on 7th July 2026 were approved.
    
    Councillor Sutton returned to the meeting at 19:09. 
45. UPDATE FROM COUNCILLOR C ROGERS: CABINET MEMBER OF WYRE FOREST DISTRICT COUNCIL
     
    Councillor Rogers advised that the sites submitted to Wyre Forest District Council for consideration in its Local Plan had been published.
    
    Wyre Forest District Council (WFDC) Cabinet had approved the sale of a piece of land at Burlish Meadows, Stourport-on-Severn to Kidderminster Harriers. This land was adjacent to their existing training facilities. Councillor Rogers advised that, following the approval of the sale by WFDC Cabinet members, this would go out for wider consultation. 
46. UPDATE FROM THE CHAIRMAN ON COUNCIL PRIORITIES FOR JULY – SEPTEMBER 2026 FOR THE STOURPORT SAFER NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH.
     
    The Chairman advised that the following priorities had been set for the period of July to September 2026:
    1. Fires set deliberately.
    2. Anti-social use/misuse of vehicles, including speeding.
    3. Drugs. 
47. VERBAL UPDATE FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF EVENTS WORKING PARTY
    Councillor Martin provided members with an overview of the Carnival plans which included a walking parade, stallholders, circus skills, a dog show and a classic car show. |
    
    The Town Clerk advised that a Safety Advisory Group meeting had taken place and feedback had been broadly positive. All recommendations would be actioned.\
    
    In response to a member's question, the Town Clerk confirmed that approximately 20 people had volunteered to support at the event but that more support would be welcomed. \
    
    Councillor Martin thanked the Town Council officers for their hard work. 
48. VERBAL UPDATE FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF STOURPORT FUTURE WORKING PARTY
    The Chairman of the Stourport Future Working Party advised that the second meeting of the Stourport Vision Steering Group would take place on 16th July 2026. Members of the steering group would be asked to update the meeting with their plans and activities aligned to the Stourport Vision. It was also noted that the Stourport Future Working Group had agreed its activities for 2026/27.
49. UPDATES FROM COUNCILLOR REPRESENTATIVES ON OUTSIDE BODIES
    Council received the following updates:
    • Councillor H William - Queen Elizabeth 1st Foundation – five grants had been awarded to 5 schools, plus £5,000 had been awarded to a local scout group following a minibus appeal.
    • Councillor J Thomas - Wyre Forest District Council Local Review Panel Meeting: 
      “The purpose of the meeting was to receive an update and agree the next steps in progressing the review of the Wyre Forest District Local Plan. The current Local Plan (2016–2036) was adopted in April 2022. National planning policy requires all local plans to be reviewed at least every five years from the date of adoption. A review becomes particularly important where an area’s assessed housing need is expected to change significantly. This is the case for Wyre Forest, where the local housing need figure is projected to rise from 276 to 584 dwellings per annum. In addition, most of the district’s major housing allocations have now been delivered or are close to completion. As a result, the Council is unlikely to be able to demonstrate a five-year housing land supply within the next one to two years. It is therefore necessary to undertake a full review of the Local Plan, extending its coverage to 2046.
      
      The Review will be wide-ranging. Following updates to the evidence base, it will include:
      • Establishing a new housing requirement to 2046
      • Establishing a new Gypsy and Traveller pitch requirement
      • Establishing a new employment land requirement
      • Reviewing the existing strategic objectives
      • Reviewing the district’s spatial strategy
      • Reviewing the Green Belt
      • Reviewing all existing Strategic and Development Management policies
      • Introducing new Development Management policies for Houses in Multiple Occupation and Children’s Homes
      • Considering additional policies required in response to recent changes in national planning policy and guidance
      • Work on the new Local Plan has already commenced. A ‘Call for Sites’ has been completed, and a Local Plan Scoping Consultation has now been approved and is live on the Wyre Forest District Council website (Planning Policy – Emerging Local Plan). The consultation seeks views from a wide range of stakeholders, including residents, community groups, developers and landowners.
      • A timetable has been agreed through to June/August 2027. This will include a dedicated briefing session for Town and Parish Councillors later this year.”
50. ACCOUNTS
    The Town Clerk reported that Accounts for June 2026 totalling £89,875.62 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.  
51. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

There was no other business.

Town Mayor

The meeting closed at 7.238pm.