Tuesday 3rd February 2026

Present

In the chair: The Town Mayor Councillor J Thomas

Councillors: T Berry, E Burnip, P Harrison, K Henderson, B Jones, D Little, R Lloyd, N Martin, D Morris, C Rogers, I Schmeising-Barnes, T Schmeising-Barnes, H Williams.

Minutes

142. Apologies For Absence

     Apologies for absence were received from Councillors M Freeman, J Griffiths and A Sutton,.

143. Minutes

     It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 6th January 2026 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.

144. Declarations Of Interest
     

     Councillors Thomas and Lloyd both declared an Other Disclosable Interest in Agenda Item No. 8 (Planning Application 26/0016/TCA) as the applicant was known to them.

     Councillor Berry declared an Other Disclosable Interest in Agenda Item No. 8 (Planning Application 25/0615/PIP). Councillor Berry advised that the application had received an objection from a person with whom he was acquainted with. 

     Councillor I Schmeising-Barnes declared an Other Disclosable Interest in Agenda Item No. 9 – Update on Parks Committee, as she was a member of Greener Stourport.

145. Public Question Time

     There was a registered public speaker but they did not attend.

146. Mayors Communications

     The Mayoral engagements were circulated and noted. 

     The Town Mayor invited Members to attend his afternoon tea event, which would take place on Thursday 26^th March 2026. Monies were being raised in support of his two nominated charities.

147. Motions Submitted Under Standing Orders

     No motions had been received, in accordance with Section 9 and 10 of the Council’s Standing Orders.

148. Update from Councillor I Cresswell and K Perks (Stourport Worcestershire County Council councillors)
     

     Councillors Cresswell and Perks were not in attendance.

     The Town Mayor provided an update which had been supplied by Councillor Perks. The initial first phase of the Highways study had been completed, and further stages had been proposed. Councillor Perks would like to invite Stourport-on-Severn Town Council to a discussion regarding this matter. The Town Clerk resolved to arrange a meeting with Councillor Perks.

149. Planning Committee Minutes Of 27^th January 2026
     

     The Chairman of the Planning Committee informed Council of the planning application recommendations to be made to Wyre Forest District Council (WFDC). 

     It was noted that planning application 25/0839/FUL had been revised and approved, as the WFDC Conservation Officer had approved the revised plan for the front window.

     The minutes of the meeting held on 27^th January 2026 were approved.

150. Parks Committee Minutes – 19^th January 2026
     
     It was resolved that the minutes of the Parks Committee held on 19th January 2026, and the resulting recommendations, be approved.
     

151. Finance Committee Minutes – 26^th January 2026
     

     The Responsible Financial Officer (RFO) informed Council that the precept was recommended to be increased by 17.9%. This was due to:

     • increased staffing costs,
     • increasing business rates and energy costs,
     • a continued decline in the number of burials,
     • increased and ongoing maintenance costs of Town Council owned assets, such as the paddling pool,
     • an increase in the budget for events such as the Three Kings Parade and Christmas Lights Switch-On,
     • an increase in the Parks budget to allow items such as replacement rubbish bins, replacement vehicles, and new storage containers.

     In response to a question, the RFO confirmed that the precept last year had increased by 28.45%.

     Members were urged to note that whilst a 17.9% increase sounded significant, it equated to a £13 increase across the year for properties in Council Tax Band D. 

     The Chairman of the Finance Committee thanked the Responsible Financial Officer (RFO) for providing the Committee with a detailed and thorough explanation of the budget she had presented to them.

     It was resolved that the minutes of the Finance Committee held on 26^th January 2026, and the resulting recommendations, be approved.

152. Update From Councillor C Rogers: Cabinet Member Of Wyre Forest District Council
     

     There were no matters to update Members with.

153. Verbal Update From The Chairman Of Stourport Future Working Party
     

     In Councillor Griffiths absence, the Town Clerk provided an update. The Town Clerk advised that the working party were still waiting for partners to provide their endorsement of the Stourport Vision document. Furthermore, a stakeholder session had been arranged for Wednesday 4^th March 2026 and the next meeting of Stourport Future would take place on Friday 6^th February 2026.

     A Member noted that WFDC would attend the next meeting of Stourport Future, to provide an update regarding the Bridge Street car park redevelopment.

     The Town Mayor advised that he had taken part in an interview with a reporter from the Kidderminster Shuttle, who had been interested in hearing about the Vision document and had asked for the mayor to share a copy of the Vision document once it had been made public.

154. Updates From Councillor Representatives On Outside Bodies
     

     Council received the following updates:

     Stourport Civic Society – an update was not available.

     Areley Kings Village Hall Trust – it was reported that the trustees had reviewed and approved their policies. It was also reported that a new children’s group would be established in the village hall, which would possibly operate 5 days a week.

     Stourport Carnival Society – an Emergency General Meeting (EGM) followed by an Annual General Meeting (AGM) had taken place on 26^th January 2026. A committee could not be formed at the AGM and so the group were in the process of dissolving the committee, as set out within their constitution.

     Youth Network – Councillor Lloyd advised that he would question as to whether Stourport-on-Severn Town Council representation at this meeting was still required.

     Worcestershire CALC – the meeting had focused on devolution and local government reorganisation. There had been a focus on the Section 24 notice, which was expected to be served to district and county councils at some point over the next 12 months. The transfer of any assets would be required to take place before the Section 24 notice was served.

155. Events Committee Membership
     
     It was proposed to increase the membership of the Events Committee from 3 to 5 Members. It was resolved that Councillors B Jones and D Morris join the committee.
     
     
156. Stourport Carnival
     

     Following the news of the dissolution of Stourport Carnival Society, the Town Clerk asked Members to consider whether Stourport-on-Severn Town Council should be involved in the organisation of the annual Stourport Carnival. This would avoid the loss of a much-loved event in the town.

     Members resolved that the town council would take on the responsibility of organising Stourport Carnival and would explore all options for delivery. It was stressed that volunteers would be needed to deliver the Carnival safely. 

     Following a discussion, it was resolved that a meeting of the Events Working Party be scheduled and that former Carnival Committee members be invited to attend so that information and experiences from past Carnival events could be shared with the Events Committee.

157. Accounts

     The Town Clerk reported that Accounts for January 2026 totalling £47,433.24 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. 
     
     

158. Any other business
     
     There was no other business.
     
     

The meeting closed at 7:09 PM