Summer Bedding

The summer bedding plants have been ordered for this year at a cost of £1,589.50, the cost to refill and plant the summer baskets and flower towers is £1,900.00, therefore total amount is £3,489.50.

I am using Rose Cottage Nursery again, as their plant quality is good and they are very flexible during the planting weeks with regards to storage and timings.

Watering will be done inhouse by our parks staff.  This worked well in 2025 – the Parks staff split into two teams and undertake this task on an alternate rota during the early mornings.

No overtime payment will be necessary, as staff prefer to finish early on the day of watering or toil time banked.

Plants

I would like to keep trying to introduce more insect friendly, flowering hardy annuals and herbaceous perennials into the town and Memorial Park as happened last year with the border at Villeneuve Gardens.  The border is much improved and hopefully will be better this year as the plants become more established.

Last year £500 was set aside and it is hoped that same could be allocated for this year budget.  Improvement in this type of planting can continue and expand.

Trees

Currently, we have no budget set aside for tree planting in the town.  It is important to keep a steady continuation of tree planting each year in our parks and open green spaces, not only to replace existing trees that have been lost to storm damage or age (as happened last year), but also to keep up with improving the environmental outlook of Stourport-on-Severn.  It can also help with offsetting the amount of road pollution the town has, due to the continuation of more very slow traffic movement.

Ideally, a budget of £1,000 be set aside.  This would cover the buying of three or four standard specimen trees, guarding and early maintenance with regards to watering.   This would enable the continuation of replenishing tree stocks within Stourport-on-Severn on Council owned land.

Grants

Grant funding would be a good way of improving our green diversity and could be integrated with the tree planting and improving of borders.  Improvements to Lloyds Meadow can still be obtained and the War Memorial Park with perennial wildflower meadows and more bulb planting.

In 2025, no grant funding became available but there may be a possibility of obtaining funding which has to be matched funded, as we were able to do with Natural Networks in 2024.

It would advantageous to have a contingency for match funding grants so if the occasion arose to apply, knowing that there is funding put aside, would be a good option.

Community Garden

The community garden has now been stared at the War Memorial Park with hard work by the Greener Stourport Group and help from the town council staff.  Four raised beds were installed and planted and it hope to build more in the future.  The general feel from the community that use the park is very positive.

It was agreed in January 2025, that a notice board be installed for the park and the community garden.  A notice board has been donated by Stourport Forward and a location needs to be agreed for the installation of it, of which there are two possible locations, as indicated on the attached plan. 

The notice board is a secure design and has a lock on the cabinet, so any information would need to be passed onto Stourport Town council before being displayed.  This would work similar to the notice board located in the High Street, Stourport-on-Severn.  Contact numbers would be displayed on the notice board for enquiries about displaying local news or events.

New play equipment

It is important to update play equipment and refresh the playgrounds, when possible.  Last year we looked into the possibility of new inclusive play equipment for the War Memorial Park and quotes were received for an all-inclusive roundabout within the fenced play area. 

I would like to explore options for new play equipment again for the new budget year which would include inclusive play equipment.  Quotes received last year ranged from £14,561 to £17,697.50, and updated quotes are awaited.

There is also a piece of equipment (rotating swing) that has been out of action at the War Memorial Park for the past three month.  It is a Wicksteed product and a quote has been received for £5,808.90 for it to be repaired.  It is felt that if it is not repaired then it needs to be removed, which will also have a cost or even replaced at a greater cost, repair although expensive seems the best option.

Following a playground inspection course that I attended in 2025, it has become apparent that the Council will need to upgrade the rubbish bins within the play areas.  At present, open style bins are provided and even though these are functional, they are old and not ideal within a children’s play area, due to risks of children falling into them or picking items out of them.

It would be ideal to change the bins at Areley Kings Recreational Ground, Britannia Gardens and the War Memorial Park which totals four.  However, an extra bin could be provided at Areley Kings Recreational Ground to replace the one that was removed two years ago.  Quotations are waited for this.

Green Flag

Looking into the future of the War Memorial Park, it would be advisable to and achieve Green Flag status.  This was looked into several years but was not followed through.  The park has improved in the last few years by adding additional flower beds, tree planting, reinstating the hedgerow and introducing the community garden.  However, to achieve Green Flag status, it is felt that repairs to the bandstand to bring it back to its former glory may be achievable by looking at possible grant funding.

In addition, there are few other things that are worth mentioning regarding facilities at the War Memorial park.

Updating the water supply to the external public toilets and roof at Stourport Community Centre.

With the new legionella checks being carried out, it has come apparent there is no hot water for the external public toilets and the heating system is old and has not been working for some time.  Following investigation recently by our contractor, it seems that the cold water supply also comes from storage tanks set within the loft in the tractor store.  These are inaccessible but do need to have regular cleaning and maintenance and unfortunately has not been done for some time and the advice is that the system needs to be updated.

This has all come to light recently but having spoken to the contractor that maintains the combi boiler within Stourport Community Centre regarding connecting the public taps to the boiler, this is possible and a quote is being sent.  This quote would also include reconnecting the existing cold water supply directly to the mains , therefore making the storage tanks redundant and cutting out any risks and costly maintenance expenses.

Other quotations will also be obtained.

Stourport Community Centre Roof

The roof on Stourport Community Centre is made from wooden shingles.  These have deteriorated quite considerably and there are broken shingles in part of the roof edges.  Although there are no leaks at present there is the possibility of problems in the not-too-distant future.

Quotations have been asked requested from roofing companies to determine whether it does need repairing and a timeline with regard to its life span.  It may be more financially viable to have it replaced and then solar panels be fitted.

War Memorial Park - car park gate

There has been an increase in antisocial behaviour at the car park at Stourport Community Centre recently, whereby cars are congregating at night and making a lot of noise.  Last year an extra camera was installed and more signs added.  The police have managed to track down and speak to some of the drivers and the situation did disappear for a while but it has started to happen again recently. 

The situation is being monitored although the police have advised it is not a criminal offence for them to be on the car park, the car users have been asked to turn down their radios.  Although we do have to clear the litter the following day (which is an offence).

One option to consider is to install a gate to the car park.  It is perceived that this would not be an overly expensive installation as it could be added to the existing height restrictor.  However, the gate would need to be opened and closed but this would give extra security.

Town Council Uniform

Last year, a uniform for the Parks staff was agreed, initially at a cost of £500.  However, it would be advisable to have an annual budget for topping up uniform each year, i.e. T shirts, trousers.

Storage

The situation with storage is still a problem and although funding was agreed for a new container to be installed at the Cemetery, we cannot proceed until we have authorisation from the Worcester Diocese.  Despite chasing, we still await an answer.  Therefore, a request for the money to be put into the budget for the forthcoming budget year.

Van

There is increased potential for having two vehicles within the council to cover the current workload.  For example, the exiting van is used for the best part of three days with one member of staff doing the daily check but by having two vehicles would mean that the Parks team could be split up.  A personal vehicle is used at times.

There are currently ongoing problems with the existing van, which from only driving at very low speeds around town and lots of stopping and starting, this is causing a build-up of Carbone in the DPF system.  The van has been looked at, and repairs have been done but the problem, although slightly better for a while is still now persisting.

Enquiries have been made with a large local vehicle hire company for quotes on the long-term hire of an electric van, the same size that we presently have.

Approximate costs would be £15.00 per day on a 10,000 per annum mileage package on a 36 month contract, this works out at £456.86 per month.  The advantages would be no fuel costs, greener transport, no servicing or mot costs, no replacement tyres and a replacement vehicle in the event of a breakdown.  For an extra 92p per day they would fit a charger wherever we want it, but that is optional and the van can still be plugged in to a three-pin plug.

This vehicle could then be used mainly for the checks etc, which would help with all the stopping and starting, and then the existing van could be utilised elsewhere.