Minutes of a meeting of Stourport-on-Severn Town Council

Held on Tuesday 11th February 2020 7.00pm at Stourport Workmen’s Club, Lickhill Road, Stourport-on-Severn

Present

In the chair The Town Mayor - Councillor K Henderson

Councillors Mrs C Barnett, T Berry, Mrs B S Dawes, Mrs J Griffiths, Mrs V Higgs, B Jones, D Little, R Lloyd, C Rogers, D C Russell, D Sheppard, G M Talbot and H Williams.

Minutes

108. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors: M Freeman, Mrs N Martin and J Thomas.

109. MINUTES

It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 7th January 2020 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.

110. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Councillor D Sheppard declared an Other Disclosable Interest in Agenda Item No. 14 as he had been a resident near the site for 43 years.

Councillor Mrs C Barnett declared an Other Disclosable Interest in Agenda Item No. 14 as she had been part of the application.

111. MAYORS COMMUNICATIONS

The Mayor and Deputy Mayor’s engagements were circulated and noted. Council agreed to the Mayor’s request that his daughter, Julie Guest, replace his late wife as Mayoress for the remainder of his mayoral year and asked the Mayor to thank his daughter. The Mayor passed on best wishes from Council for Councillor Gary’s Tablot wedding on Saturday 15th February 2020.

112. PARKS COMMITTEE 29TH JANUARY 2020

The recommendations in Minute No. 5 of the meeting of the Parks Committee held on the 29th January 2020 were approved.

113. FINANCE COMMITTEE 4TH FEBRUARY 2020

The Treasurer took Members through the report and highlighted the following: The budget showed an overspend of approximately £8,000 which was due to staffing costs as detailed in the 4th February 2020 Finance minutes presented to Council. It was proposed and agreed that an increase from £31.40 to £39.00 in the precept would be made which represented a 24% increase in a Band D property. In response to a Member question, it was reported that most of the increase related to the Town Council taking on some services from Wyre Forest District Council on the subject of localism which included an increase in staffing hours and a new member of staff to take on some of the duties. Members were advised that further discussions were to be had at a meeting on 24th February 2020 with toilets in the town centre being the main item. The Treasurer was thanked for his report and left the meeting at 7.15pm.

114. APPLICATIONS FOR PLANNING PERMISSION

Consideration was given to consultations by the District Council on the following applications for planning permission, and it was RESOLVED that the District Council be informed of the Town Council response to each consultation, as set out below:-

  1. WF.19/0054/FULL – Change of use of land from leisure centre and associated parking to a touring caravan site with associated reception building and infrastructure at former Stourport Sports Club, Harold Davies Drive, Stourport-on-Severn, DY13 0AA. Recommend Approval.
  2. WF.19/0668/FULL – Change of use of land to create a dog walking field, including parking and fencing at Field Rear of Cooks Nursery, Bewdley Road North, Stourport-on-Severn, DY13 8PX. Refused.
  3. WF.19/0805/FULL – Change of use from building for Worship to 5 residential town houses at Kingdom Hall, Lickhill Road, Stourport-on-Severn, DY13 8HB. Refused.
  4. WF.19/3064/PNH – Single storey rear extension at 21 Garland Road, Stourport-on-Severn, DY13 8RT. Noted.
  5. WF.20/0004/FULL – Erection of single storey side extension and change external elevation of dwelling house to render at 58 Areley Common, Stourport-on-Severn, DY13 0NQ. Recommend Approval.
  6. WF.20/0009/FULL- Extension to side, front and rear at 112 Wilden Lane, Stourport-on-Severn, DY13 9LP. Deferred.
  7. WF.20/0018/FULL – Erection of two storey rear extension and single storey rear extension, following demolition of conservatory at 5 Galahad Way, Stourport-on-Severn, DY13 8SQ. Deferred.
  8. WF.20/0020/FULL – Single storey rear extension at 38 Windermere Way, Stourport-on-Severn, DY13 8QJ. Recommend Approval.
  9. WF.20/0025/FULL – Erection of dormer bungalow, following demolition of garage and subdivision of plot at 4 Redhouse Road, Stourport-on-Severn, DY13 0NW. Deferred.
  10. WF.20/0027/FULL – Proposed additional dropped kerb at 84 Areley Common, Stourport-on-Severn, DY13 0NP. Refused.
  11. WF.20/0042/S73 – Minor material amendment of approval 16/0603/FULL to substitute house types at Depot, Baldwin Road, Stourport-on-Severn. Recommend Approval.
  12. WF.20/0044/S73 – Minor material amendment of approval 18/0160/FULL to substitute house types at Land to the North of Baldwin Road, Baldwin Road, Stourport-on-Severn. Recommend Approval.
  13. WF.20/0050/FULL – Erection of conservatory to side at Cornerstone Church, Minster Road, Stourport-on-Severn. Deferred.

115. ARISING FROM CONSIDERATION OF THE APPLICATIONS FOR PLANNING PERMISSION

Noted.

116. DECISIONS ON PAST PLANNING APPLICATIONS

Members had been circulated with a list of the decisions of the District Council in respect of past planning applications and, it was RESOLVED that the list be noted.

117. UPDATE FROM COUNCILLOR MRS B DAWES ON SAFER NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH

Councillor Mrs Dawes firstly thanked Councillor Mrs N Martin in carrying out the role prior to her taking over and said she would continue the good work that had been done to date. The police had carried out a Business Crime Initiative for local businesses and shops and the number of arrests were down from 5 last year to 2 this year. In January 2020, there had been a campaign on speeding in the area and data was awaited. There was also work on Anti Social Behaviour particularly concentrating on local schools.

118. REVISED COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP

The revised Committee Membership was agreed.

119. WYRE FOREST ARMED FORCES DAY

Deferred.

120. SCOUT HUT – LICKHILL MEMORIAL PARK

Council approved the Notice of Intention to assign the lease for the Scout Hut from Severn & Teme Scout Units to Wyre Forest Scouts.

121. DEFINITIVE MAP MODIFICATION ORDER

Council considered an application for the addition of footpaths around and across Patrick’s Field, near Moorhall Lane, Stourport-on-Severn. Members had a discussion and it was felt by some Members that it was unnecessary to have so many footpaths as there were already many nearby and it seemed that it was no more than to prevent planning in the future. A named vote on the application for a Definitive Map Modification Order for the addition of footpaths around and for Patrick’s Field, Stourport-on-Severn was recorded as follows: For (3) Councillors: Mrs C Barnett, R Lloyd, D R Sheppard. Against (10) Councillors: T Berry, Mrs B Dawes, K J Henderson, Mrs V Higgs, B Jones, D Little, C Rogers, D Russell, G Talbot, H Williams. Abstained (1) Councillor Mrs J Griffiths.

122. ACCOUNTS

The Town Clerk reported that Accounts for January 2020 totalling £21,120.36 had been paid since the last meeting and it was RESOLVED that the reports 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.

123. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

None.

The meeting closed at 7.30pm