Minutes of a meeting of MINUTES OF A MEETING OF STOURPORT-ON-SEVERN TOWN COUNCIL

Held on TUESDAY 6TH SEPTEMBER 2022 6.30 P.M. at HELD IN THE CORONERS COURT, CIVIC CENTRE, STOURPORT-ON-SEVERN

Present

In the chair The Town Mayor (Councillor T Berry)

Councillors C Barnett, J Byng, B S Dawes, M C Freeman, J Griffiths, P Harrison, K Henderson, V Higgs, B Jones, D Little, R Lloyd, C Rogers, D C Russell, D Sheppard, J Thomas and H Williams

Minutes

33. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor N Martin.

34. MINUTES

It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 6th June 2022 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.

35. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Councillor Lloyd declared an Other Disclosable Interest (ODI) in Agenda Item No. 14(a) – Update from the Town Clerk on Civic Hall, as he is a volunteer.

36. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME

No members of the public were present at the meeting, nor had questions been submitted to the Town Clerk.

37. MAYORS COMMUNICATIONS

The Mayor advised Council that he had attended. The Mayor’s engagements were circulated and noted.

38. MOTIONS SUBMITTED UNDER STANDING ORDERS

No motions had been received in accordance with Section 6 of the Council’s Standing Orders.

39. PLANNING COMMITTEE MINUTES OF 5TH JULY, 9TH AND 30TH AUGUST 2022

The Chairman of the Planning Committee informed Council that Planning Application Number WF.22/0180/HYB - Hybrid planning application for the demolition of existing B2/B8 building and erection of a new Food Retail Store (Use Class E (a)) with associated access alterations, car parking, servicing and landscaping (full planning permission) and the erection of start-up employment units (totalling 928 sqm (GIA) for Class B2/B8/E (g) use (outline planning permission with all matters except access reserved) at Minerva Point, Worcester Road, Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire DY13 9AS was still waiting for comments from the Highways Authority.

40. UPDATES FROM THE TOWN CLERK

a) Riverside Paddling Pool The paddling pool had closed for the season on Sunday 4th September 2022. Despite one incident of vandalism, the pool had been open approximately 99 days out of the intended 105. The budget was £32k, however, due to the vandalism repairs that were required and opening for 15 weeks (which had been approved at Council meeting held on 20th May 2022), it was anticipated that an overspend of approximately £3,000 could occur.

b) Riverside Toilets Despite three occurrences of vandalism, the toilets had been open from 8am to 7pm daily since taking them over in April 2022. It had been extremely busy over the school holidays. The budget allocated for the year was £36k. For the first four months of the budget year, the spend was approximately in the region of £12.5k.

41. UPDATES FROM REPRESENTATIVES ON OUTSIDE BODIES

It was noted that from October 2022, Council would receive updates from representatives on the Council’s Outside Bodies.

42. UPDATE FROM COUNCILLOR B DAWES ON SAFER NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH

Councillor Dawes referred to an email from PC Maher which the Town Clerk would circulate to all members. The main points were:

• Vandalism of public facilities

• Road Safety on Dunley Road/Gilgal/Discovery Road/Lickhill Road/Wilden Lane.

• ASB in the Town Centre.

43. UPDATE FROM COUNCILLORS N MARTIN AND J THOMAS (CABINET MEMBERS FOR WYRE FOREST DISTRICT COUNCIL) AND COUNCILLORS P HARRISON AND C ROGERS (STOURPORT COUNTY COUNCIL COUNCILLOR)

Councillor Thomas reported that it was pleasing to see that the Town Council had approved Planning Application 22/0656 for the creation of a bike park at Burlish Top. He would arrange for an officer to attend a future Council meeting to do a presentation. He also informed Council that Wyre Forest District Council were to carry out a feasibility study on Bridge Street Car Park to look at options for the area. Following a request, he agreed to keep the Council informed and get involved if possible. Councillor Rogers advised Council that many roads and pavements in the district had been resurfaced over the Summer with more to be carried out. He also stated that village gates had been installed on Wilden Lane. Council were also advised that the Southern Link Road in Worcester had now opened.

44. ACCOUNTS

The Town Clerk reported that Accounts for June totalling £40,851.65, July totalling £43,536.40 and August totalling £46,332.88 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. It was noted that future meetings would include a brief report for key payments made during the month.

45. 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. Councillor Lloyd left the meeting at this point, (6.50pm).

46. UPDATES FROM THE TOWN CLERK

a) The Civic Hall A discussion was held on the lease which came to an end on 31st December 2022. Councillor Lloyd came back to the meeting at this point, (7.08pm).

b) Stourport Community Centre Council went through several options and asked the Town Clerk to follow up.

c) Kingsway Allotments Council received an update on the Kingsway allotments and noted that a new manager was now in place.

47. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

There was no other business.

The meeting closed at 7.15 P.M.