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

Held on Tuesday 7th January 2020 7.00pm at Stourport Workmen's Club, Lickhill Road.

Present

In the chair The Town Mayor - Councillor K Henderson

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

Minutes

Before the meeting commenced, a minutes silence was held in memory of the late Mrs Lin Henderson.

90. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Mrs N Martin.

91. MINUTES

It was RESOLVEDthat the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 12th November 2019 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.

92. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Councillor J Thomas declared an Other Disclosable Interest in Agenda Item No 15 – Former Lloyds Garage, Bridge Street, Stourport-on-Severn and Agenda Item No. 16 – Recommendations from the Localism Working Party.

93. MAYORS COMMUNICATIONS

The Mayor and Deputy Mayor’s engagements were circulated and noted.

94. 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:-

a. WF.19/0742/HN – Single storey rear extension to provide enlarged kitchen, dining room, utility and ground floor toilet at 129 Windermere Way, Stourport-on-Severn, DY13 8QH. Approved.

b. WF.19/0746/FULL – Dropped kerb at 113 Bewdley Road, Stourport-on-Severn, DY13 8XX. Deferred.

c. WF.19/0757/FULL – Single storey rear conservatory extension at 1 Larch Way, Stourport-on-Severn, DY13 9DU. Approved.

d. WF.19/0763/ADVE – Display of advertisement on Headstone at Hoskins Family Funerals, 107 The Birches, Stourport-on-Severn, DY13 9NR. Approved.

e. WF.19/0771/FULL – Single storey rear extension and replacement roof to part of existing side extension at 3 Moffitt Way, Stourport-on-Severn, DY13 8SW. Approved.

f. WF.19/0780/FULL – Single storey side extension to main building and single storey rear extension to outbuildings at Mitton Dental Surgery, 26a – 26b Mitton Gardens, Stourport-on-Severn, DY13 9AE. Deferred.

g. WF.19/0786/FULL – Two storey side and front extension at 46 lower Lickhill Road, Stourport-on-Severn, DY13 8RH. Approved.

95. ARISING FROM CONSIDERATION OF THE APPLICATIONS FOR PLANNING PERMISSION

Noted.

96. 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.

97. APPOINTMENT OF COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE ON SAFER NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH

Following the resignation of Councillor Mrs N Martin as the Council’s representative on Safer Neighbourhood Watch, Council agreed that Councillor Mrs B Dawes be the new representative. The Town Clerk to inform Safer Neighbourhood Watch of the new appointment.

98. PRESENTATION FROM ESTELLE STOCK, WEST MERCIA POLICE, CO-ORDINATOR – WE DON’T BUY CRIME- WEST MERCIA POLICE

Members received a presentation on the “We Don’t Buy Crime” initiative .by West Mercia Police Co-Ordinator Estelle Stock. She informed Members that the initiative was to reduce thefts and burglary crimes in the Stourport area, which had already decreased by 5% in the West Mercia region with help from residents using Smart Water. There were already 75 Towns and Villages using Smart Water and this was to increase to 140. West Mercia Police hoped that all residents in Stourport would purchase a Smart Water kit, which consisted of a forensic pen (of which the fluorescent ink was uniquely coded) and four stickers which were to be placed in the front and back windows of properties. She advised that the West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner John-Paul Campion was keen for this to be rolled out across the region and was offering funding which would bring the price down to £6.68 per kit from £25.00 per kit. Councillor H Williams said that it would cost approximately £66,800 to purchase a kit for every residential property in Stourport. Estelle Stock replied that areas of high thefts and burglary could be priority (figures were available from Smart Water). West Mercia Police would also provide road signage for main routes and various road through Stourport which would advertise Smart Water Areas. They would also help in the distribution of the kits through Libraries, Schools, meetings etc. Councillor Williams suggested that Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinators could be involved.

99. APPROVAL OF FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES – 12TH NOVEMBER 2019

Council approved the minutes from the Finance Committee meeting which was held on 12th November 2019.

100. VE DAY CELEBRATIONS, 8TH – 10TH MAY 2020

Members were advised that the Bank Holiday had been moved from Monday 4th May 2020 to Friday 8th May 2020 to commemorate the VE day celebrations.

101. CHANGE OF DATES TO TOWN COUNCIL MEETINGS – FEBRUARY AND MARCH 2020

Council considered a request to change the Town Council meeting dates for February and March 2020 due to two councillors being members of the Cabinet at Wyre Forest District Council. After consideration, this was refused and the Town Council meetings would remain as 11th February 2020 and 10th March 2020.

102. ACCOUNTS

The Town Clerk reported that Accounts for November 2019 totalling £30,370.55 and December 2019 totalling £26,360.42 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.

103. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

None.

104. 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 paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act”.

105. FORMER LLOYDS GARAGE SITE, BRIDGE STREET, STOURPORT-ON-SEVERN

Council discussed the redevelopment into a temporary accommodation facility at the former Lloyds Garage Site, Bridge Street, Stourport-on-Severn. Councillor D Little advised Members that he had written to Mike Parker, Director for Economic Prosperity and Place at Wyre Forest District Council (WFDC), detailing the concerns of the Town Council. He said that the former garage sight had been compulsory purchased by Wyre Forest District Council and there had been £3 million pounds of Heritage Lottery Fund money spent to improve the basin area and to open it up to encourage visitors. A response to the letter had been received. A robust debate followed and it was agreed to wait for the planning application to come forward.

106. RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE LOCALISM WORKING PARTY

Council received and agreed the interim recommendations from the Chairman of the Localism Working Party, which was set up to look at options of transferring some services from Wyre Forest District Council. The Town Clerk to inform Wyre Forest District Council of the agreed recommendations. Other options to continue to be looked at and a further report to be received by Council.

107. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

There was no other business.

The meeting closed at 8.17pm