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

Held on TUESDAY 7TH FEBRUARY 2023 6.30 PM at HELD IN THE CORONERS COURT, CIVIC CENTRE, STOURPORT-ON-SEVERN

Present

In the chair The Mayor T Berry (In the Chair)

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

Minutes

96. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor C Barnett.

97. MINUTES

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

98. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of interest.

99. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME

One member of the public attended the meeting and addressed Council as follows: My name is Em Burnip, I live at 12 Redstone Lane with my husband and with my little girl and I am fully aware that I only have 3 minutes to talk. I am the founder of the soon to be launched Community Interest Company called Green Earthlings. The company will aim to educate children as well as the wider community of environmental and social issues. So, under the umbrella of Green Earthlings, we are starting an environmental group in Stourport. I contacted Rob Lloyd, councillor of Arley Kings East, and together we met with the Worcester Environmental Volunteering group. They showed us some of the amazing environmental projects they’ve done over the years and I would love to replicate some of them (at least to start with) in Stourport. We know how important pollinators are and that their numbers have plummeted during the last few years, so I believe we could and should support biodiversity and nature recovery in Stourport. Our aim is to bring the community together as well as to make our public spaces more appealing for wildlife. After all, nature is good for our mental health and I also believe that this town has the potential to be better, healthier, cleaner and more environmentally friendly. So, this is what I’d like to ask the council’s permission and / or support for (I have some printed photos to share with the councillors as examples. These were shared with us by the Worcester Environmental Group): - 1 or 2 designated areas for a so called “mown & collect” wildflower beds (potential areas could be: corner of Areley Common and Dunley Road, corner of Pearl Lane and Dunley Road or the corner of Redhouse Road and Pearl Lane). The method: the grass is left to grow between April and late July, then it’s mowed and the grass is collected. Repeat it for a couple of years and native wildflowers start to grow. I am hoping that once these areas start producing wildflowers, by which point we affectively proved to the public that it works, the group then can take on other areas. - The town’s hanging baskets and flower beds to be planted with flowers and plants that attract pollinators (the local RSPB group has kindly offered their help with identifying wildflowers and seeds that are native to the British Isles) - Bird boxes and bug hotels to be placed around town - Log piles to be placed in safe places - they will become natural habitats for small rodents, insects and fungi. - Community Litter pick in collaboration with Wild Earth Movements (a not for profit organisation based in Stourbridge). Date TBC, but we would like it in March or April if possible and to gather people in the park by the band stand. Thank you for listening, please feel free to ask any questions.

In response to Members questions, it was agreed to circulate all the details to Members in order for them to digest the information and decide how to proceed.

100. MAYORS COMMUNICATIONS

The Mayor’s engagements were circulated and noted. The Mayor thanked the Deputy Mayor for standing in for him at recent events. He also thanked Councillors Lloyd & Thomas for supporting him to collect Christmas Trees for recycling on behalf of one his charities – Kemp Hospice. He informed Council he had two forthcoming charity events – Gardeners Question Time with Paul Cook and Reg Moule (BBCH&W) on 23rd March and a golf day (date to be confirmed).

101. MOTIONS SUBMITTED UNDER STANDING ORDERS

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

102. PARKS COMMITTEE MINUTES OF 23RD JANUARY 2023

It was resolved that the minutes of the Parks Committee held on 23rd January be approved.

103. FINANCE COMMITTEE MINUTES OF 31ST JANUARY 2023

It was resolved that the minutes of the Finance Committee held on 31st January 2023 be agreed. The Treasurer was thanked for his informative report.

104. PLANNING COMMITTEE MINUTES OF 3RD AND 31ST JANUARY 2023

It be resolved that the minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on 3rd and 31st January 2023 be approved.

105. UPDATES FROM REPRESENTATIVES ON OUTSIDE BODIES

Councillor Williams informed Council that at the recent meeting of the Worcestershire County Association of Local Councils (CALC) Executive Committee, it was reported that subscriptions would be increased by 5%.

106. UPDATE FROM COUNCILLOR B DAWES ON SAFER NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH

There was no update this meeting.

107. 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)

There was no update this meeting.

108. UPDATE FROM TOWN CLERK ON THE UK PROSPERITY FUND

Council were informed that Wyre Forest District Council had confirmed that monies could be available for works at Stourport Community Centre and the Civic Hall but these were subject to meeting the criteria as set out in the fund rules. After a discussion, it was agreed that works for the community centre could be completed by 31st March 2023, but due to the process that needed to be undertaken for works at the Civic Hall, it was decided not to progress this. The Town Clerk would follow up.

109. CONSIDER A NOTICE OF THE WYRE FOREST DISTRICT COUNCIL (OFF STREET PARKING PLACES) ORDER 2023 TO AMEND THE BOUNDARIES OF SEVERN MEADOWS (NO. 1) SURFACE VEHICLE PARK AND SEVERN MEADOWS (NO. 2) SURFACE VEHICLE PARK (REMOVAL OF TOILET BLOCK AND ASSOCIATED LAND)

Council had received a notice from Wyre Forest District Council (WFDC) regarding the removal of the Riverside toilet block from the WFDC Off Street Parking Place Order as the site now belonged to STC. There were no comments.

110. ACCOUNTS

The Town Clerk reported that Accounts for December 2022 totalling £43,413.76 and January totalling £15,639.52 had been paid since the last meeting and it was RESOLVED that the report be noted and approved. A Schedule of the Accounts paid and additional details were appended at the end of these Minutes, in the Council’s Minute Book and was available for general inspection.

111. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

There was no other business.

Councillors Martin and Thomas arrived at the meeting at this point, (6.52pm).

112. 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.

113. STOURPORT TOWN COUNCIL OWNED LAND AND BUILDINGS

A discussion was held on Stourport Town Council owned land and buildings and the way forward in managing all areas. It was agreed the Stourport Community Centre should be managed by the Town Council and the Town Clerk was asked to follow up accordingly.

114. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

There was no other business.

The meeting closed at 7.16 pm