MEETING OF STOURPORT-ON-SEVERN TOWN COUNCIL

Tuesday 3rd December 2024 6.30pm

Venue: Mayor's Parlour, Civic Centre, Stourport-on-Severn

Present

In the chair: The Town Mayor Councillor J Thomas

Councillors: T Berry; E Burnip; M Freeman; J Griffiths; P B Harrison; K Henderson; B Jones; D Little; R Lloyd; D Morris; C Rogers; I Schmeising-Barnes; T I Schmeising-Barnes; A Sutton;.H Williams;

Minutes

102. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors B Dawes and N Martin;

103. MINUTES

It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 5th November 2024 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.

104. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Councillor T Schmeising-Barnes declared an Other Disclosable Interest in Agenda Item No. 7 – Planning Committee Meeting Minutes (26th November 2024) Minute No. 47(d) as the applicant is a member of his family. He also declared an Other Disclosable Interest in Agenda Item No. 8 – Parks Committee Meeting Minutes (12th November 2024) Minute No. 5, as he is a Member of Greener Stourport.

Councillor I Schmeising-Barnes declared an Other Disclosable Interest in Agenda Item No. 8 – Parks Committee Meeting Minutes (12th November 2024) Minute No. 5, as she is the Secretary of Greener Stourport.

Councillor Burnip declared an Other Disclosable Interest in Agenda Item No. 8 – Parks Committee Meeting Minutes (12th November 2024) Minute No. 5, as she is the Chairman of Greener Stourport.

105. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME

There was no public question time.

106. MAYORS COMMUNICATIONS

The Mayoral engagements were circulated and noted. The Mayor thanked everyone that had attended the Remembrance Sunday Service and the Three Kings Parade. The Three Kings Parade was growing each year. Thanks were given to the Town Clerk and the Parks staff for all their help.

107. MOTIONS SUBMITTED UNDER STANDING ORDERS

One motion had been received in accordance with Section 9 and 10 of the Council’s Standing Orders.

Councillor Berry presented the motion and the following was agreed:

Council recommends that:

“Stourport-on-Severn Town Council (STC) write to Wyre Forest District Council Cabinet Members, Deputy Chief Executive and the Planning Manager protesting the decision to demolish the Old Bakehouse in Raven Street, Stourport-on-Severn with no consultation for planning permission.

The Old Bakehouse was identified in the Wyre Forest District Council (WFDC) commissioned report on Stourport Conservation areas earlier this year as a building in poor condition but of some significance. The report goes on to say that buildings in this category should be retained, restored sensitively and brought back into beneficial use.

The same report reminded WFDC that they could serve s215 notice, an urgent works notice or a repairs notice to require the owners to protect and preserve the buildings.

The owner of The Old Bakehouse was WFDC itself. Instead of fulfilling the recommendations in their own commissioned report, they demolished the building with no planning permission nor opportunity for residents or STC to object.

Stourport-on-Severn Town Council request a response as to why no efforts seem to have been made to preserve the building or any form of consultation or Planning Application having been undertaken.”

Councillor T Schmeising-Barnes left the meeting at this point, (6.38pm).

108. PLANNING COMMITTEE MINUTES – 26th NOVEMBER 2024

One motion had been received in accordance with Section 9 and 10 of the Council’s Standing Orders.

Councillor Berry presented the motion and the following was agreed:

Council recommends that:

The same report reminded WFDC that they could serve s215 notice, an urgent works notice or a repairs notice to require the owners to protect and preserve the buildings.

Stourport-on-Severn Town Council request a response as to why no efforts seem to have been made to preserve the building or any form of consultation or Planning Application having been undertaken.

Councillor T Schmeising-Barnes left the meeting at this point, (6.38pm).

109. PARKS COMMITTEE MINUTES – 12th NOVEMBER 2024

The Chairman of the Parks Committee took Members through the minutes. The minutes of the meeting held on 26th November 2024 were approved. Thanks were given to the Parks & Cemetery Superintendent for his assistance and advice on the proposed Community Garden in Lickhill War Memorial Park.

110. UPDATES FROM COUNCILLOR REPRESENTATIVES ON OUTSIDE BODIES

The following updates were received:

Councillor Lloyd – Areley Kings Village Hall

Following the resignation of the Chairman of Trustees, Councillor Thomas had been appointed to this role. Three people were to be interviewed to become trustees.

There was also a proposal to commence a community repair café.

Councillor Berry – Wilden Village Hall

Works had been carried out to the building but unfortunately the builder had passed away. Work now needed to be done to increase usage of the hall.

111. VERBAL UPDATE FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF STOURPORT FUTURE WORKING PARTY

Councillor Griffiths informed Council that the next meeting of the working party was due to be held on 4th December 2024. Following the survey, it was proposed that communication would be issued to inform people what was happening.

One of the big issues that had been raised from the survey was traffic in the town. It was agreed to send an alternative traffic proposal to Mark Bayliss, Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Highways and Transport at Worcestershire County Council.

112. UPDATE ON RIVERSIDE PADDLING POOL

The Town Clerk informed Members that a meeting with GoAqua had been arranged for 12^th December 2024.

113. UPDATE FROM COUNCILLOR C ROGERS ON SAFER NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH

Councillor Rogers informed Council of the following:

There was ongoing anti-social behaviour on The Walshes and a new approach had been taken to tackle the problems. The Housing Associations were to create behavioural contracts with the youngsters and if broken, it could have implications on the place they lived and this would then come back to their parents. It was perceived that it was currently working.

The police were focusing on the following at present:

• Hotspot policing - concentrating on specific areas in Wyre Forest but none were in Stourport-on-Severn.
• Knife Amnesty – 41 knives had been handed in with 5 from the Lickhill area. Two arrests had been made for knife crime and the police had visited local schools.
• The annual campaign for drink and drug driving was underway. If a car was stopped by the police, they were able to carry out the same “stop & search” as they would by stopping someone in the street. To complete the paperwork for this could take approximately 45 minutes.
• The Police & Crime Commissioner was to formalise the reporting to Councils and this would be done every quarter with an annual visit.

Councillor Griffiths highlighted that following the Stourport Future survey, several names had appeared online and these would be passed to the police.

Following a request, Councillor Rogers would obtain an up to date police contact list for the area.

114. UPDATES FROM COUNCILLOR C ROGERS (CABINET MEMBER OF WYRE FOREST DISTRICT COUNCIL) AND P HARRISON AND C ROGERS (STOURPORT COUNTY COUNCIL COUNCILLORS

Councillor Rogers informed Council that communication had been received today (3rd December 2024) that the Solicitor to the Council (Wyre Forest District Council) had agreed that the Bridge Street site, Stourport-on-Severn had met the statutory criteria and the asset would be included on the Council’s List of Assets of Community Value for the next five years.

115. ACCOUNTS

The Town Clerk reported that Accounts for November 2024 totalling £31,252.08 had 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.

116. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

There was no other business.

Town Mayor

The meeting closed at 7.08pm.