MEETING OF STOURPORT-ON-SEVERN TOWN COUNCIL

Tuesday 3rd September 2024 6.30pm

Venue: Coroner's Court, Civic Centre, Stourport-on-Severn

Present

In the chair: The Town Mayor Councillor J Thomas

Councillors: T Berry; J Griffiths; K Henderson; B Jones; D Little; R Lloyd; N Martin; D Morris; C Rogers; A Sutton; I Schmeising-Barnes; T I Schmeising-Barnes; H Williams

Minutes

53. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors E Burnip; B S Dawes; M C Freeman;   

54. MINUTES

It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 9th July 2024 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.

55. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of interest.

56. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME

One member of the public attended the meeting and addressed Council as follows:

“In August last year many residents across Stourport started getting letters from a fibre broadband installer notifying them that they were about to install a telegraph pole near their property.

These were to properties where, by design, there were no telegraph poles outside. They had open, uninterrupted views of the sky.

It turned out that since 2016 there has been a loosening up of regulations on broadband infrastructure in an attempt to speed up ultra-fast broadband rollout.

Some providers thought that in the short term telegraph poles could be the cheapest way of doing this and hoped to gain market share by being first into the area.

A protest group sprang up – Stourport Action Group Against The Poles - which got a petition together with 1600 signatures, lobbied councils, government, local MP, Ministers, Ofcom, local media, national press, Watchdog, you name it. This group has been campaigning against the poles ever since.

Incredibly, the Government has legislated to encourage fierce competition not just between the service providers, but between the installers of the broadband fibre itself.
Any one of 250 fibre installers can now do what they want when they want and where they want. Regardless of how many other sets of ultrafast broadband there are already and regardless of the views of local residents.

Imagine if Thames Water, Anglian Water, Northern Water and the rest were all allowed to compete in Stourport and installed their own water pipes and sewage pipes to every house.

This is obviously not going to be viable. Many fibre broadband installers will go bust or merge. This is already happening.

You may have noticed this policy is also having the effect of making many existing Openreach telegraph poles very top heavy. With more boxes on top and more overhead wires from other fibre network providers.

The current ultrafast broadband policy is a nonsense. It is resulting in a huge act of visual vandalism on the entire country. An ongoing attack on our green and pleasant land and on Stourport-on-Severn.

The policy does not make sense even on its own terms: it is resulting in massive duplication in many areas and continuing total neglect of others.

Parts of Stourport already now have three completed sets of ultrafast broadband infrastructure. On the Hartlebury Park estate two networks are underground (Openreach and Virgin) and one via telegraph poles (Fibre Heroes).

Not surprisingly, take up via poles has been very low. 1% or less is typical. No properties at all have connected on the Hartlebury Park estate.

As we approach the first anniversary of these unneeded, unwanted telegraph poles going up we are now aiming to get them removed. Unused poles are street debris. We are starting the next stage of our campaign with the Hartlebury Park estate. We request your support.”

57. MAYORS COMMUNICATIONS

The Mayor engagements were circulated and noted.  The Mayor reminded Members that Stourport Carnival was being held on 7th September 2024 and he was holding an Tour/Afternoon Tea at Hartlebury Castle on 18th September 2024 and hoped that Members would support him.

58. MOTIONS SUBMITTED UNDER STANDING ORDERS

No motions had been received in accordance with Section 9 and 10 of the Council’s Standing Orders.

59. PLANNING COMMITTEE MINUTES – 6th and 27th AUGUST 2024

The Chairman of the Planning Committee informed Council of the planning application recommendations to be made to the district council. The minutes of the meetings held on 6th and 27th August 2024 were approved.

Members noted that three Planning Applications had been “Recommended for Refusal”:

  1. WF.24/0429/FUL - Replacement Windows at Waterside View, 2A Bridge Street, Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire.
  2. WF.24/0430/LBC & WF.24/0449/FUL - Replacement Windows at Lichfield House, 4 Lichfield Street, Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire.
  3. WF.24/0425/PIP - Change of use of land and erection of 9no. residential caravans at Land at Os 382912 272878, Wilden Top Road, Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire.

A proposal had been put forward by Worcestershire County Council (WCC) for a bus shelter on Pearl Lane. Following a request from the town council, WCC had agreed to install solar panels to the shelter.

Members were also reminded of the Planning Training on 24th September 2024 to be held at Wyre Forest House, Kidderminster.

60. APPOINTMENT OF COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE FOR STOURPORT FUTURE

It was RESOLVED that Councillor Rogers be appointed to the Stourport Future Working Party.

61. APPOINTMENT OF COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE CIVIC HALL

It was RESOLVED that Councillor Morris be appointed as the Council representative for The Civic.

62. WORCESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL - ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE (EVCI) STRATEGY CONSULTATION

Members considered a consultation received from Worcestershire County Council on the Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure (EVCI) Strategy. 

A discussion took place and it was considered that nose to kerb parking could be a possibility in Stourport as it may help with parking in the High Street.  Councillor Rogers pointed out that this may not be possible due to blue badge parking being allowed on one side of the road.

It was agreed to propose the location of Lombard Street, Stourport-on-Severn as this already had sideway parking.  The Town Clerk would respond to the consultation.

63. UPDATES FROM REPRESENTATIVES ON OUTSIDE BODIES

The following updates were received:

Councillor Lloyd – Areley Kings Village Hall

Bookings for the hall were good and the film nights proved popular.  However, new trustees were still required.

Councillor Berry – Wilden Hall Village Hall

Renovations in the hall were almost complete and thanks were given to Councillor Rogers who provided monies from his Worcestershire County Council Divisional Fund.  Discussions were underway to hold an open day to try and get new hirers.

Councillor Lloyd – Stourport Carnival

Bookings on the Riverside Meadows were full and an afternoon of music was planned on the bandstand.  There were a few entrants for the land parade.  Members were informed that councillors and dignitaries would sit in Villeneuve-le-Roi gardens this year to watch the parade.

Councillor Williams – Worcestershire CALC

The Annual General Meeting would be held on 26th September 2024 and there was a joint Wyre Forest District Council/Forum on 9th September 2024.

Councillor Henderson -  Elizabeth Mills Centre

Members were informed that the manager had retired on 31st August 2024 and the trustees were currently overseeing the running of the centre.  All group hirers had a key and let themselves in.  However, the lunchtime meals held on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday needed to be looked at.  The centre also required new volunteers and trustees.

Councillor T Schmeising-Barnes – Stourport Heritage Port

An open day was planned on 14th September 2024 to celebrate the one-year anniversary of heritage port status.

64. VERBAL UPDATE FROM CHAIRMAN OF STOURPORT FUTRE WORKING PARTY

Councillor Griffiths informed Council the Stourport Future survey had been launched on 5th August and would run until 20th September 2024.  As at 23rd August, there had been 513 responses.  She asked all Members to complete the survey and to remind their family, friends and residents. 

A workshop for key stakeholders was to be held on 4th September 2024 in the Civic Hall with assistance from an High Street Task Force Expert. 

The next meeting of the working party was scheduled for 11th September 2024.

65. UPDATE FROM COUNCILLOR C ROGERS ON SAFER NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH

Councillor Rogers gave the following report:

Power Station Road

The Stourport Neighbourhood Team (SNT) were aware of some issues but these were mainly regarding horse and carts, which to date, the people engaged with, had not been committing any offences.  There were reports and issues over the play park and noise and also illegal fishing.  Noise was not an issue for the police to deal with and the illegal fishing was the responsibility of the Environment Agency with the district council to enforce as the primary agency.

Gilgal

Speeding - this was a difficult enforcement site for the Police. It was also a Vehicle Activated Sign (VAS) site and was under discussion to be looked at.

Discovery Way

Speeding - this again was utilised as a VAS site, local speed gun enforcement but would require data for anything else.  SNT last conducted speed enforcement in the middle of July and the average speed was 27mph, therefore this would not qualify for the police to make it a priority site without additional data suggesting otherwise.

Old Rose and Crown, Worcester Road

Noise concern was discussed regarding the motor bikes when leaving the site and also speeding.  However, speed data suggested there was no speed issues on this stretch of road.  SNT would speak to their Road Safety Team to attend and engage with the event however, as it was an event, the organiser would need to take responsibility to some extent.  

Councillor Rogers informed Members that he pushing for support to change the speed limits on the Worcester Road, currently varying from 30mph/40mph/50mph.

Wilden Lane

Parking concerns had been raised.  SNT have attended the location on multiple occasions and there has been no partial or full obstruction to the highway on each of those occasions.  The Community Speed Watch has ceased to exist and the Police required the equipment returned.  SNT would add this road to the local enforcement team to review the use of the speed gun.

Windermere Way and Kingsway

SNT would speed check Windermere Way.  They would not do Kingsway due to it being a unrestricted road of 60mph.

Walshes Estate

Anti social behaviour - the police stated that there was a lot going on at present which the public cannot be informed of for various reasons.  However, the main issue from a police perspective was the amount of complaints on social media and this did not reflect the amount the police received.  Of those reports, there were often evidential difficulties which prevented offenders being brought to justice. 

Members were reminded to consider their involvement.

65. UPDATE FROM COUNCILLORS P HARRISON AND C ROGERS (STOURPORT COUNTY COUNCIL OUNCILLORS

There was no report this meeting.

66. ACCOUNTS

The Town Clerk reported that Accounts for July totalling £113,791.45 and August totalling £10,150.81 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. 

67. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

Thanks were given to the Parks Team for the wonder floral displays.

Town Mayor

The meeting closed at 7.26pm.