MEETING OF STOURPORT-ON-SEVERN TOWN COUNCIL

Tuesday 2 December 2025

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

Present:

The Town Mayor: Councillor J Thomas (Chairman)

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

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors K Henderson, N Martin, C Rogers. .
MINUTES

It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 4th November 2025 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
- Councillor T Schmeising-Barnes declared an Other Disclosable Interest in Agenda Item No. 17 – Update on Civic Hall Working Party as he was an active supporter of “The Civic”.
- Councillor Berry declared an Other Disclosable Interest in Agenda Item No. 9, Minutes of the Planning Committee of 25th November 2025, with regard to Planning Application WF.25/0615/PIP as the application had received an objection from a person with whom he was acquainted with. Councillor Berry resolved to discuss the relevant planning application with an open mind.
- Councillor I Schmeising-Barnes declared an Other Disclosable Interest in Agenda Item No. 18 – Update on Civic Hall Working Party as her husband had an interest in the Civic.
  
  Councillor Perks joined the meeting at 6:33pm.
PUBLIC QUESTION TIME

There was no public question time.
MAYORS COMMUNICATIONS

The Mayor’s engagements were circulated and noted. The Mayor informed Council that he had also attended a concert of the Wyre Forest Symphony Orchestra at St Georges Church, Kidderminster on Saturday 29^th November 2025.

The Mayor invited Members to join him at his Carol Service on Thursday 11^th December 2025 at St Michael and All Angels, Stourport-on-Severn. This was in addition to an event which had been organised by StourJam on Tuesday 23^rd December 2025, which would take place at the Stagborough Arms Public House, Stourport-on-Severn, in support of the Mayors charities. Finally, the Mayor invited Members to join him for the annual Boxing Day Tractor run through Stourport-on-Severn Town Centre.
MOTIONS SUBMITTED UNDER STANDING ORDERS

There were no motions received.
UPDATE FROM COUNCILLORS I CRESSWELL AND K PERKS (STOURPORT WORCESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL COUNCILLORS)

Councillor Cresswell advised that he had met with Councillor Griffiths to discuss the “Stourport Vision” document. He also informed the meeting that he had invited Councillor Amos (Worcestershire County Councillor - Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Business and Skills) to visit Stourport-on-Severn. Councillor Cresswell said that once a visit had been organised, he would like to extend the invitation to Stourport-on-Severn Town Council Members.

Councillor Perks provided an update. Members were informed that he was supporting Stourport Town Councillors with various issues. In addition to this, he had arranged for a crossing to be installed along Stagborough Way outside St Wulstans School and Lickhill Primary School. In response to a Members question, Councillor Perks advised that he was unsure whether the crossing would be a raised crossing, or not. Councillor Perks told Members that the Traffic Review was ongoing and that he would meet with Stourport-on-Severn Town Councillors to discuss this further next year. Councillor Perks had raised a formal objection regarding the newly proposed housing development in Areley Kings; he notified Members that he had attempted to amend some of the associated planning legislation and that this was currently with Planning Officers for review.

Councillor Williams raised a question regarding the speed of traffic on the Gilgal/Mitton Street, Stourport-on-Severn. Councillor Perks advised that this issue was under consideration and would form part of the review he had commissioned.

Councillor Griffiths enquired about an issue which had previously been discussed with Councillor Perks: the Worcester Road island in Stourport-on-Severn. Councillor Perks said that items could not be added to the island for safety reasons but that he would respond fully to Councillor Griffiths enquiry shortly.
FINANCE COMMITTEE MINUTES OF 10^TH NOVEMBER 2025

The Chairman of the Finance Committee provided an overview of the recommendations which had been made following the recent meeting of the Finance Committee. It was resolved that the minutes of the Finance Committee meeting held on 10^th November 2025 be approved.
PLANNING COMMITTEE MINUTES OF 25th NOVEMBER 2025

The Chairman of the Planning Committee provided an overview of the applications which had been discussed at the most recent meeting of the Planning Committee.

Members were informed that Planning Application WF.25/0713/FUL had previously been deferred but it had subsequently been changed to “Recommend Approval” at the last meeting of the Planning Committee, subject to some additional written conditions provided by North Worcestershire Water Management.

WF.25/0839/FUL had been “Recommend Refusal” as objections had been raised by the Conservation Officer.

It was resolved that the minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on 25^th November 2025 be approved.
POLITICAL BALANCE

The political balance was noted and it was acknowledged that the Local Government
& Housing Act 1989 (s15) and the Local Government (Committees & Political
Groups) Regulations 1990 only applied to principal councils.

The Chairman of the Finance Committee proposed that a fifth Member be added to the Committee. Members were informed that the Committee had risked been inquorate when holding meetings in the past. It was agreed that Councillor Williams would join the Finance Committee.
UPDATE FROM COUNCILLOR C ROGERS: CABINET MEMBER OF WYRE FOREST DISTRICT COUNCIL AND ON SAFER NEIGHBOURHOOD TEAM

There was no update this meeting.
UPDATES FROM COUNCILLOR REPRESENTATIVES ON OUTSIDE BODIES

Council received the following updates which were all noted:

Stourport Civic Society – No update.

Elizabeth Mills Centre – It was reported that the AGM had been a success and a small profit had been reported.

Worcestershire CALC Executive Committee – Members were informed that the two possible scenarios for a unitary authority were discussed.

Civic Hall – The Chairman of The Civic had not been present at the recent AGM. Discussions had included the Civic’s marketing strategy.
ACCOUNTS

It was reported that Accounts for November 2025 totalling £73,828.70, 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.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS

There was no other business.
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.

Councillors Perks and Cresswell left the meeting at 6:58pm
VERBAL UPDATE FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE STOURPORT FUTURE WORKING PARTY
Members were advised that the Stourport Future Working Group were waiting for Wyre Forest District Council (WFDC) to formally adopt the “Stourport Vision”. This was expected to take place on 16^th December 2025, at a meeting of WFDC Cabinet. The “Vision” document would be formally adopted by Stourport-on-Severn Town Council at the next meeting of Council during January 2026. Councillor Griffiths asked for feedback, but none was received.
VERBAL UPDATE FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CIVIC HALL WORKING PARTY
There was no update this meeting.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS

There was no other business.

Town Mayor

The meeting closed at 19.02pm.