MEETING OF STOURPORT-ON-SEVERN TOWN COUNCIL

Tuesday 7th January 2025 6.30pm

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

Present

In the chair: The Town Mayor Councillor J Thomas

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

A minute’s silence was held in memory of Pauline Annis, President and former Chairman of Stourport Civic Society who passed away on 25th December 2024.

Minutes

  1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

 Apologies for absence were received from Councillors: E Burnip, B Dawes and  A Sutton.

  1. MINUTES

It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 3rd December 2024 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.

  1. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of interest.

  1. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME

There was no public question time.

  1. MAYORS COMMUNICATIONS

The Mayoral engagements were circulated and noted. 

  1. MOTIONS SUBMITTED UNDER STANDING ORDERS

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

  1. PLANNING COMMITTEE MINUTES – 17th December 2024

The Chairman of the Planning Committee informed Council of the planning application recommendations to be made to Wyre Forest District Council.  The minutes of the meeting held on 17th December 2024 were approved.

  1. FINANCE COMMITTEE MINUTES - 6TH JANUARY 2025

The Chairman of the Finance Committee informed Council that a meeting had been held with Go Aqua (the Town Council contractor) to discuss the “not fit for purpose” flooring on the Riverside Paddling Pool.  Go Aqua had reported that they had engaged with a different flooring company to ascertain the problems.  They had highlighted that in the first instance, a pressure test would need to be carried out.

The Town Clerk would arrange for Go Aqua to carry out a pressure test on the Riverside Paddling Pool as soon as possible.

The minutes of the meeting held on 6th January 2025 were approved.

  1. UPDATES FROM COUNCILLOR REPRESENTATIVES ON OUTSIDE BODIES

Council received the following update:

Councillor Lloyd – Areley Kings Village Hall

An informal meeting had been held and 3 prospective trustees had shown an interest.

  1. Verbal update from THE Chairman of Stourport Future Working Party

Councillor Griffiths informed Council that the next meeting of the working party would be held on 14th January 2025 at 2.00pm in the Mayors Parlour, Civic Centre, Stourport-on-Severn.  The results of the survey would be looked at. 

A proposal had been made to rent a notice board from Mr Cleancalls in the High Street, Stourport-on-Severn and the cost of this would be presented to Finance Committee at the end of January 2025.  Members agreed this would be a good idea as the town council would be able to display information relating to meetings, events etc.  Councillor T Schmeising-Barnes informed Council that Stourport Forward had a notice board situated at by the lower lock on the Riverside, Stourport-on-Severn.

  1. UPDATE ON RIVERSIDE PADDLING POOL

An update on the Riverside Paddling Pool had been covered in Minute Number 124 (above).

  1. UPDATE FROM COUNCILLOR C ROGERS ON SAFER NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH

Councillor Rogers informed Council of the following:

Stourport Neighbourhood Team were forwarding emails to the Town Council office so there was no longer regular contact with them.

The police had spoken to Councillor Morris (in his role as Enforcement Officer for Wyre Forest District Council (WFDC)) to see if anything could be done regarding the individual that was living in a tent on the High Street, Stourport-on-Severn.  Councillor Morris said he would follow this up.  Councillor Thomas referred Members to an email received from WFDC stating they were dealing with this situation.

The Council had received numerous complaints from local residents of the Anti-Social Behaviour that was happening in Stourport-on-Severn, some stating how unsafe they felt and had asked the town council for help going forward.  After a robust discussion, it was agreed that the Town Clerk would arrange a meeting with the local Police Inspector so the issues could be discussed and ascertain the best way forward.

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

Councillor Rogers informed Council that the Devolution White Paper for England had been issued on 16th December 2024 which set out details for unitary authorities.  An in-depth discussion was held regarding possible implications it could have for the town council.  Members would be updated as and when information was released.

  1. ACCOUNTS

The Town Clerk reported that Accounts for December 2024 totalling £41,297.45 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. 

  1. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

There was no other business.

  1. 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.

  1. “PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO WAITING RESTRICTIONS” ON A ROAD IN STOURPORT-ON-SEVERN

Council received and noted the proposed amendment to waiting restrictions on a road in Stourport-on-Severn.

  1. BRIDGE STREET CAR PARK, STOURPORT-ON-SEVERN

A discussion took place on the Bridge Street Car Park, Stourport-on-Severn.  This followed Stourport Civic Society receiving confirmation that the site had been registered as an Asset of Community Value.  It was agreed that the Town Clerk would contact Stourport Civic Society to arrange a meeting to discuss this in more detail prior the next Council meeting on 4th February 2025.

  1. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

There was no other business.                                                                 

Town Mayor

The meeting closed at 7.51pm.