MEETING OF STOURPORT-ON-SEVERN TOWN COUNCIL

Tuesday 6th January 2026

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

Present

In the chair: The Town Mayor Councillor J Thomas

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

Minutes

  1. Apologies For Absence

    Apologies for absence were received from Councillor T Berry.

  2. Minutes

    It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 2nd December 2025 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.

  3. Declarations Of Interest
    • Councillor T Schmeising-Barnes declared an Other Disclosable Interest in Agenda Item No. 16 – Update on Civic Hall Working Party as he was an active supporter of “The Civic”.
    • Councillor I Schmeising-Barnes declared an Other Disclosable Interest in Agenda Item No. 16 – Update on Civic Hall Working Party as her husband had an interest in the Civic.
  4. Public Question Time

    There was no public question time.

  5. Mayors Communications

    The Mayor’s engagements were circulated and noted. In particular, the Mayor wished to note that ‘StaggerJam’, which had been held on 23rd December 2025, had raised over £500 for his chosen charities.

  6. Motions Submitted Under Standing Orders

    There were no motions received.

  7. Update from Councillor I Cresswell and K Perks (Stourport Worcestershire County Council councillors)

    Councillor Cresswell advised that Councillor Alan Amos (Worcestershire County Council Councillor – Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Business and Skills) would visit Stourport-on-Severn to discuss investment in the area.  The date had still to be confirmed but Councillor Cresswell would contact Stourport-on-Severn Town Council with details once they had been finalised.

  8. HR Committee Minutes Of 4th December 2025

    The Chairman of the HR Committee provided an overview of the recommendations which had been made following the recent meeting of the HR Committee.  It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the HR Committee meeting held on 4th December 2025 be approved.

  9. Planning Committee Minutes Of 16th December 2025

    In the absence of the Chairman of the Planning Committee, Councillor H Williams provided an overview of the applications which had been discussed at the most recent meeting of the Planning Committee.

    It was resolved that the minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on 16th December 2025 be approved.

    A Member raised a question regarding deferred applications, and whether the minutes could include the reason for the deferral.  The Town Clerk reminded Members that the Wyre Forest District Council Planning Portal contained this information.

  10. Update From Councillor C Rogers: Cabinet Member Of Wyre Forest District Council And On Safer Neighbourhood Team

    Councillor Rogers advised that the Stourport Vision document had been endorsed at the last Cabinet meeting of Wyre Forest District Council (WFDC), held on 17th December 2025.  Councillor Rogers informed Members that feedback from WFDC Cabinet Members had been very positive.

     Councillor Rogers asked if the Safer Neighbourhood Team update could be removed from the agenda in future, as Members all received frequent email updates and no further updates were required.  The Mayor of Stourport-on-Severn Town Council responded and said that this would be considered.

    In response to a Member question regarding food waste collections, Councillors Rogers advised that WFDC were working towards a target of April 2026 to launch the new food waste collections but that at present, no further information had been available.  Councillor Rogers advised that a biodigester would be required to dispose of food waste but one did not exist in Worcestershire at present.  Councillor Cresswell (Worcestershire County Council Councillor) resolved to provide Members with an update on this matter.

  11. Endorsement Of The Stourport Vision Document And Verbal Update From The Chairman Of The Stourport Future Working Party

    The Chairman of the Stourport Future Working Party confirmed that the Stourport Vision had received full endorsement from Wyre Forest District Council (WFDC) on 17th December 2025. The Vision document was the output of 18 months’ work by Members of the Stourport Future Working Party, with support from WFDC. A vote was proposed; 15 Members voted to endorse the Vision document, and 1 Member voted against.

    Following the vote, it was duly confirmed that the Stourport Vision document be endorsed by Stourport-on-Severn Town Council.

    Cllr. Griffiths advised that Members of the Stourport Future Working Party would be seeking endorsements from partner agencies, such as Worcestershire County Council, the local Member of Parliament, West Mercia Police and local heritage and community groups. Following this, the document would be shared publicly.

    Stakeholder sessions had been scheduled for the beginning of March 2026. Sessions would be used to shape what the future Steering Group might look like.

    Cllr. Martin thanked Cllr. Griffiths for her hard work and determination in delivering the Vision document alongside the Members of the Working Party.

  12. Updates From Councillor Representatives On Outside Bodies

    Council received the following updates which were all noted:

    Stourport Civic Society – No update.

    Areley Kings Village Hall Trust – It was reported that a visit from the BBC Radio 4 Question Time programme had been a success.

    Hartlebury Queen Elizabeth I Foundation – There were no matters to report on.  

    Civic Hall – There were no matters to report on. 

  13. Accounts

    It was reported that Accounts for December 2026 totalling £42,300.32, 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. 

  14. Any other business

    There was no other business.

  15. 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 Cresswell and T Schmeising-Barnes left the meeting at 6:54pm

  16. Verbal Update From The Chairman Of The Civic Hall Working Party

    The Chairman of the Civic Hall Working Party provided an update following the AGM held on 23rd November 2025 and a further meeting with staff and Trustees of the Civic Group which had been held on 17th December 2025. Members were informed that two trustees had resigned following the AGM and had been replaced.

  17. Any other business

    There was no other business.

The meeting closed at 7:08 PM