Council tax increase in Stourport to fund civic centre (From Kidderminster Shuttle)

I'm not too sure how this will go down with the Stourport taxpayer, who already pay over the odds in tax contributions. In fact some may argue that the Stourport taxpayer should get a significant reduction in taxation for contributing to other facilities in the district, with literally nothing coming in return by means of financial support. The quite appalling situation that Stourport's frontline services have been treated by the apathetic attitude of local authorities and some political representitives have now well and truly passed into legend. Stourport has without any doubt whatsoever stood entirely alone with the fight for saving it's civic facility, it's library service, police station etc: and not forgetting the centre for the arts in Wyre Forest - Stourport Civic Hall; a facility that has achieved great success without any intervention from political sources.

The hard facts are these: Without the existence of Stourport Civic Centre, the residents of Stourport will potentially lose most of their services and the arts facillities that serve not only the town, but the whole of the district. If the civic centre falls, nothing will ever bring it back, its as simple as that. And however unfair this tax-hike may seem, , it is small fry compared to what Stourport will lose out on in the long term ...

I am happy to pay this increase but it does not get us away from the fact that WFDC (leaders) are entirely responsible for this sorry situation having built their cosy palace at Campion Towers and dumped the Civic for spurious reasons. WCC must share some blame too but look at the common link here - Cllr Campion. Someone should buy him a calculator for Christmas and explain that 'value' is not the same as 'cost' or 'price'.

The Civic Centre is a valuable community assett and its Theatre is well loved but it has a specific purpose and calling it the 'centre' of the arts in Wyre Forest is not a view I share as the arts have important homes across the district depending on type.

Wyre Forest generally is poorly served by the Tory masters at County Hall, and similarly their local representatives in Wyre Forest DC, with some exceptions from those who have come out on some issues in defence of local services and facilities.

Ultimately, the blame for loss of services and facilities rests solely at national level with the Government. But the local lot don't seem that bothered about its impact given its their own party doing the cuts and they support this agenda, and that's whether or not we think they are incompetent in delivery or making other choices locally we don't agree with.

I too am happy to pay it for Stouport. As Jon says above though, Stouport already pays a lrger council tax rate than same band houses elsewhere in the district. Or so is my understanding. Anybody can correct me then feel free

I agree with the comments made above in regards to the purpose that this increase is bring used for;
and yes I might be a little biased. If it saves the facility and secures these services then its worthwhile and justifiable.
A penny a day to keep this all in Stourport - why not?!

Wyre Forest Council has been very generous in giving Stourport Civic Centre to Stourport. There's no such thing as a free lunch though and its only right that people in Stourport cough up for the building. They should remember that it was their Conservative councillors who gifted this building to them.
As a Stourport resident myself I know just what a good job the the council have done. That is why I will be voting Conservative in just a few weeks time.

The only reason the Tories gave the Civic Centre to Stourport was because no one wanted to buy it and they were having to pay for its mothballed upkeep! Originally the sale of it was going into the "pot" to fund the new offices and help provide community facilities in Stourport - so council tax payers across the district have effectively subsidised this "gift." Just pointing out, Tory Stooge, that the local Tories do nothing out of the goodness of their hearts!
However I agree totally with the observations above made by Jon Cooper and Stephen Brown and I also agree that Stourport does get a pretty poor deal as part of WFDC. I still think a Unitary authority (1 or 2) within Worcestershire would go a long way to equalising the various towns status.

By the way - in response to neilhar. All properties in WF are banded to the same criteria so the County and District Council jointly levy the same total sum Council Tax across the district. But all the areas with Town and Parish Councils levy their own additional tax for purely local costs. Because Kidderminster is not parished and has no Town Council with powers it does not levy that precept - so, yes, Kidderminster pays less.

HowardM says: ''Stourport does get a pretty poor deal as part of WFDC''.

This isn't the first time i've heard this phrasing from a high ranking local politician, and i guess it won't be the last; but let's just get one thing straight before the predictable opportunism starts ...

As much as i deplore the actions of the local Tories, it has to be said that the poor deal that Stourport has been dealt with is not solely down to the current incumbent of controlling Conservatives. This has been a situation that has been apparent for nearly forty years, and and from a whole host of political genres who have supposedly represented the residents and towns of Wyre Forest in equal measure.

In more modern times, whilst the very real plight of both Stourport Civic Centre and the towns frontline services have been put into question - NOT ONE of our current crop of parliamentary spokesmen or political spokespeople have shown any active interest or concern with regards to the very real issues that are connected to the future of the civic centre, and the facilities that are hoped to be housed within it, for not only Stourport residents, but for the needs of the whole of the district; which brings into line the function of the civic hall, a building that houses a whole range of activities in the name of the arts in Wyre Forest.

Again i would like to state quite firmly if i may that this said apathy that has been directed towards the Stourport Civic Centre issue has now well and truly passed - very much - into legend. But despite all of this apathy, something very positive and quite special has been rearing its head down in New Street Stourport. The Civic Centre/Civic Hall is at long last seeing a reversal in fortune; and make no doubt about it, this reversal has been achieved by the means of compromise on behalf of Stourport Town Council, and the quite magnificent volunteer based 'THE CIVIC GROUP' who have fought to save the very unique Civic Hall in the name of the many artistic interests that rely on the venue.

I don't doubt for one moment that the transition has been a smooth affair by any means; but if all goes well, , the Civic Centre complex will at last be used in the capacity that it was originally intended - a building for the people. This simple intention for the Civic Centre was blown to pieces by the quite contemptable district councils that have passed down through the years. WFDC certainly hasn't handed Stourport Civic Centre back for free, or in the same condition as they found it: Can you imagine if the same contemptable attitude was directed at Kidderminster Town Hall for example ? Everyone knows that this would never have been allowed to happen; and quite right too; as Wyre Forest was always intended to be ONE district whose administration would be in place for the better needs for everybody. On all levels, WFDC have failed with their rather curious approach to fair governance.

Finally ... In all but name, Stourport-on-Severn has been part of a Unitary Authority of one for years. I know for a fact that one time Stourport councillors used to fight ''tooth and nail'' for the town, and i was recently quite horrified to learn that current members of Stourport Town Council felt ''belittled'' when they were holding council meetings in 'Wyre Forest House'. Why should they feel belittled and made to feel like visitors when the building is actually sited in Stourport ?

I truly hope Stourport Town Council will pressure WFDC to do the legal and moral thing of asking the postal service to correct the the addressing of 'Wyre Forest House' from Kidderminster to Stourport; not for devilment, but for legal purposes. Who knows what may occur in the future regarding boundary changes or the very necessary creation of Unitary Authorities. It really is essential that this error is corrected for obvious reasons.