Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillors S. Ammar, A. Bailes, S. Colella, J. Elledge and S. Robinson.

To invite Councillors to declare any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests or Other Disclosable Interests they may have in items on the agenda, and to confirm the nature of those interests.

There were no declarations of interest.

The minutes of the Council meetings held on 14th May and 19th June 2025 were submitted.

During consideration of this item, Councillor P. McDonald advised that there had been some changes to his group’s membership of two committees previously reported at the meeting held on 19^th June 2025. Councillor E. Gray was now a Member of the Audit, Standards and Governance Committee, replacing Councillor H. Warren-Clarke and Councillor H. Warren-Clarke was now a Member of the Overview and Scrutiny Board, replacing Councillor E. Gray.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meetings of Council held on 14th May and 19th June 2025 be approved as true and correct records.

Chairman

The Chairman announced his Chairman’s Charity for the ensuing municipal year was The Basement Project. The Basement Project was a local, independent charity that played a vital role in supporting some of the most vulnerable young people within the community.

On 19^th September 2025 a charity fundraising event was to be held to raise funds for The Basement Project. All Members were invited to attend this event.

Head of Paid Service

There were no announcements from the Head of Paid Service.

The Leader announced that from the next ordinary meeting of the Council, due to be held in October 2025, Portfolio Holder reports would be reintroduced for the consideration of Council.

During consideration of this item, Councillor K. May was thanked for her support in agreeing to postpone consideration of the Constitution Review – Recommendations report, which had been due to be considered at the meeting.

A period of up to 15 minutes is allowed for members of the public to make a comment, ask questions or present petitions.  Each member of the public has up to 3 minutes to do this.  A councillor may also present a petition on behalf of a member of the public.

The Chairman informed Council that no questions, comments or petitions had been received from members of the public on this occasion.

Members were advised that no Urgent Decisions had been taken since the previous meeting of Council.

Members were informed that the previous Chairman of the Audit, Standards and Governance Committee, Councillor H. Warren-Clarke would present the Audit, Standards and Governance Annual Report 2024/25 for Council’s consideration.

In doing so, it was noted that the Statement of Accounts for the financial years 2020/21, 2021/22 and 2022/23 had been made available for public consultation and had received disclaimer opinions from the external auditors as per the backstop legislation.

The draft Statement of Accounts had also been produced for the financial year 2023/24 and was now out for public consultation. This was also in line with the backstop requirements. There had been no audit opinion received in respect of these accounts at the time of the meeting, due to the recent onboarding of new external auditors.

Councillor H. Warren-Clarke explained it had been a monumental year for the Council in terms of production of the Statement of Accounts. Thanks were extended to the Democratic Services team, the previous Section 151 Officer and the Assistant Director for Finance and Customer Services. Councillor R. Bailes was also thanked for her role as Risk Champion for the Committee during the 2024/25 municipal year.

Following the presentation of the report, Councillor H. Warren-Clarke was thanked for his work over the 2024/25 municipal year.

There was a question raised in respect of the onboarding of the new external auditors. The Assistant Director for Finance and Customer Services and Deputy Section 151 Officer provided further information in respect of the new external auditors, Ernst & Young. It was reported that the new auditors had been onboarded in June 2025 and that assurance and value for money work was currently underway on the 2023/24 draft accounts. Discussions had taken place on the 2024/25 Statement of Accounts which was due in February 2026, as per the backstop legislation. The external auditors had also attended the recent Audit, Standards and Governance Committee meeting on 14^th July 2025.

Councillor P. McDonald presented the Overview and Scrutiny Board Annual Report 2024/25 in his role as Chairman of the Board.

It was reported that several task group investigations had taken place over the municipal year, and a number of reports had been pre-scrutinised prior to their consideration by Cabinet. This pre-scrutiny had resulted in a number of recommendations being made, most of which had been agreed by Cabinet.

One extra meeting had been convened during the municipal year due to the significant workload. Councillor P. McDonald took the opportunity to thank Officers for their hard work and commitment to the scrutiny process, sometimes at very long meetings.

The Leader thanked the Chairman and Members of the Board for the detailed scrutiny carried out throughout the year. The recommendations made by the Board were welcomed and it was noted that this had resulted in greater involvement from Members in the decision-making process.

The Constitution Review Working Group agreed recommendations at a meeting held on Friday 4^th July 2025.  As the meeting was held only one clear working day before the agenda for this Council meeting was due to be published, a report detailing the group’s proposals will be published in a supplementary pack for the meeting.

(To follow)

The Chairman announced that prior to the meeting, at the agreement of Group Leaders, this item had been withdrawn from the agenda and would not be debated at this meeting.

To consider the recommendations from the meeting of the Cabinet held on 18^th June 2025.

Council considered the recommendations arising from the meeting of Cabinet held on 18^th June 2025.

Contaminated Land Strategy

The Cabinet Member for Planning, Licensing and Worcestershire Regulatory Services (WRS) presented the Contaminated Land Strategy report for Members’ consideration. In doing so, it was noted that there was no contaminated land in Bromsgrove. However, it was important to understand what had been situated on land within the District previously to ascertain whether sites were suitable for development or not.

Following the presentation of the report, there was a detailed discussion regarding the proposed Contaminated Land Strategy. Several areas were raised by Members, including whether it was accurate to state that there was no contaminated land within the District. Members commented that recently there had been a significant amount of work carried out at the Windsor Street site in order to remediate the contamination found at this location.

Members were informed that if there was no liable party for contaminated land, the responsibility for clearing the site would fall to Bromsgrove District Council and ultimately the taxpayer. This would result in a reactive approach being taken on any area identified as contaminated, which might not be the most appropriate way to deal with this type of land in the future.  Clarification was provided that there would be environmental tests carried out prior to any building within a specific site in the District, to see if the land was contaminated and what the costs of remediation of such sites would be.

The report had been considered previously at the Overview and Scrutiny Board meeting that took place on 17^th June 2025. There was a suggestion that this report could be referred back to the Board in order to provide further clarity. Some Members explained that the pre-scrutiny of the report had been detailed during the meeting of the Board and did not feel that this would be necessary and that the Strategy had been devised using a prioritisation methodology. Members commented that it was likely there was contaminated land across the District, however, it was suggested that there was not the resource within the Council to clear these areas. The remediation of these sites would be picked up through the Planning process as and when any contamination was identified.

The recommendation was proposed by Councillor K. Taylor and seconded by Councillor K. May.

RESOLVED that

The Council adopt the revised Contaminated Land Strategy to be published on the Worcestershire Regulatory Services (WRS) website.

Warm Homes Local Grants Funding and Resources

The Cabinet Member for Leisure and Climate Change presented the Warm Homes Local Grants Funding and Resources for the consideration of Council.

It was noted that the funding awarded by Central Government for this project had not been a significant amount. The funding would cover the cost of works being carried out on approximately nineteen to twenty private homes at the average cost of fifteen thousand pounds. There would be further funding available for social housing properties at a later date.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 35\25

The minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 18^th June 2025 were noted.

To deal with any questions on notice from Members of the Council, in the order in which they have been received.  Each Councillor due to ask a Question on Notice may ask up to one supplementary question, which must be based on the original question or the answer provided to that question.

A period of up to 15 minutes is allocated for the asking and answering of questions.  This may be extended at the discretion of the Chairman with the agreement of the majority of those present.

The Chairman explained that five Questions on Notice had been submitted for this meeting.

Question submitted by Councillor J. Robinson

“It is vital we ensure residents across the Bromsgrove District continue to have access to activities that can help them stay healthy. Can the Cabinet Member confirm if the Cabinet would consider supporting the introduction of a park run in Bromsgrove?”

The Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing and Strategic Housing provided a response and in doing soinformed Members that there was currently a Junior Park Run held in Sanders Park on Sundays. In addition to this, there was the opportunity for residents to take part in Couch to 5K programmes throughout the year and a Bumble Bimble event organised on a yearly basis.  

The Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing and Strategic Housing suggested that she would be happy to meet with Councillor J. Robinson along with the Cabinet Member for Leisure and Climate Change to discuss the potential for further opportunities in the future.

Question submitted by Councillor D. Nicholl

“Will the Cabinet consider supporting South Bromsgrove High School with a new surface for their 3G pitch that is used for both students and the wider community?”

The Cabinet Member for Leisure and Climate Change provided a response and stated that, in line with the Council’s Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sports Strategy, Officers would be working with third party providers to determine the very best use of public money in the context of dual use and other agreements in communities. 

The value of outdoor pitch facilities was recognised, and South Bromsgrove High School were encouraged to meet with Officers so that any community use agreements might be explored.  Councillor D. Nicoll asked a supplementary question, enquiring as to which Officer was best placed to be contacted regarding this matter. Members were informed that the Assistant Director for Planning and Leisure Services would be the most appropriate Officer to be contacted.

Question submitted by Councillor J. Clarke

“With plans to decommission Churchfields, Stourbridge Road and School Drive car parks alongside ambitious growth plans, are you confident the town will have enough car parking capacity at peak times?”

The Leader provided a response and explained that as detailed in the Bromsgrove Town Centre Strategic Framework, this matter would be considered by Cabinet on 23^rd July 2025. Future car parking needs would be reviewed in line with the Council’s growth plans to ensure that sufficient capacity could be maintained.  In addition to this and, building on the Strategic Car Parking Review carried out in 2024, the Council was to review Town Centre parking policies to ensure they supported local economic needs and attracted visitors.  In this way, the use of each car park was to be considered, which included that a positive user experience be included. 

Question submitted by Councillor S. Robinson (as Councillor S. Robinson had submitted her apologies for this meeting, the question was asked by Councillor R. Hunter).

“How many bus shelters, owned by Bromsgrove District  ...  view the full minutes text for item 37\25

A period of up to one hour is allocated to consider the motions on notice.  This may only be extended with the agreement of the Council.

The Chairman advised Members that two Motions on Notice had been submitted for consideration at this meeting.

Council considered the following Motion on Notice that was submitted by Councillor D. Nicholl:

“The Office of the Secretary of State for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) aimed to create sustainable communities. Given the proposal in our draft Development Strategy to build nine thousand extra homes by 2043 across BDC, Bromsgrove District, Council resolves to request that the Leader write to the Deputy Prime Minister to highlight how these figures contradict those which are compatible with a sustainable community and ask for the affordability multiplier under the National Planning Policy Framework be reviewed urgently.”

Prior to consideration of the Motion on Notice, Councillor D. Nicholl explained that he was proposing the original Motion included in the main agenda for this meeting in a slightly altered form of wording. The wording would now read as follows:

“The Office of the Secretary of State for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) aimed to create sustainable communities. Given the proposal in our draft Development Strategy to build nine thousand extra homes by 2043 across Bromsgrove District, Council resolves to ask the Group Leaders to write to the Deputy Prime Minister to highlight how these figures contradict those which are compatible with a sustainable community and ask for the affordability multiplier under the National Planning Policy Framework be reviewed urgently.”

In proposing the Motion, Councillor D. Nicholl explained that the proposal to build nine thousand extra homes within the District was not in line with a sustainable community and would be catastrophic to the residents of Bromsgrove and destroy much of the District.

It was stated that the affordability multiplier used in order to ascertain the number of homes needed to be built by 2043 in the District was flawed. Therefore, it was requested that a letter be sent to the Deputy Prime Minister to request clarification on the affordability multiplier and that a review of the multiplier be undertaken urgently.

The Motion was seconded by Councillor R. Hunter.

Prior to the debate on this Motion, an amendment was suggested by Councillor K. Taylor. The proposal was that the wording be amended as follows:

“The Office of the Secretary of State for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) aimed to create sustainable communities. Given the proposal in our draft Development Strategy to build nine thousand extra homes by 2043 across Bromsgrove District, Council resolves to ask all Members to write to the Deputy Prime Minister to highlight how these figures contradict those which are compatible with a sustainable community and ask for the affordability multiplier under the National Planning Policy Framework be reviewed urgently.”

The amendment was seconded by Councillor S. Webb.

Members commented that ensuring all Members sign a letter to Government might prove difficult to facilitate, particularly with the tight timeframes involved.

During a detailed and robust debate, the following areas were highlighted by Members:  ...  view the full minutes text for item 38\25

There was no Urgent Business on this occasion.