Agenda item

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 Council, have been replaced in each of the last three financial years?”

The Cabinet Member for Environmental Services provided the response to this question. In doing so, Members were informed that the Council owned sixty-one bus shelters.  The number of bus shelters replaced in each of the last three financial years was as follows:

·       In 2022-2023 – one bus shelter replaced

·       In 2023-2024 – two bus shelters replaced

·       In 2024-2025 – seven bus shelters replaced

In addition to these, it was reported there were plans to replace six bus shelters in the financial year 2025/26.

Councillor R. Hunter asked a supplementary question in respect of this matter.

“Eighteen thousand pounds was allocated by the Council for the replacement of bus shelters on an annual basis. How much of this budget had been spent?”.

The Cabinet Member for Environmental Services reported that the Revenue expenditure was as follows:

It was further reported that the Capital expenditure was as follows:

Question submitted by Councillor S. Colella (as Councillor S. Colella had submitted his apologies for this meeting the question was asked by Councillor C. Hotham).

“At the meeting of 17^th October 2022, the following question was asked and the following response provided in public:

This Council asks for reassurance that the transport assessment work, which has been lacking to date, will be completed to the satisfaction of BDC for the Issues and Options consultation, along with a stated time plan that can be adhered to?

The Portfolio Holder for Planning and Regulatory Services responded by explaining that additional transport assessment work was being progressed with Worcestershire County Council (WCC).  This work would support the preferred option of the District Plan Review. In due course, a new timetable for the plan production would be published which would fully take into account the time it would take to complete the additional transport assessment work.

The Question now is:  What has happened to the Transport assessment and transport modelling in relation to the District Plan One Option Consultation launched on Monday 30^th June 2025?”

The Cabinet Member for Planning and Regulatory Services provided a response to this question and stated that in accordance with the timeline, a partial transport assessment had been produced and published to support the Draft Development Strategy Consultation. The Bromsgrove Plan was not yet at preferred options stage, and plan making was an iterative process.  The level of information currently available was sufficient and appropriate in support of the choices that had been made at this draft stage. The outcome of the current consultation process would inform the next stage of transport assessment and infrastructure planning, which was why it was key that the public and key stakeholders responded to the consultation to highlight the specific detail of the transport issues the District faced. Bromsgrove District Council Officers continued to work with Worcestershire County Council to seek assurances and clarity on the approach for the more detailed assessment of transport impacts required for further iterations of the plan.  

A supplementary question was asked by Councillor C. Hotham who queried how the public were able to comment on the Draft Development Strategy, currently out for public consultation, if transport data was not available and whether this lack of information negated the validity of the consultation?

The Cabinet Member for Planning and Regulatory Services stated that this was not the case.