Agenda item

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

Question submitted by Councillor A. Bailes

“At the Extraordinary Council meeting on 3rd September 2025, this Council, with the support of the Leader, voted to endorse the North and South Worcestershire Unitary Councils as part of the Local Government Reform process. However, just eight days later, the Leader, in her capacity as a County Councillor, voted against a motion proposing that the County Council support the North and South Worcestershire Unitary Councils.

Could the Leader please clarify this apparent contradiction and categorically confirm her position on supporting the North and South Worcestershire Unitary Councils?”

In responding to the question, the Leader of Bromsgrove District Council read out an extract from the opening statement included in the Motion on Notice considered at the Worcestershire County Council (WCC) meeting, as detailed in Councillor A. Bailes’s question. The extract read as follows:

“Following the outcome of the election in which the Conservatives lost their majority fighting on a platform of one unitary authority, for the whole of Worcestershire the County Council….’

The Leader clarified that the above statement was not correct and that she had not undertaken her WCC election campaign in agreement with a One Worcestershire model of local government. The context of the vote on the Motion on Notice at WCC required those supporting it to have campaigned on a one Unitary Authority proposal and, it was confirmed, she did not. 

Councillor A. Bailes asked a supplementary question in respect of this matter.

In doing so, he stated that at the [Extraordinary Council] meeting held on 3^rd September 2025, the Leader had voted for a two unitary Authority approach to local government as a result of listening to the residents, but he suggested that the situation now appeared to have changed.  He then asked the following supplementary question: “Could the Leader confirm when the shift occurred and why?”

The Leader confirmed that no shift had occurred and that at each different meeting a decision was required following consideration of the information provided. She expressed the view that it was important to make decisions based on the evidence provided and this was the approach that she had taken. The Leader confirmed that she was very willing to explore the option of a North and South Authority approach to local government and she was committed to the best outcome for the residents within the District whatever model of unitary governance was eventually adopted.

Question submitted by Councillor S. Colella

“Can the Portfolio Holder and Cabinet Member for Leisure and Climate Change please confirm whether the Bromsgrove Town Centre Christmas lights turn on is cancelled or not cancelled please.

Residents have the right to know what’s really happening because no sooner had the press release gone out from yourself and the Deputy Leader of the Council stating that it was cancelled, there was a further press release from the Leader of the Council that she was looking into the cancellation and was doing everything she could to get it re-instated.”

The Cabinet Member for Leisure and Climate Change responded to the question and informed Members that the Council had issued a very clear statement confirming that the Christmas lights turn on was happening and when.  He confirmed that he was delighted to be able to reaffirm this at this meeting.

The annual Christmas fun Event, which celebrated the start of the festive season in Bromsgrove and featured the official Christmas Lights Switch-on, was coming to the Town Centre.   Members were informed that it was to be held in Bromsgrove High Street on Saturday 22^nd November 2025 between 3:00pm and 5:30pm, with the switch-on scheduled for 5:00pm.

Events included:

• Christmas Market – Festive stalls with gifts, crafts, food, and seasonal treats.
• Roaming Entertainment – Santa, Elves, Fairies and Christmas-themed performers bringing magic to the streets.
• Live Music – Performances from a local choir and brass band to set the festive atmosphere.
• Christmas Pantomime – Fun, interactive performances for families.
• Christmas lights on countdown along the length of the high street at 5pm.

Councillor S. Colella asked a supplementary question in respect of this matter.

“Was the Cabinet Member satisfied that the event would be safe for all those who chose to attend?”

The Cabinet Member for Leisure and Climate Change stated that the event would be safe for all those who chose to attend.

It was clarified that the switch on would take place in the original location and that the Christmas Market would be open on Friday 21^st November 2025.

Question submitted by Councillor D. Nicholl

“Why does Bromsgrove District Council only retain online recordings of Council meetings until the minutes are approved when neighbouring Councils like Warwick District Council keep them online for twelve months?”

The Leader of the Council responded that Bromsgrove District Council retained online recordings of meetings of the Council in accordance with UK General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) for the purpose of assisting in the subsequent preparation of the minutes of the meeting, as required under the Local Government Act 1972.  Once the minutes had been signed, they served as a record of the meeting, and it was no longer necessary to retain the recording which was deleted in accordance with the published disposal schedule in line with UK GDPR.  This had been discussed many times with Members at Member Development Steering Group and Constitutional Review Working Group meetings and it had been agreed that this was the arrangement that would remain in place.  It was noted that she could not comment on the process that Warwick District Council had adopted. 

Councillor D. Nicholl asked a supplementary question in respect of this matter and in doing so suggested that the retention of live recordings only until the minutes were approved seemed inadequate and that retention for a longer period might improve Member behaviour at meetings. The Leader suggested that this matter should be referred back to the Constitution Review Working Group because, as highlighted in her earlier response, when data was retained there needed to be a legitimate reason to do so under GDPR legislation. 

The final question in respect of the funding for Nailers Yard submitted by Councillor C. Hotham was deferred until such time as a clear picture of the Council’s financial position could be confirmed.