The Bromsgrove District Council is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, 8 October 2025, to discuss a range of issues, including urgent decisions, a portfolio holder report on environmental services and community safety, recommendations from the cabinet, questions from councillors, and motions on notice. The meeting will also address background information on cabinet recommendations and consider any urgent business.

Nailers Yard Overspend

The council is expected to discuss an overspend on the Nailers Yard development, part of the Levelling Up Programme. An urgent decision was made on 21 August 2025, to increase the council's contribution to the programme by £500,000, bringing the total to £15,742,000.

According to the urgent decision record, a survey of the culvert¹ revealed that works would cost over £1.6m, far exceeding the initial provisional sum of £220,256. The report lists several factors contributing to the increased costs, including:

• Underground obstructions from previous developments, costing approximately £305,000.
• Design changes to the commercial building following advice from local agents GJS Dillon, costing £83,000.
• Unexpected culvert works, now costed at over £1.6m.

The council considered several options, including halting culvert work, but ultimately decided to proceed with the original plan to reduce flood risk and align with planning policy.

Local Government Reorganisation

The council is expected to discuss a report from Mutual Ventures on local government reorganisation (LGR) in Worcestershire. The report considers two main options:

• Option A: A single unitary authority for the whole of Worcestershire.
• Option B: Two unitary authorities, one for North Worcestershire (Bromsgrove, Redditch, and Wyre Forest) and one for South Worcestershire (Malvern Hills, Worcester City, and Wychavon).

Option B has two variants, B1 and B2. Option B1 involves the disaggregation and transferring of all statutory and nonstatutory services, functions and operating model from Worcestershire County Council to the new unitary councils and the aggregation and transfer of all statutory and non-statutory services, functions and operating models from district Councils to their respective new (north or south) unitary Council. Option B2 offers a shared service/hybrid model across both new unitary Councils, with specific services (i.e. Adult Social Care, Children's Services, Education, Adult Education and Transport) jointly delivered and commissioned.

The Mutual Ventures report provides design principles based on engagement sessions and feedback from a public survey called Shape Worcestershire , which noted a preference for two authorities covering the north and south of the County.

On 3 September 2025, the council resolved to select Option B, two unitary authorities, as its preferred option and to undertake further analysis and development of this option.

Environmental Services and Community Safety

Councillor P. J. Whittaker, Cabinet Member for Environmental Services and Community Safety, is expected to present a report on the activities within their portfolio.

On community safety, the report is expected to include:

• An update on council priorities, including the council's commitment to keep Bromsgrove safe and contribute to improved quality of life and wellbeing…by working in partnership to reduce ASB and neighbourhood crime and protect vulnerable communities .
• Information on partnership working, including the North Worcestershire Community Safety Partnership (NWCSP), Safer Bromsgrove, Town Centre Management Group, and Pub Watch.
• Key activities and priorities, such as the Community Safety Respect Programme and the Older and Vulnerable Persons Project.

On environmental services, the report is expected to include:

• An update on council priorities, including safeguarding the natural environment.
• Information on partnership working, including Worcestershire Regulatory Services (WRS) and North Worcestershire Water Management (NWWM).
• Key activities and priorities, such as strengthening environmental enforcement, waste services development, and carbon reduction.

Revocation of Air Quality Management Areas

The council is expected to discuss the revocation of the Lickey End and Redditch Road Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs). According to a cabinet report from 23 July 2025, annual average concentrations of Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) measured at monitoring locations within these AQMAs have been compliant with national objectives for a significant period of time.

The report states that the last exceedance of NO² in Lickey End AQMA was recorded in 2014, and the last exceedance in Redditch Road was recorded in 2016.

Adoption of Fixed Penalty Charge

The council is expected to discuss the adoption of a fixed penalty notice (FPN) charge of £100 for failure to comply with a Community Protection Notice (CPN). According to a cabinet report from 10 September 2025, CPNs are intended to stop a person or business continuing with conduct which unacceptably affects victims and the community.

The report notes that failure to comply with a CPN is a summary offence, but that there are alternatives to prosecution, such as simple cautions and FPNs.

Expansion of Commercial Waste Collection Service

The council is expected to discuss the expansion of the commercial waste collection service. According to a cabinet report from 10 September 2025, the Environment Act 2021 requires businesses with more than 10 employees to separate food waste, and this will expand to micro-businesses by 2027.

The report recommends adding capital funding to purchase two refuse collection vehicles, allocating capital funding annually for wheeled bins, and allocating revenue funding to fund operational costs of providing the expanded service.

Questions from Councillors

Councillors are expected to ask questions on a range of topics, including:

• Councillor A. Bailes is expected to ask the Leader of the Council to clarify her position on supporting the North and South Worcestershire Unitary Councils, given her votes on the issue at both the Bromsgrove District Council and the Worcestershire County Council.
• Councillor S. Colella is expected to ask the Cabinet Member for Leisure and Climate Change to confirm whether the Bromsgrove Town Centre Christmas lights turn on is cancelled or not.
• Councillor D. Nicholl is expected to ask the Leader of the Council why Bromsgrove District Council only retains online recordings of council meetings until the minutes are approved, while neighbouring councils keep them online for 12 months.
• Councillor C. Hotham is expected to ask the Cabinet Member for Strategic Partnerships, Economic Development and Enabling about the actions being taken to control the cost increase of the Market Hall (Nailers Yard) development.

Motions

The council is expected to consider the following motions:

• Councillor J. Robinson is expected to propose a motion calling on the Leader of the Council to write to the Leader of Worcestershire County Council to record Bromsgrove District Council's opposition to the A38 Bromsgrove Route Enhancement Programme and call for schemes not started to be put on hold pending a full review and consultation with the community.
• Councillor E. Gray is expected to propose a motion calling on the Bromsgrove representative on the West Mercia Police and Crime Panel to actively address the issue of cross-border crime and anti-social behaviour affecting Bromsgrove.
• Councillor S. Robinson is expected to propose a motion asking Cabinet to ensure that all new and refurbished playgrounds are inclusive by design, with an aspiration that all children are able to access a majority of features.

It is important to note that this summary is based on the agenda and supporting documents available prior to the meeting. The actual discussions and decisions made by the council may differ.