The Bromsgrove District Council Overview and Scrutiny Board met on 2nd October 2025 to discuss the methods used to consult the public on the Local Plan, and to consider any urgent business. The meeting was scheduled to be held at Parkside in Bromsgrove.

Local Plan Consultation Methods

The Overview and Scrutiny Board were scheduled to discuss the methods of public consultation used for the Local Plan, including the use of an online consultation platform. This discussion was scheduled following concerns raised at a previous meeting on 9th September 2025 about difficulties some members of the public had reported with accessing the consultation platform. The report pack included data on the use of the online consultation platform, comparing it to other consultation methods and other local plans. According to the report pack, at the time of writing, the council had received 26,847 unique visitors to the website, with 2,385 people providing 5,811 contributions. This was compared to just over 1,000 emails and nearly 100 hard copy written letters. The report pack stated that the online platform was performing well, and had propelled the Local Plan to a level of engagement vastly superior to anything seen before. The report pack also noted that officers had been keeping a log of concerns raised via emails or phone calls, and that at the time of writing there had been 11 people reporting issues directly. The report pack stated that between 14th July and 9th September, officers carried out 19 different in person consultation events, representing well over 1,000 hours of officer time available to the public to speak with officers and engage with the local plan process. The report pack stated that the Council's communications strategy set out to raise awareness of the consultation, highlight its importance to the district's future, and make it easy to respond.

The report pack also noted the government's view that local planning councils should work towards adopting an up-to-date local plan as soon as possible, and that Local Government Reorganisation should not hinder this vital work.

The Government also recognises that developing proposals could distract councils from their essential day-to-day activities. However, residents and businesses depend on councils to deliver crucial services and to continue the efforts needed to establish successful new unitary councils. This is particularly important for advancing local plans to allocate land for new homes. As mentioned in the invitation letters, the Government expects local planning councils to work towards adopting an up-to-date local plan as soon as possible. Local Government Reorganisation should not hinder this vital work, nor should the introduction of the new legal framework for local plan-making later this year or our strategic planning reforms. Significant financial support has already been provided to eligible councils to aid in plan-making, and we encourage councils to utilise additional support available through the Local Government Association's Planning Advisory Service.' Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG)

The report pack stated that the Bromsgrove District Local Plan Draft Development Strategy Consultation 2025 is relevant to the council priorities of economic development, housing, environment and infrastructure. The report pack also stated that the Local Plan will have significant implications for climate change, shaping the location and nature of new housing, employment, and infrastructure development, and that the provision and use of an online consultation platform should have a positive impact on carbon emissions associated with public consultation events.

Other Matters

The agenda also included:

• Apologies for absence and named substitutes.
• Declarations of interest and whipping arrangements.
• To confirm the accuracy of the minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Board held on 9th September 2025.
• To consider any urgent business.