County Councillor Report
September 2026 Report to Parish Councils from Wychavon District
Councillor Judith Ciotti
Consultation on Dog Fouling and Control: a 10 week consultation is underway on a proposal to introduce new powers to help tackle dog fouling and encourage responsible ownership. Any resident can comment before October 5th on wychavon.gov.uk/consultations
WasteGuard is a new free online service launched to help residents avoid rogue waste carriers by getting quotes for disposal from licensed waste carriers who act responsibly. There are hefty fines for using rogue waste carriers if your waste is identified.
Please see wychavon.gov.uk/environmental-crime/wasteguard
Wychavon Resilience Grants now open: Parish Councils are eligible for Community Building Energy Resilience small grants ( e.g. energy audits, energy efficiency and carbon reduction measures) and for Biodiversity
Improvement grants managed by Worcestershire Wildlife Trust. For details and guidance see wychavon.gov.uk/community-and-living/wychavon[1]resilience-grants?
You can also phone Tracy Perkins on 01386 565517
Wychavon Ward Budgets: each ward member has been given a one-off £10,000 budget to spend before November 30th 2027. There will be a simple online form to complete and once approved, the money will be paid straight into the organisations’s account. The money is to be used for Residents’ benefit, contribute to the We are Wychavon plan, and not qualify for other Wychavon grants.
Hot weather: Although the extreme hot weather may be over for this year it is worth remembering that no bbqs are allowed on Wychavon land. We have had fires locally. We are all encouraged to help protect the Wychavon
countryside. See the Government’s Get Prepared for Emergencies advice.
prepare.campaign.gov.uk/get-prepared-for-emergencies
Riverside Shopping Centre: Wychavon Planning Committee approved the demolition of the Evesham shopping centre on August 20th. A contractor will be appointed in October to prepare a plan for demolition of the Centre, the car park and 42 Bridge Street (Sports Direct) in early 2027 or earlier if businesses agree to leave sooner. Demolition isn’t the end goal, regeneration is and there is no intention to replace the empty shopping centre with an empty site.
Honeybourne community presentation to explore local Men’s Club. Councillors are asked to help share details of a community presentation taking place in Honeybourne, where Andy from Andy’s Man Club will explain how a local Men’s Club could work and how men from the area could get involved in starting their own group.
The presentation has been arranged to help engage local men and build interest in creating a safe, welcoming and non-judgemental space for men in and around Honeybourne. The aim is for the group to be led locally, giving men somewhere informal to meet, talk if they want to, listen if they do not, and support each other.
This work is being supported through our Wellbeing in Wychavon Community scheme, which local Honeybourne residents are part of. The scheme was developed through one of Wychavon’s Wellbeing
Promises, to train people in communities and workplaces to champion mental health and wellbeing and signpost people to appropriate support.
Men are less likely to ask for support early, so local, familiar spaces can play an important role in helping people feel able to take that first step before things reach crisis point.
Event details:
Monday, 22 September 2026 at 7:15 pm
Honeybourne Village Hall, WR11 7RH
There is no pressure for anyone to speak or commit to anything on the night. The presentation is an opportunity to listen, learn more and understand what would be involved in helping to start a local group.
South Warwickshire Local Plan: this is nearing its conclusion and Wychavon has been discussing cross-boundary impacts with Stratford District Council. Wychavon District Council will respond by September 8th and so this is the final opportunity to influence the Plan by sharing comments with WDC asap.
Honeybourne Parish Council has responded.