Our services
For 2025-26 our net budget requirement is £15.6 million. Income from Council Tax makes up around 57% of this. The rest comes from business rates (32%) and grants (11%).
The money that comes to us helps pay for all these services and more:
- Cleaning streets
- Collecting your recycling and waste
- Providing benefits and housing advice
- Supporting economic development and regeneration
- Supporting businesses
- Maintaining car parks
- Managing parks and nature reserves
- Combating environmental crime such as fly tipping, litter and dog fouling
- Supporting communities to develop
- Running elections
- Offering energy efficiency advice and grants
- Managing Bewdley Museum
Our corporate plan sets out our priorities and strategic actions up until 2027.
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Serving and supporting our communities
What we're focussing on
We’re working to make Wyre Forest ‘a safe, vibrant and clean place to live, work and visit’.
We are prioritising economic growth and regeneration and securing financial sustainability for services our local communities value as well as making the district a clean, safe and green place to live, work and visit.
Here are a few of things we are doing:
- We have opened Millpond house in Kidderminster, providing short-term temporary accommodation in the district. We
will be helping the people there to secure longer term housing. - We are investing more than £50,000 extra on tackling environment crimes like fly tipping and dog fouling and illegal parking in 2025-2026.
- We have installed inclusive play equipment in Stourport and Bewdley and we are spending another £50,000 introducing more to play areas across the district.
- We are helping to provide more cultural events. We brought music back to our parks with a series of outdoor summer concerts in Brinton Park and Stourport Riverside.
- We have awarded the contract to start work on the redevelopment of Brinton Park funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Council’s own budget.
- We have produced a carbon reduction plan for the district and the council and we are working on installing electric
charging points in car parks in all three towns.
Regenerating the district
- The Old Court – a new home for creative and digital industries – has opened in the centre of Kidderminster. We have transformed the former magistrates’ court, retained the heritage features and created high-quality office and event space to rent.
Funding was from Future High Streets Fund (FHSF) – the previous government’s funding initiative to transform struggling high streets – and the Council’s own budget. Read more about the project at www.wyreforestdc.gov.uk/edr - In Stourport we have been working with the Town Council to help develop a vision for the future of the town.
A survey was carried out to gather the views of locals and visitors to help shape the Stourport Future Vision
document. Once this is published it will help enable the councils to submit applications for grant funding. - We are also working to remodel the Piano Building in Kidderminster town centre. The former higher education academy is being made into food, drinks and entertainment spaces on the ground floor and mixed-use offices above. The outside space is also being updated to provide a performance space. This part of the project is due to be completed in the summer.
- Also due for completion in late summer 2025 is the urban park at the top end of Worcester Street. The project to improve connectivity in the town is funded by Future High Streets Fund, Brownfield Land Release, UKSPF, LEP and the Council’s own budget.
Trouble paying?
It is really important that you contact us as soon as possible if you are having difficulty paying your bill. You may be entitled to pay less Council Tax in certain circumstances.
You can ask to spread your annual bill over 12 instalments instead of 10.
You can find out more visit www.wyreforestdc.gov.uk/difficultypaying
Other cost of living support
We know many people are worried by the increased cost of living. Our Financial Inclusion team are here to help.
The team can provide information and advice on many matters including debt and budgeting, rent arrears and housing problems, council tax debt and help with claiming benefits. They will look at all areas of support that may be available to you.
Find out more at www.wyreforestdc.gov.uk/costofliving