Wrthi'n llwytho
Y penderfyniadau fel y mae cofnodion y cyngor yn eu cofnodi. Bydd crynodeb mewn iaith glir yn dilyn pan fydd wedi'i ysgrifennu.
AGREED:- That, subject to the above changes, the Work Programme at Appendix 1 be agreed.
AGREED:- That the Safeguarding, Communities and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee thanks the Lead Member and officers for the detailed report and would appreciate a further report in 2027 on the progress made within the sector.
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Kirsta Childs, Annette Davies, Jeremy Kent, Claire Lovett and Alison Tynan.
Members were reminded of their responsibility, under Paragraph 11 of the Members’ Code of Conduct, to declare any interests in relation to any of the business to be transacted at this meeting. The following declarations were made: Agenda Item 5 – Childcare Sufficiency Assessment. Councillor Beryl Blackmore – Personal and non-prejudicial. The Councillor was a trustee of an outer school club and took part in the Childcare Sufficiency Assessment. The Councillor remained in the meeting and took part in the discussion and voting on these items.
AGREED: - That the minutes of the meeting held on 12 November 2025 be signed as a correct record.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
AGREED:- That, subject to the above changes, the Work Programme at Appendix 1 be agreed.
The Chief Officer for Governance and Customer submitted a report (COGC/99/25) asking members to consider the draft work programme of the Safeguarding Communities and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee, as set out in Appendix 1. The Scrutiny Facilitator introduced the report and confirmed that the childcare sufficiency item had been brought forward to this meeting to ensure a full agenda; the Berwyn Prison item had been rescheduled to January due to IT issues at the previous meeting and would be considered alongside the library review; and the toilet strategy item had been moved to February, with all other items remaining as planned. During discussion, it was noted that the Scrutiny Coordinating Group had agreed that the Social Care Committee and the Lifelong Learning Committee, as the highest‑spending committees, would receive three budget scrutiny reports each year. This followed concerns that earlier budget changes, including £11m added to Children’s Social Care and £1.8m removed from Adult Social Care, had been made without scrutiny of targets or outcomes. Members also raised concerns about a significant rise in fire incidents at HMP Berwyn, including a 55% increase compared with the three‑year average, and the resulting impact on local fire cover. It was reported that recent callouts at HMP Berwyn were linked to vaping devices used by inmates. Some members suggested the matter should be addressed through the Fire Authority, whilst others emphasised the need for local scrutiny. AGREED:- That, subject to the above changes, the Work Programme at Appendix 1 be agreed.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
AGREED:- That the Safeguarding, Communities and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee thanks the Lead Member and officers for the detailed report and would appreciate a further report in 2027 on the progress made within the sector.
The Chief Officer for Social Care submitted a report (COSC/19/25) outlining the requirement for local authorities, under the Childcare Act 2006, to ensure as far as reasonably practicable that sufficient childcare was available to meet the needs of local parents. The Childcare Sufficiency Assessment (CSA) provided a measure of the nature and extent of both the demand for, and supply of, childcare within the authority. It would support the Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership (EYDCP) in identifying gaps in provision and determining how best to address them. The Lead Member for Children and Family introduced the report and noted that two reports were included in the agenda pack: a) The first report set out the current position on childcare recruitment and retention in Wrexham. It summarised work undertaken by the childcare team between April and October and highlighted ongoing challenges in attracting and retaining staff, largely due to limited external funding. The recommendations focused on continued promotion of childcare as a career and improved advertising of vacancies. b) The second report provided an update on the Childcare Sufficiency Action Plan under the Childcare Act 2006. The assessment reviewed local childcare need and supply across four areas: children and families, economic activity, childcare provision and market analysis. It confirmed that pressures on the sector remained significant, particularly due to reduced funding, and emphasised the importance of continued partnership working. The Head of Children’s Services and the Lead for Prevention and Service Development were present. Officers reported that the childcare market had become increasingly unstable since COVID‑19, with national professionalisation requirements affecting recruitment, retention and pay. Despite these challenges, efforts had been made to stabilise provision, and the team continued to provide strong support and training to early years settings. The following was discussed: · Members noted the low response rate from childcare settings, with officers reporting that only 15 of 116 providers had responded due to high workloads and ongoing sector pressures, including recent HMRC changes affecting childminders. · There was a need for continued advocacy for the childcare sector, highlighting its essential role in supporting families, early education, early identification of needs and respite care, despite funding not reflecting these responsibilities. · It was clarified that the Childcare Sufficiency Assessment covered a multi‑year period, whilst the Action Plan reported on the previous 12 months, and that the separate recruitment and retention report reflected work undertaken between April and October. · Attendance at drop‑in sessions varied, though work continued with partners such as Coleg Cambria to promote childcare as a career. Promotion also took place through social media, the Family Information Service and wider outreach activity. · Members suggested exploring community‑based training to improve accessibility. · Officers noted that many qualifications required assessment within a childcare setting but confirmed they would consider further opportunities for local engagement. · Childcare costs in Wrexham remained among the lowest in Wales, with fees set by providers and influenced by local competition. Welsh Government funding rates were lower than the fees charged, meaning providers often operated at a loss when delivering funded places. · Childcare fees were not set by the local authority and that continued lobbying of Welsh Government was necessary to address financial pressures. · Officers agreed to explore whether early‑stage training or introductory sessions could be delivered locally and whether these could link with areas such as fostering or residential care. · Members requested that councillors be involved in any community‑based sessions to support local engagement, with officers agreeing that improved communication would help promote opportunities. · Concerns were raised about cross‑border childcare funding. Officers advised that the expansion of the English childcare offer had reduced the number of English families using Welsh settings, impacting local providers. · Members highlighted recruitment challenges in out‑of‑school clubs. Officers noted that transitional qualifications were available but that requirements differed between teaching assistant and childcare roles, making staffing ratios difficult for smaller settings. · Officers also reported that Flying Start requirements for managers to hold Level 5 qualifications had created additional pressures, though a grace period had been introduced for transitioning settings. AGREED:- That the Safeguarding, Communities and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee thanks the Lead Member and officers for the detailed report and would appreciate a further report in 2027 on the progress made within the sector.
RESOLVED - That the press and public be excluded from the Meeting during consideration of the following items as it is likely that, if they were present, there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 12 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).
Rhaid i gynghorwyr ddweud pan fydd ganddyn nhw gysylltiad personol â rhywbeth sy'n cael ei drafod, fel swydd, eiddo neu aelod o'r teulu. Mae buddiant sy'n rhagfarnu yn ddigon cryf i'r cynghorydd adael yr ystafell fel arfer a pheidio â chymryd rhan.
Caiff datganiadau eu darllen o'r cofnodion unwaith y byddan nhw wedi'u cyhoeddi.
Dyw'r cyngor ddim wedi cofnodi presenoldeb ar gyfer y cyfarfod hwn.
Yn rhestru cynghorwyr presennol y cyngor yn unig. Nid yw aelodau cyfetholedig, swyddogion a chyn-gynghorwyr yn cael eu dangos.