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The decisions as the council's minutes record them. A plain-language summary follows once it has been written.
AGREED:- i) That the future report on Support for Provision to Pre-start and Existing Businesses also include details of how the Council’s own stock of industrial units can be utilised to support new and existing businesses. ii) That the Place making Plan report be considered at the Scrutiny Committee meeting to be held on 30 May. iii) That the topic selection form relating to the Anti-Poverty Strategy be accepted and this will also include performance measures to outline value for money and what success looks like. iv) That the recommendation from Customers, Performance, Resources and Governance Scrutiny Committee be accepted and that the Anti-Poverty report also addresses digital inclusion. v) To note that the application for funding via the Shared Prosperity Fund, to deliver a discretionary match funded grant scheme, will be considered at the Executive Board meeting to be held in May 2023. vi) That further consideration be given to scheduling the delivery model report in respect of Ty Pawb and the Ty Pawb performance report. vii) That the forthcoming report on Tourism Destination Management Plan contain information on measures being taken to drive up Town Centre footfall and that Members of the Town Centre and Event Management Team be invited to the meeting. viii) That a future topic selection form be considered in respect of Economic Development in Urban villages. ix) That the update report in respect of SMART towns be considered at the September meeting.
AGREED:- i) That the Committee receives an annual update report on the performance of this service. ii) That Wrexham Council addresses the correspondence to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities outlining the committees support for the future of this service being secured and funded via the use of the MULTIPLY Element of the Shared Prosperity Fund. iii) That the work carried out by this service be linked with the development of the new anti-poverty strategy. iv) That further work be undertaken to identify barriers to employment and how these can be removed to help improve access to employment. v) That it be considered how this service could feed into addressing capacity issues within the Council workforce. vi) That the Committee considers a report if required, prior to the annual update report, in relation to any funding changes proposed for this service. vii) That an All member Workshop be held outlining the Employment Support Service. viii) That information on this service be forwarded to all members to help them publicise its availability.
Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Gary Brown, Marc Jones and Tina Mannering.
That the Minutes of the Meeting held on Wednesday 1 February 2023 be signed as a correct record.
Decision as recorded
AGREED:- i) That the future report on Support for Provision to Pre-start and Existing Businesses also include details of how the Council’s own stock of industrial units can be utilised to support new and existing businesses. ii) That the Place making Plan report be considered at the Scrutiny Committee meeting to be held on 30 May. iii) That the topic selection form relating to the Anti-Poverty Strategy be accepted and this will also include performance measures to outline value for money and what success looks like. iv) That the recommendation from Customers, Performance, Resources and Governance Scrutiny Committee be accepted and that the Anti-Poverty report also addresses digital inclusion. v) To note that the application for funding via the Shared Prosperity Fund, to deliver a discretionary match funded grant scheme, will be considered at the Executive Board meeting to be held in May 2023. vi) That further consideration be given to scheduling the delivery model report in respect of Ty Pawb and the Ty Pawb performance report. vii) That the forthcoming report on Tourism Destination Management Plan contain information on measures being taken to drive up Town Centre footfall and that Members of the Town Centre and Event Management Team be invited to the meeting. viii) That a future topic selection form be considered in respect of Economic Development in Urban villages. ix) That the update report in respect of SMART towns be considered at the September meeting.
The Chief Officer for Governance and Governance submitted a report (GOGC/31/23s) asking Members to consider the revised work programme of the Employment, Business and Investment Scrutiny Committee. The Scrutiny Facilitator presented the report and highlighted the proposed changes. A detailed discussion ensued and the following points were raised: · Members raised concerns regarding the proposed rescheduling of the Ty Pawb report. · A Member enquired how footfall was being driven for the city centre and questioned opening times for the museum and Ty Pawb.. · A topic request form could be considered regarding economic development of urban villages. · The Strategy and Business Investment Lead informed Members that fieldwork had commenced around the anti-poverty performance measures with a strategy going forward. AGREED:- i) That the future report on Support for Provision to Pre-start and Existing Businesses also include details of how the Council’s own stock of industrial units can be utilised to support new and existing businesses. ii) That the Place making Plan report be considered at the Scrutiny Committee meeting to be held on 30 May. iii) That the topic selection form relating to the Anti-Poverty Strategy be accepted and this will also include performance measures to outline value for money and what success looks like. iv) That the recommendation from Customers, Performance, Resources and Governance Scrutiny Committee be accepted and that the Anti-Poverty report also addresses digital inclusion. v) To note that the application for funding via the Shared Prosperity Fund, to deliver a discretionary match funded grant scheme, will be considered at the Executive Board meeting to be held in May 2023. vi) That further consideration be given to scheduling the delivery model report in respect of Ty Pawb and the Ty Pawb performance report. vii) That the forthcoming report on Tourism Destination Management Plan contain information on measures being taken to drive up Town Centre footfall and that Members of the Town Centre and Event Management Team be invited to the meeting. viii) That a future topic selection form be considered in respect of Economic Development in Urban villages. ix) That the update report in respect of SMART towns be considered at the September meeting.
Decision as recorded
AGREED:- i) That the Committee receives an annual update report on the performance of this service. ii) That Wrexham Council addresses the correspondence to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities outlining the committees support for the future of this service being secured and funded via the use of the MULTIPLY Element of the Shared Prosperity Fund. iii) That the work carried out by this service be linked with the development of the new anti-poverty strategy. iv) That further work be undertaken to identify barriers to employment and how these can be removed to help improve access to employment. v) That it be considered how this service could feed into addressing capacity issues within the Council workforce. vi) That the Committee considers a report if required, prior to the annual update report, in relation to any funding changes proposed for this service. vii) That an All member Workshop be held outlining the Employment Support Service. viii) That information on this service be forwarded to all members to help them publicise its availability.
The Chief Officer for Economy and Planning submitted a report (COEP/30/23) that outlined details of existing service provision and its performance and outputs, along with future proposed changes to the service. The Lead Member for Economy and Regeneration introduced the report and highlighted the main points within it. The Community Employment Programme Manager gave a presentation that focused on Wrexham Communities Work Plus and it covered the following: • Objectives of the service and its primary focus. • Programme Background. • Provision for 2023/24, Referral Process and Pathways into employment. • Details of the Driving Simulator operated under the programme. • National Programme Performance and Local performance for Enrolments and job outcomes. • Funding and various other activities and support services provided. Members were also shown a short video explaining the Wrexham Communities Work Plus programme and its recent achievements. A previous user of the service also addressed the committee and answered questions on their experiences. Members asked a number of questions which were responded to accordingly, and the following points were highlighted during the detailed debate: · Members were concerned about the public profile of the programme and supported increasing its publicity, particularly with disadvantaged groups. · Members were informed that as a result of the UK leaving the European Union funding the Communities for Work Programme will cease on 31 March 2023. · A funding Award Letter for 2023/24 from Welsh Government was received in February 2023 and this enabled the Council to issue new or amended contracts to the staff team. · Members were concerned about long term funding for the programme and highlighted that there was a risk of losing a valued skill set and staff team, that would have an adverse impact on the community. · It was highlighted that the Community First Plus programme would link to the Councils anti-poverty strategy. · Members discussed the requirements for women, carers and ex carer’s in the labour market and highlighted the need for conversations with employers to offer flexible working hours to assist them back into the labour market. · An application was in process via the use of the MULTIPLY Element of the Shared Prosperity Fund and Members were assured that progress on the application will be fed back to them accordingly. · Members acknowledged the positive delivery of performance targets especially during the Covid pandemic and when Ukrainian families entered the UK and required assistance. · Performance targets were challenging and the team were enthusiastically addressing them. · The Programme regularly received inquiries from businesses informing them of their job vacancies. · It was confirmed that the programme linked and worked with Careers Wales and Coleg Cambria. · Members were advised of the various marketing methods utilised to publicise the programme. · Members had an opportunity to publicise the programme throughout their wards. · Members believed that the programme could be further adapted so as to cater for a more flexible labour force. AGREED:- i) That the Committee receives an annual update report on the performance of this service. ii) That Wrexham Council addresses the correspondence to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities outlining the committees support for the future of this service being secured and funded via the use of the MULTIPLY Element of the Shared Prosperity Fund. iii) That the work carried out by this service be linked with the development of the new anti-poverty strategy. iv) That further work be undertaken to identify barriers to employment and how these can be removed to help improve access to employment. v) That it be considered how this service could feed into addressing capacity issues within the Council workforce. vi) That the Committee considers a report if required, prior to the annual update report, in relation to any funding changes proposed for this service. vii) That an All member Workshop be held outlining the Employment Support Service. viii) That information on this service be forwarded to all members to help them publicise its availability.
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