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The decisions as the council's minutes record them. A plain-language summary follows once it has been written.
RESOLVED:- i) That the report in respect of the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal World Heritage Site be considered at the December meeting. ii) That the Report on the Wrexham Business District, together with detail of the corresponding Wrexham Industrial Estate proposal, be considered at the March 2024 meeting. iii) That an information report on the Wrexham Business Improvement District be issued in December 2023
RESOLVED:- i) That the Committee supports the establishment of a Charitable Company Limited by Guarantee, using a foundation model. ii) That the Committee supports the proposal to name the organisation Wrexham County Borough Community and Culture Trust, with a plan to develop a public-facing name in the early part of the New Year. iii) That Membership of Sub-Committees formed by the Trust include representation from Community Councils and relevant organisations. iv) That progress of the green agenda be supported through the bid process. v) That the relevant articles of memorandum be included in the report on this matter to be considered by the Executive Board. That this committee consider a progress report on this matter in November 2024.
RESOLVED:- i) That the Anti-poverty strategy be supported across all Departments of the Authority. ii) Support the data mapping exercise currently being undertaken. iii) Support the role of new procurement legislation as a means of alleviating of poverty. iv) That a representative of AVOW be invited to attend the meeting, when this issue is next discussed. v) That a further report on the Strategy be considered, prior to its consideration by the Executive Board. vi) That identification of future levers and measures be considered at the member’s workshop on this matter. vii) That the Chief Executive be requested to provide assurance that Council staff are sufficiently supported if they are experiencing financial difficulties.
Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillor Jeremy Kent.
That the Minutes held on 4th October 2023 be signed as a correct record.
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 6 – Tackling Poverty Strategy 2023-2028 Councillor Tina Mannering – Personal and non-prejudicial – The Councillor was a Trustee for Wrexham Youth and Play Provision. Councillor Gary Brown- Personal and non-prejudicial – The Councillor has an association with Caia Park Partnership The Councillors remained in the meeting taking part in the discussion and voting thereon.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED:- i) That the report in respect of the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal World Heritage Site be considered at the December meeting. ii) That the Report on the Wrexham Business District, together with detail of the corresponding Wrexham Industrial Estate proposal, be considered at the March 2024 meeting. iii) That an information report on the Wrexham Business Improvement District be issued in December 2023
The Chief Officer for Governance and Customer submitted a report (COGC/111/23s) asking members to considered the revised work programme of the Employment, Business and Investment Scrutiny Committee. The Scrutiny Facilitator presented the work programme and highlighted the main points contained within the report. RESOLVED:- i) That the report in respect of the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal World Heritage Site be considered at the December meeting. ii) That the Report on the Wrexham Business District, together with detail of the corresponding Wrexham Industrial Estate proposal, be considered at the March 2024 meeting. iii) That an information report on the Wrexham Business Improvement District be issued in December 2023
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED:- i) That the Committee supports the establishment of a Charitable Company Limited by Guarantee, using a foundation model. ii) That the Committee supports the proposal to name the organisation Wrexham County Borough Community and Culture Trust, with a plan to develop a public-facing name in the early part of the New Year. iii) That Membership of Sub-Committees formed by the Trust include representation from Community Councils and relevant organisations. iv) That progress of the green agenda be supported through the bid process. v) That the relevant articles of memorandum be included in the report on this matter to be considered by the Executive Board. That this committee consider a progress report on this matter in November 2024.
(members declarations of interest in relation to this item are set out in Minute 28 above). The Chief Officer for Economy and Planning submitted a report (COEP/73/23) that provided an update on the activities of the Interim Board for the City of Culture delivery organisation for Wrexham and presented its proposed permanent governance structure. The Lead Member for Environment introduced the report and highlighted the main points within it. Katie Peckacar from Independent Mind was welcomed to the Committee Meeting. The following points were discussed:- · The proposed Articles of Association for the City of Culture’s Charity Cultural being provided for Members. · The appropriate name for the Cultural Trust. · Incorporating the Green Agenda into the City of Culture bid 2028 as it could potentially assist with further funding. · The current interim board had agreed to transfer over to the proposed trust board. · The role of Independent Mind in supporting and developing the proposed Trust Board. · The Cultural Trust did not yet have a formal business plan at present, as a legal structure had to be agreed first. · The legal process for setting up a Trust was a quick process however, the registration process could be longer. · The previous bid, which had secured 2nd place, had only taken 8 months. · The Council will play an independent supportive role for the Trust and not take part in the decision process, in line with the Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) guidelines. · It was proposed that relevant Officers would be seconded over to the Cultural Trust, as required. · There had been some issues around communication with the previous bid and these would be addressed. · The Interim Board had discussed the naming of the Cultural Trust and agreed that a community engagement process would be undertaken on the public-facing name rather than expenditure on branding consultants to carry out this work. · The funding elements for the City of Culture bid 2028. · Once the Cultural Trust had been established, it would have the ability to generate and raise funding. · Three hundred thousand pounds have been committed to the bid, this year, by the Council. Any related spend required justification and this was the mechanism adopted to release funding from the Council. · Related committee structures for the Board needed to consider purpose, together with appropriate participation levels and responsibility. · The Eisteddfod provided a good model for community involvement and delivery. · Reference was made to the SWOT analysis where it was highlighted that the vision was weak regarding Capital of Play. This would be addressed in the new bid. · A blue print for the Capital of Play element which will be provided with the Executive Board report. · Trust Board Members had wide ranging skillsets and access to networks that will prove beneficial in securing support and funding for the bid. RESOLVED:- i) That the Committee supports the establishment of a Charitable Company Limited by Guarantee, using a foundation model. ii) That the Committee supports the proposal to name the organisation Wrexham County Borough Community and Culture Trust, with a plan to develop a public-facing name in the early part of the New Year. iii) That Membership of Sub-Committees formed by the Trust include representation from Community Councils and relevant organisations. iv) That progress of the green agenda be supported through the bid process. v) That the relevant articles of memorandum be included in the report on this matter to be considered by the Executive Board. That this committee consider a progress report on this matter in November 2024.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED:- i) That the Anti-poverty strategy be supported across all Departments of the Authority. ii) Support the data mapping exercise currently being undertaken. iii) Support the role of new procurement legislation as a means of alleviating of poverty. iv) That a representative of AVOW be invited to attend the meeting, when this issue is next discussed. v) That a further report on the Strategy be considered, prior to its consideration by the Executive Board. vi) That identification of future levers and measures be considered at the member’s workshop on this matter. vii) That the Chief Executive be requested to provide assurance that Council staff are sufficiently supported if they are experiencing financial difficulties.
The Chief Officer for Economy and Planning submitted a report (COEP/72/23) that provided an overview of the early stages of the development of the Council’s revised Tackling Poverty Strategy to ensure the views of Members are considered prior to planning wider consultation/engagement with communities and stakeholder organisations. The Lead Member for Corporate Services introduced the report and highlighted the main points within it. The Strategy and Business Investment Lead provided Members with a back ground regarding his involvement with the tackling poverty strategy and with the tackling poverty local service board. Jon Sankey (Community Employment Programme Manager), Donna Dickenson (Head of Prevention and Support), Becky Lowry (Head of Service Regeneration) and Councillor Rob Walsh (Lead Member for Children’s Services) were introduced and welcomed to the Committee meeting. The Strategy and Business Investment Lead gave a Presentation of the Tackling Poverty Strategy 2023/28 to Members which highlighted the following points: · Background and Definitions · Dimensions of poverty – Audit Wales and A view of poverty – summary · Audit Wales and Dashboard · Overview of local authorities and Partners/Partnerships · Legislation, plans /strategies · Wrexham Prevention and Early Help Strategy for Children and young people and families 2023-26 ‘Early Collaborative’ · Our priorities and Wellbeing portal · Help with cost of living Group · Current focus of work · The poverty cycle · Why systems working is important (Map Foresight (2008) – Public Health Wales and System Map – causes of unhealthy weight; · Wales audit office- Mapping the possible actions from the reports on Poverty · Social Enterprise and Community Resilience and Self Reliance · What could the 23-28 Strategy look like? · Next steps. The following was discussed:- · Concerns regarding the rises in Council tax and the effect that had on families that were struggling financially. · The role of Equality Impact Assessments in assessing the impact of decisions on poverty. · The appropriate framework on how to tackle poverty, using all available relevant information, will have to be established. · Data within the Data Cymru App was compiled using national statistics and official sources. · There were pockets of ‘hidden poverty’ that needed to be identified. · The early help partnership had recently set up an online portal which brought together professional groups and organisations that provided a referral mechanism for support. · Strategies needed to be in place to ensure that front line staff would be equipped to recognise signs of poverty and signpost to available support. · Efforts could be mobilised to tackle poverty via officers and members, community groups and councillors. · The recently launched wellbeing portal allowed a number of partners to highlight support available via one location. · Future levers and measures needed to be identified to help identify and then alleviate poverty, · New procurement legislation would be supported and provide a means to address poverty. · System mapping was a key process to tackling poverty together with the maximisation of collaboration with relevant parties. · Suitable support needed to be provided for Council staff that may be experiencing in work poverty. RESOLVED:- i) That the Anti-poverty strategy be supported across all Departments of the Authority. ii) Support the data mapping exercise currently being undertaken. iii) Support the role of new procurement legislation as a means of alleviating of poverty. iv) That a representative of AVOW be invited to attend the meeting, when this issue is next discussed. v) That a further report on the Strategy be considered, prior to its consideration by the Executive Board. vi) That identification of future levers and measures be considered at the member’s workshop on this matter. vii) That the Chief Executive be requested to provide assurance that Council staff are sufficiently supported if they are experiencing financial difficulties.
Councillors must say when they have a personal link to something being discussed, such as a job, a property or a family member. A prejudicial interest is one strong enough that the councillor usually leaves the room and takes no part.
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