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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 scheduling and content of the SMART Towns report be considered by Chair and Vice-Chair of the committee and reported back to the next meeting. ii) That the report in respect of the Civic Leadership Group be considered at the April 2024 meeting. iii) That the Committee note that the Lead Member and Strategy Development Lead had attended the Town and Community Council Forum to discuss the Placemaking Strategy and the issues identified in relation to Economic Development of Urban Villages and Rural Areas had been raised.
RESOLVED: (i) That the Committee thanked the Lead Member, officers and contributors for the quality of the presentation and for the on-going work undertaken by the team. (ii) That a further report be submitted on an annual basis to further review the work of the business and investment team. (iii) That prior to any launch of the new app “Vista” that members are advised of the nature of the app and its proposed use amongst the Wrexham Business Community. (iv) That the Business & Investment Team consider the potential for introducing paid for services and the seeking of enhanced levels of sponsorship for events.
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Gary Brown, Stella Matthews and John McCusker.
Members were assured that the Ty Pawb building had been surveyed and there was no presence of RAAC. RESOLVED:- That the minutes held on 10 January 2024 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 5 – Support provision for Businesses in Wrexham. Councillor Andy Gallanders – Personal and non-prejudicial – The town centre Business report highlighted the Wrexham Business Awards which the Councillor was a supplier. Councillor Marc Jones – Personal and not Prejudicial – The Councillor was a Voluntary Board Member for Saith Seren which was a City Centre Business. The Councillors remained in the meeting taking part in the discussion and voting thereon.
Decision as recorded
AGREED:- i) That scheduling and content of the SMART Towns report be considered by Chair and Vice-Chair of the committee and reported back to the next meeting. ii) That the report in respect of the Civic Leadership Group be considered at the April 2024 meeting. iii) That the Committee note that the Lead Member and Strategy Development Lead had attended the Town and Community Council Forum to discuss the Placemaking Strategy and the issues identified in relation to Economic Development of Urban Villages and Rural Areas had been raised.
The Chief Officer for Governance and Customer submitted a report (COGC/13/24s) asking members to consider the revised work programme of the Employment and Investment Scrutiny Committee. The Scrutiny Facilitator presented the work programme and highlighted the main points within it. AGREED:- i) That scheduling and content of the SMART Towns report be considered by Chair and Vice-Chair of the committee and reported back to the next meeting. ii) That the report in respect of the Civic Leadership Group be considered at the April 2024 meeting. iii) That the Committee note that the Lead Member and Strategy Development Lead had attended the Town and Community Council Forum to discuss the Placemaking Strategy and the issues identified in relation to Economic Development of Urban Villages and Rural Areas had been raised.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: (i) That the Committee thanked the Lead Member, officers and contributors for the quality of the presentation and for the on-going work undertaken by the team. (ii) That a further report be submitted on an annual basis to further review the work of the business and investment team. (iii) That prior to any launch of the new app “Vista” that members are advised of the nature of the app and its proposed use amongst the Wrexham Business Community. (iv) That the Business & Investment Team consider the potential for introducing paid for services and the seeking of enhanced levels of sponsorship for events.
The Chief Officer for Economy and Planning submitted a report (COEP/14/24) requesting members to review and consider how the Council provided support to pre-start and existing businesses (including Social Enterprises), as well as businesses looking to relocate to the County Borough. The Lead Member for Economy Regeneration and Economic Development introduced the report and highlighted the main points within them. The business and investment team manager welcomed and introduced the following business representatives:- a) Mr Andrew Cracknell – representing Dear Boy Pet Care b) Mr Neil Roberts and Craig Thomas – representing Volt 33 bar c) Henry and Jack – representing the Rebel School Members were informed that all of these business representatives had benefited from the business support provision during 2023 and that they will be providing brief case studies during the presentation that covered the support provision to pre-start and existing businesses, as well as businesses that were looking to relocate to the County Borough. As follows: · Business Performance Comparison. · Percentage of repeat (4 or more) personal interactions, from clients during 2023. · City Centre network –case study presented by Mr Neil Roberts and Mr Craig Thomas representing Volt 33 wine bar. · Impact tool. · Climate Conversation. · Mersey Dee Alliance (MDA) event – case study presented by Mr Andrew Cracknall representing the Dear Boy Pet Care company. · Advanced Manufacturer resource Centre (AMRC) the tomorrow’s world event. · Shared Prosperity fund (SPF) –case study –p[] · P[representatives of the Rebel Business School. · Carbon zero – 50 attended. · Welsh word of the day. · Ex-Military recruitment event. Members asked a number of questions, which were responded to accordingly, and the following points were highlighted during the detailed debate: Discussion focused on the Business Representatives · A Member enquired when the Rebel Business School would be returning back to Wrexham. · Approximately, twenty five percent of the rebel course attendees comprised of people who had existing businesses. · The Rebel School representatives informed Members that: a) An informal business mentoring scheme was available. b) The Rebel Plus Service had an online training system and also had provision to provide five one to one mentoring to one mentoring services. c) The Rebel School would consider providing their services to schools. · Members were assured that there were local networks in place to deal with the gaps presented to business start-ups such as providing accountancy services and fork lift training. · It was confirmed that the supply chain was very strong and secure in Wrexham. · The Business Support team offered impartial services where they did not recommend companies but businesses were given the facility to network with each other in order to obtain business information and other business services that would assist them with their problems and service gaps. · Members supported the Rebel School and would like them to return back to Wrexham to deliver the course again; and to track their progress on what they have achieved from delivering it. · The Rebel School has been funded by the Shared Prosperity Fund but there were no guarantees for funding it in the future at this point. · It was acknowledged that the business support team had a positive impact for local business which has generated a positive effect in the Wrexham Economy. Discussion focussed on Officers · It was confirmed that the new the new app “Vista” will be launched in March 2024 and that the Smart City Officer was leading on this project. · Wrexham Council received money from the Shared Prosperity Fund to buy the software associated with the new app “Vista”. · There will be a press release that will provide Members of the Public with details about the “Vista” app and Members will be briefed beforehand. · Members were informed that a specialist company based in South Wales that specialised in apps for cities and town centres has been procured where they have visited Wrexham on a couple of occasions and have spoken to a number of local businesses regarding the app. · It was confirmed that there were currently two vacancies within the Business Support team but these posts have been put on hold due to the current budget pressures. · The Business Support team were performing well and for 2024/25 the level of resources were protected. · It was acknowledged that if team sizes were reduced then it placed pressure on the remaining officers in post and that wellbeing of staff was an important factor to take into consideration. · Councillors thanked the business and investment team manager for the positive and polished presentation. · Concerns were raised regarding the fragility of the entire hospitality business. · Investing in long term projects such as the rebel school that deliver and impact the economy was considered important for the local economy. · A Member enquired if there were any services that the Business Support team could charge for in order to bring revenue in. · Members were informed that some of the local businesses have kindly sponsored some business support events. · Reference was made to the Dear Boy Pet Care start-up company where connections and business relationships had been formed between the business support team and the regularity team. The result was that the start-up company had confidence in Wrexham’s business support network and decided to base themselves in Wrexham instead of Ellesmere Port. RESOLVED: (i) That the Committee thanked the Lead Member, officers and contributors for the quality of the presentation and for the on-going work undertaken by the team. (ii) That a further report be submitted on an annual basis to further review the work of the business and investment team. (iii) That prior to any launch of the new app “Vista” that members are advised of the nature of the app and its proposed use amongst the Wrexham Business Community. (iv) That the Business & Investment Team consider the potential for introducing paid for services and the seeking of enhanced levels of sponsorship for events.
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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