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The decisions as the council's minutes record them. A plain-language summary follows once it has been written.
RESOLVED – That Council recognise the work undertaken by Wrexham Litter Pickers, community groups and individuals in making Wrexham a cleaner and safer place to live. (4ii) Winter Fuel Allowance Members considered a Notice of Motion in the following terms proposed by Councillor Carrie Harper and seconded accordingly: “This council: 1 - Condemns the recent decision by the UK Labour Government to cut the Winter Fuel Allowance. 2 - Calls on the UK Labour Government to halt the proposed cuts with a view to ensuring the most vulnerable in our society are not put at risk due to the loss of this critical payment”. An amendment was proposed and seconded in the following terms: “We note the decision made by central government to only give winter fuel payments to those in receipt of pension credit. We ask that: 1. This Council resolves to write to the Chancellor to seek reassurances that, a) those pensioners whose income falls close to the threshold for pension credit, but are not eligible, will receive support as needed through the coming winter period. b) the current threshold for low income households is reviewed and uprated to enable those wider groups, currently not eligible, to access the financial support they desperately need. 2. This Council welcomes the retention of the triple lock on pensions, which will see the basic state pension rise by £900 this year and £460 next year. 3. This Council recognises that pension credit is an under-claimed benefit and we commit to a local effort to encourage Wrexham residents to apply for this benefit and increase uptake. Claims can be made via the U.K. Government website, www.gov.uk - Apply for Pension Credit or by telephone to 0800 99 1234”. A vote was taken and the amendment was lost. An amendment to the original motion was submitted in the following terms: The word “condemns” be replaced with the words “does not agree with”. The mover and seconder of the original motion accepted this amendment. In accordance with Standing Order 18(2), a recorded vote was then taken on the amended motion, the voting being as follows: For – Councillors Trevor Bates, David A Bithell, I David Bithell MBE, Beryl Blackmore, Terry Evans, Carrie Harper, Pete Howell, Jon Jolley, Hugh Jones, Steve Joe Jones, Jeremy Kent, Claire Lovett, Tina Mannering, Becca Martin, John McCusker, Michael Morris, Jeremy Newton, Beverley Parry-Jones, Paul H Pemberton, John C Phillips, Ronnie Prince, John Pritchard, Mark Pritchard, Fred Roberts, Paul Roberts, Paul Rogers, Ross Shepherd, Alison Tynan, Debbie Wallice, Anthony Wedlake, Nigel Williams, Robert Ian Williams and Phil Wynn (33) Against – (0) Abstain – Councillors Bryan Apsley, Paul Blackwell, Gary Brown, Brian Cameron, Krista Childs, Dana Davies, Frank Hemmings, Stella Matthews, Graham Rogers, Jerry Wellens, Kate Wilkinson and Derek Wright (12) RESOLVED – This council: (i) Does not agree with the recent decision by the UK Labour Government to cut the Winter Fuel Allowance. (ii) Calls on the UK Labour Government to halt the proposed cuts with a view to ensuring the most vulnerable in our society are not put at risk due to the loss of this critical payment.
RESOLVED : (i) That the Council invite the Royal Navy to accept the Honorary Freedom of the County Borough for HMS Dragon. (ii) That further discussions be held with the Royal Navy with a view to the Council arranging a formal Freedom Ceremony for this purpose. REASON FOR DECISION To formally recognise the Royal Navy’s contribution to the County Borough and their relationship with the people of Wrexham; to acknowledge the honour of the affiliation of HMS Dragon with Wrexham and to maintain the commitments made in the Armed Forces Community Covenant signed by WCBC in April 2013.
RESOLVED – That the Treasury Management Outturn report and Actual Prudential Indicators for 2023/24 be approved. REASON FOR DECISION To comply with the CIPFA Prudential Code and Code of Practice on Treasury Management.
RESOLVED - That the recommendation of the Appointments Panel that the three successful applicants be appointed as lay members to the Governance and Audit Committee for a period up to and including 24 May 2028, as detailed in the report be approved. REASONS FOR DECISION To comply with the statutory requirements of the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2011.
RESOLVED - That Council notes the work of scrutiny during the year June 2023 to May 2024. REASON FOR DECISION To adhere to the related provisions of the Council’s Constitution.
RESOLVED - That the annual report of the Standards Committee attached at Appendix 1 to the report be approved. REASON FOR DECISION To discharge the statutory duty of the Council to produce an annual report of the Standards Committee.
RESOLVED: That the Council appoints the following as independent members of the Standards Committee for a period of 5 years: (i) Kerry Mackay – commencing 25 September 2024 (ii) Kelly Huxley – Roberts – commencing 25 November 2024 (iii) Adam Fuller – commencing 20 December 2024 REASON FOR DECISION To ensure the Standards Committee is constituted in accordance with the Council’s Constitution.
RESOLVED - (i) That the sizes and political balance of the standing Committees and Scrutiny Committees, as specified in Appendix 1 to report COGC/77/24, be agreed. (ii) That the political balance of the Chairs and Vice Chairs of the Standing and Scrutiny Committees, as specified in Appendix 2 to report COGC/77/24 be agreed. (iii) That the size and political balance of those Panels and Groups as set out in Appendix 3 to report COGC/77/24 be agreed. (iv) That Group Leaders provide the names of the nominated Councillors to the Chief Officer Governance & Customer within 7 days. REASON FOR DECISION To agree the revised political allocation of seats to Committees and Scrutiny Committees in accordance with the legislative requirements.
Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors William Baldwin, Annette Davies, Mike Davies, Andy Gallanders, Emma Holland, Corin Jarvis, Marc Jones, Malcolm King and Rob Walsh.
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 declaration was made: Agenda Item – Item 4 ii Notice of Motion – Winter Fuel Allowance Councillor Trevor Bates – Personal and non-prejudicial – change in family income. The Councillor remained in the meeting taking part in the discussion thereon.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED – That Council recognise the work undertaken by Wrexham Litter Pickers, community groups and individuals in making Wrexham a cleaner and safer place to live. (4ii) Winter Fuel Allowance Members considered a Notice of Motion in the following terms proposed by Councillor Carrie Harper and seconded accordingly: “This council: 1 - Condemns the recent decision by the UK Labour Government to cut the Winter Fuel Allowance. 2 - Calls on the UK Labour Government to halt the proposed cuts with a view to ensuring the most vulnerable in our society are not put at risk due to the loss of this critical payment”. An amendment was proposed and seconded in the following terms: “We note the decision made by central government to only give winter fuel payments to those in receipt of pension credit. We ask that: 1. This Council resolves to write to the Chancellor to seek reassurances that, a) those pensioners whose income falls close to the threshold for pension credit, but are not eligible, will receive support as needed through the coming winter period. b) the current threshold for low income households is reviewed and uprated to enable those wider groups, currently not eligible, to access the financial support they desperately need. 2. This Council welcomes the retention of the triple lock on pensions, which will see the basic state pension rise by £900 this year and £460 next year. 3. This Council recognises that pension credit is an under-claimed benefit and we commit to a local effort to encourage Wrexham residents to apply for this benefit and increase uptake. Claims can be made via the U.K. Government website, www.gov.uk - Apply for Pension Credit or by telephone to 0800 99 1234”. A vote was taken and the amendment was lost. An amendment to the original motion was submitted in the following terms: The word “condemns” be replaced with the words “does not agree with”. The mover and seconder of the original motion accepted this amendment. In accordance with Standing Order 18(2), a recorded vote was then taken on the amended motion, the voting being as follows: For – Councillors Trevor Bates, David A Bithell, I David Bithell MBE, Beryl Blackmore, Terry Evans, Carrie Harper, Pete Howell, Jon Jolley, Hugh Jones, Steve Joe Jones, Jeremy Kent, Claire Lovett, Tina Mannering, Becca Martin, John McCusker, Michael Morris, Jeremy Newton, Beverley Parry-Jones, Paul H Pemberton, John C Phillips, Ronnie Prince, John Pritchard, Mark Pritchard, Fred Roberts, Paul Roberts, Paul Rogers, Ross Shepherd, Alison Tynan, Debbie Wallice, Anthony Wedlake, Nigel Williams, Robert Ian Williams and Phil Wynn (33) Against – (0) Abstain – Councillors Bryan Apsley, Paul Blackwell, Gary Brown, Brian Cameron, Krista Childs, Dana Davies, Frank Hemmings, Stella Matthews, Graham Rogers, Jerry Wellens, Kate Wilkinson and Derek Wright (12) RESOLVED – This council: (i) Does not agree with the recent decision by the UK Labour Government to cut the Winter Fuel Allowance. (ii) Calls on the UK Labour Government to halt the proposed cuts with a view to ensuring the most vulnerable in our society are not put at risk due to the loss of this critical payment.
(i) Wrexham Litter Pickers Members considered a Notice of Motion in the following terms proposed by Councillor David A Bithell and seconded accordingly: “Council to recognise the work undertaken by Wrexham Litter Pickers, community groups and individuals in making Wrexham a cleaner and safer place to live”. A number of members spoke in recognition of the hard work and dedication of the voluntary groups within their ward, including the Wrexham Litter pickers and reference was made to this demonstration of positive partnership working. RESOLVED – That Council recognise the work undertaken by Wrexham Litter Pickers, community groups and individuals in making Wrexham a cleaner and safer place to live. (4ii) Winter Fuel Allowance Members considered a Notice of Motion in the following terms proposed by Councillor Carrie Harper and seconded accordingly: “This council: 1 - Condemns the recent decision by the UK Labour Government to cut the Winter Fuel Allowance. 2 - Calls on the UK Labour Government to halt the proposed cuts with a view to ensuring the most vulnerable in our society are not put at risk due to the loss of this critical payment”. An amendment was proposed and seconded in the following terms: “We note the decision made by central government to only give winter fuel payments to those in receipt of pension credit. We ask that: 1. This Council resolves to write to the Chancellor to seek reassurances that, a) those pensioners whose income falls close to the threshold for pension credit, but are not eligible, will receive support as needed through the coming winter period. b) the current threshold for low income households is reviewed and uprated to enable those wider groups, currently not eligible, to access the financial support they desperately need. 2. This Council welcomes the retention of the triple lock on pensions, which will see the basic state pension rise by £900 this year and £460 next year. 3. This Council recognises that pension credit is an under-claimed benefit and we commit to a local effort to encourage Wrexham residents to apply for this benefit and increase uptake. Claims can be made via the U.K. Government website, www.gov.uk - Apply for Pension Credit or by telephone to 0800 99 1234”. A vote was taken and the amendment was lost. An amendment to the original motion was submitted in the following terms: The word “condemns” be replaced with the words “does not agree with”. The mover and seconder of the original motion accepted this amendment. In accordance with Standing Order 18(2), a recorded vote was then taken on the amended motion, the voting being as follows: For – Councillors Trevor Bates, David A Bithell, I David Bithell MBE, Beryl Blackmore, Terry Evans, Carrie Harper, Pete Howell, Jon Jolley, Hugh Jones, Steve Joe Jones, Jeremy Kent, Claire Lovett, Tina Mannering, Becca Martin, John McCusker, Michael Morris, Jeremy Newton, Beverley Parry-Jones, Paul H Pemberton, John C Phillips, Ronnie Prince, John Pritchard, Mark Pritchard, Fred Roberts, Paul Roberts, Paul Rogers, Ross Shepherd, Alison Tynan, Debbie Wallice, Anthony Wedlake, Nigel Williams, Robert Ian Williams and Phil Wynn (33) Against – (0) Abstain – Councillors Bryan Apsley, Paul Blackwell, Gary Brown, Brian Cameron, Krista Childs, Dana Davies, Frank Hemmings, Stella Matthews, Graham Rogers, Jerry Wellens, Kate Wilkinson and Derek Wright (12) RESOLVED – This council: (i) Does not agree with the recent decision by the UK Labour Government to cut the Winter Fuel Allowance. (ii) Calls on the UK Labour Government to halt the proposed cuts with a view to ensuring the most vulnerable in our society are not put at risk due to the loss of this critical payment.
The Mayor informed Council that she had found it a great privilege to be involved in the various events that had taken place since her term of office began. She referred to the 80th Anniversary of D-Day which had been commemorated with a church service and parade in the city centre and the women’s Tour of Britain which arrived in Wrexham. Visits had taken place from the judges from Wales in bloom and from Britain in bloom and Wrexham achieved gold and won best overall in category. This month had been particularly busy with the Merchant Navy Day flag-raising, the Freedom parade by the Royal Welsh and the Annual RWF comrades’ reunion. The Mayor invited the Armed Forces Champion to address Council and she subsequently advised that it had been her honour to welcome another standard belonging to the Dunkirk Veteran’s Association, Wrexham Branch. She advised that the Council Chamber already proudly displayed our 4 local Veteran’s Associations Standards that were active in campaigns up to and including the Korean War, namely the Normandy, Eighth Army, Burma Star and Korean standards. She advised that later during this meeting she would l be asking full Council to approve the granting of the freedom to HMS DRAGON, our affiliate ship. The Mayor advised that last weekend she had attended some of the commemorations marking the 90th Anniversary of the Gresford Colliery disaster. It has been an honour to meet some of those whose family members were directly affected by the disaster. Finally, the Mayor confirmed that tickets for the Charity Dinner Dance at the Ramada Plaza on 4 October were still available.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED : (i) That the Council invite the Royal Navy to accept the Honorary Freedom of the County Borough for HMS Dragon. (ii) That further discussions be held with the Royal Navy with a view to the Council arranging a formal Freedom Ceremony for this purpose. REASON FOR DECISION To formally recognise the Royal Navy’s contribution to the County Borough and their relationship with the people of Wrexham; to acknowledge the honour of the affiliation of HMS Dragon with Wrexham and to maintain the commitments made in the Armed Forces Community Covenant signed by WCBC in April 2013.
The Armed Forces Champion submitted a report CE/21/24 which allowed Members to consider the granting of the Honorary Freedom of the County Borough to HMS Dragon. RESOLVED : (i) That the Council invite the Royal Navy to accept the Honorary Freedom of the County Borough for HMS Dragon. (ii) That further discussions be held with the Royal Navy with a view to the Council arranging a formal Freedom Ceremony for this purpose. REASON FOR DECISION To formally recognise the Royal Navy’s contribution to the County Borough and their relationship with the people of Wrexham; to acknowledge the honour of the affiliation of HMS Dragon with Wrexham and to maintain the commitments made in the Armed Forces Community Covenant signed by WCBC in April 2013.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED – That the Treasury Management Outturn report and Actual Prudential Indicators for 2023/24 be approved. REASON FOR DECISION To comply with the CIPFA Prudential Code and Code of Practice on Treasury Management.
The Lead Member Finance and Performance submitted a report COFI/31/24 which presented the Treasury Management Outturn report and Actual Prudential Indicators for the financial year ended 31 March 2024 RESOLVED – That the Treasury Management Outturn report and Actual Prudential Indicators for 2023/24 be approved. REASON FOR DECISION To comply with the CIPFA Prudential Code and Code of Practice on Treasury Management.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED - That the recommendation of the Appointments Panel that the three successful applicants be appointed as lay members to the Governance and Audit Committee for a period up to and including 24 May 2028, as detailed in the report be approved. REASONS FOR DECISION To comply with the statutory requirements of the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2011.
The Chief Officer Finance and ICT submitted a report COFI/32/24 which allowed Members to agree the recommendations from the Members Appointment Panel for the appointment of three independent lay members to the Governance and Audit Committee for the period up to and including 24 May 2028 RESOLVED - That the recommendation of the Appointments Panel that the three successful applicants be appointed as lay members to the Governance and Audit Committee for a period up to and including 24 May 2028, as detailed in the report be approved. REASONS FOR DECISION To comply with the statutory requirements of the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2011.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED - That Council notes the work of scrutiny during the year June 2023 to May 2024. REASON FOR DECISION To adhere to the related provisions of the Council’s Constitution.
The Monitoring Officer submitted a report COGC/64/24 which allowed Members to review the performance of and work undertaken by the Authority’s scrutiny committees and related support in 2023/24. RESOLVED - That Council notes the work of scrutiny during the year June 2023 to May 2024. REASON FOR DECISION To adhere to the related provisions of the Council’s Constitution.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED - That the annual report of the Standards Committee attached at Appendix 1 to the report be approved. REASON FOR DECISION To discharge the statutory duty of the Council to produce an annual report of the Standards Committee.
The Monitoring Officer submitted a report COGC/78/24 which allowed Council to agree the Annual Report of the Standards Committee. RESOLVED - That the annual report of the Standards Committee attached at Appendix 1 to the report be approved. REASON FOR DECISION To discharge the statutory duty of the Council to produce an annual report of the Standards Committee.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: That the Council appoints the following as independent members of the Standards Committee for a period of 5 years: (i) Kerry Mackay – commencing 25 September 2024 (ii) Kelly Huxley – Roberts – commencing 25 November 2024 (iii) Adam Fuller – commencing 20 December 2024 REASON FOR DECISION To ensure the Standards Committee is constituted in accordance with the Council’s Constitution.
The Monitoring Officer submitted a report COGC/76/24 which allowed Council to consider the appointment of three independent members onto the Standards Committee. RESOLVED: That the Council appoints the following as independent members of the Standards Committee for a period of 5 years: (i) Kerry Mackay – commencing 25 September 2024 (ii) Kelly Huxley – Roberts – commencing 25 November 2024 (iii) Adam Fuller – commencing 20 December 2024 REASON FOR DECISION To ensure the Standards Committee is constituted in accordance with the Council’s Constitution.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED - (i) That the sizes and political balance of the standing Committees and Scrutiny Committees, as specified in Appendix 1 to report COGC/77/24, be agreed. (ii) That the political balance of the Chairs and Vice Chairs of the Standing and Scrutiny Committees, as specified in Appendix 2 to report COGC/77/24 be agreed. (iii) That the size and political balance of those Panels and Groups as set out in Appendix 3 to report COGC/77/24 be agreed. (iv) That Group Leaders provide the names of the nominated Councillors to the Chief Officer Governance & Customer within 7 days. REASON FOR DECISION To agree the revised political allocation of seats to Committees and Scrutiny Committees in accordance with the legislative requirements.
The Monitoring Officer submitted a report COGC/77/24 which allowed Council to carry out a review of the representation of political groups on the Executive Board, Committees, Scrutiny Committees and various Panels set up by the Council as part of its Constitution. RESOLVED - (i) That the sizes and political balance of the standing Committees and Scrutiny Committees, as specified in Appendix 1 to report COGC/77/24, be agreed. (ii) That the political balance of the Chairs and Vice Chairs of the Standing and Scrutiny Committees, as specified in Appendix 2 to report COGC/77/24 be agreed. (iii) That the size and political balance of those Panels and Groups as set out in Appendix 3 to report COGC/77/24 be agreed. (iv) That Group Leaders provide the names of the nominated Councillors to the Chief Officer Governance & Customer within 7 days. REASON FOR DECISION To agree the revised political allocation of seats to Committees and Scrutiny Committees in accordance with the legislative requirements.
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