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The decisions as the council's minutes record them. A plain-language summary follows once it has been written.
AGREED:- That Subject to the above changes, the Work Programme at Appendix 1 was agreed.
AGREED:- (i) That the Committee supports the work of the WCCT and supports staffing allocations acknowledging but subject to on-going financial implications and the overall pressure on budgets. (ii) That the Committee would welcome an update provided by consultants DEM Coch against the 20 evaluation criteria set by the process. See Criteria below Appendix 1. This update could be incorporated into the potential workshop outlined in recommendation 4. (iii) That a combined action plan City of Culture & Trust subject to any issue of commercial sensitivity to be included in next report (iv) That an All-Member workshop to take place approximately in April 2026 (to be finalised) in order to brief Councillors regarding the bid itself and the progress being made.
Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillor Gary Brown.
A councillor raised concerns about inaccuracies in the minutes, particularly a claim that market floor issues had been resolved, which was contradicted by a trader’s fall the following day. They also highlighted missing details in the Ty Pawb annual report, including entrance issues and financial data previously requested. Other councillors acknowledged the concerns but argued the minutes accurately reflected what was said during the meeting. A vote was held, and the majority approved the minutes, with the councillor’s objections noted for future discussion. AGREED: that the minutes held on 9 October 2025 be signed as a correct record.
Decision as recorded
AGREED:- That Subject to the above changes, the Work Programme at Appendix 1 was agreed.
The Chief Officer for Governance and Customer submitted a report (COGC/83/25) inviting members to consider the revised Work Programme for the Employment, Business and Investment Scrutiny Committee, as set out in Appendix 1. The Scrutiny Facilitator provided a progress update on the committee’s work programme. Key items included delays to the Wrexham Gateway delivery plan and financial reporting for Tŷ Pawb, with concerns raised about repeated postponements. The Plan for the Neighbourhoods was submitted to UK Government despite committee recommendations to defer; scrutiny will follow once feedback has been received. Members requested clearer scheduling and continued visibility of pending items. Several adjustments were made to the work programme: · The Anti-poverty strategy (children’s wellbeing) was prioritised for early 2026. · The Economic prosperity strategy was renamed from “Economic Development Strategy” and rescheduled for Quarter 1 and to consider this item at call-over for a specific date in the programme. · A site visit was replaced by a workshop at Wrexham University. · Reports on Smart Towns, business support, and tackling poverty were rescheduled across Quarter1 to Quarter 2. · The May 2026 meeting will be held online due to election-related room unavailability. · Plan for the Neighbourhoods: Moved to “items to be scheduled” to ensure further consideration. · Clarification was required on whether the January 2026 Tŷ Pawb report would be an additional report or a realigned version of the July 2025 report. · The next Wrexham Markets report will include financial data, occupancy levels, trader feedback, and service charge details for 2023 to 25. AGREED:- That Subject to the above changes, the Work Programme at Appendix 1 was agreed.
Decision as recorded
AGREED:- (i) That the Committee supports the work of the WCCT and supports staffing allocations acknowledging but subject to on-going financial implications and the overall pressure on budgets. (ii) That the Committee would welcome an update provided by consultants DEM Coch against the 20 evaluation criteria set by the process. See Criteria below Appendix 1. This update could be incorporated into the potential workshop outlined in recommendation 4. (iii) That a combined action plan City of Culture & Trust subject to any issue of commercial sensitivity to be included in next report (iv) That an All-Member workshop to take place approximately in April 2026 (to be finalised) in order to brief Councillors regarding the bid itself and the progress being made.
The Chief Officer for Economy and Planning submitted a report (COEP/58/25) providing an update on Wrexham’s bid to become UK City of Culture 2029. The Lead Member for Planning and Public Protection confirmed the launch of the UK City of Culture 2029 programme and outlined Wrexham’s strengthened bid which was led by an independent trust now granted charitable status and supported by the council. The bid reflected a more community-led approach, with a 10-year cultural strategy in development and early funding already supporting local groups. Wrexham’s recent success in hosting major events, such as the 2025 National Eisteddfod and a women’s tennis tournament, demonstrated its capability and readiness. Richard Nicholls, Vice-Chair of the Wrexham Community & Culture Trust, reported that the team had responded proactively to feedback from the 2025 judges, who had placed Wrexham a close second. He noted that Wrexham acted quickly following the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) announcement, securing an early advantage. Preparations for the formal application were well underway, with the initial expression of interest due on 11th January. The bid was being carefully aligned with all DCMS criteria, underpinned by a 10-year cultural strategy aimed at delivering a lasting legacy. Community engagement had already begun to ensure the bid reflected local voices and priorities. Members were reminded that: a) Twenty areas applied for the 2025 title, with Wrexham the only Welsh area to reach the final four. b) Only Ipswich and Portsmouth had declared interest for 2029 so far. c) Previous bids saw investments up to £2 million, though DCMS support increased to £60,000 for longlisted areas. d) Wrexham Council had spent just over £200,000 (excluding staff costs) and remains confident in delivering a strong bid within budget. e) The trust’s charitable status allowed access to external funding not available to councils. f) Wrexham have officially announced they will be bidding for the 2029 competition. Longlisted places will be announced in February 2026, with a full application due in May/June 2026. Shortlisted places will be announced in summer 2026 and the winner is due to be announced in winter 2026. The following was discussed:- · Officers confirmed that council funding justified continued scrutiny and that branding had been intentionally limited before the DCMS announcement. · Members stressed the need for clearer messaging and broader public engagement. · Communications would be tailored to different audiences, with the bid rooted in grassroots cultural development across the county. · The cultural strategy, developed by consultancy firm Deryn co., aims to coordinate Wrexham’s cultural activity and address infrastructure needs. · Community engagement sessions were planned to shape the legacy of 2029, with the strategy expected to be completed by May or June 2026. · Officers noted that the strategy was essential regardless of the bid outcome. · The committee praised staff contributions and noted the growing partnership with Canada. · Clarification was provided on the £10 million prize, which would be awarded to the trust. · Trustees have been appointed on flexible terms with appropriate governance structures in place. · Questions were raised about funding distribution, particularly in Wrexham South; officers confirmed all funding had been awarded through a competitive process. · Members requested visibility of the City of Culture action plan and emphasised the importance of councillor involvement in promoting the bid. · The judging process was discussed, with confirmation that Phil Newman and Claire McClellan have been appointed as chair and deputy, and nine additional judges were being recruited to ensure UK-wide representation. · The 20 DCMS criteria included cultural impact, net zero contributions, and community empowerment. · Concerns were raised about public understanding of the bid, especially following confusion during the previous city status campaign. · Members highlighted the success of past community involvement, particularly in villages like Marford and Gresford. · Community councils expressed strong support, and members acknowledged the challenge of competing with other awards but remained committed to securing widespread backing. AGREED:- (i) That the Committee supports the work of the WCCT and supports staffing allocations acknowledging but subject to on-going financial implications and the overall pressure on budgets. (ii) That the Committee would welcome an update provided by consultants DEM Coch against the 20 evaluation criteria set by the process. See Criteria below Appendix 1. This update could be incorporated into the potential workshop outlined in recommendation 4. (iii) That a combined action plan City of Culture & Trust subject to any issue of commercial sensitivity to be included in next report (iv) That an All-Member workshop to take place approximately in April 2026 (to be finalised) in order to brief Councillors regarding the bid itself and the progress being made.
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