Executive Board

The Lead Member for Housing and the Lead Member for Corporate Services submitted a report (COEP/50/22) asking Members to agree the proposed use of funds available to the Council to support residents of the County Borough in accessing a range of information and services to help with pressures associated with the cost of living crisis. The Lead Member presented the report and highlighted the main points contained within it. A debate ensued and the following points were raised: · Update requested on wifi access in libraries. It was noted that regular demand for wifi access occurred in all libraries, and Officers were looking into how that could be delivered. · Request for a link to the Welsh Government consultation exercise on school uniforms be provided on the Council’s website. It was noted that school uniforms were a matter for determination by the School Governing Bodies, but this would be discussed in more detail at the Joint Member/Officer Working Group on the Cost of Living Crisis. · Suggestion that funding had been withdrawn to the Wrexham Feeding the Roofless project. It was confirmed that this would also be considered by the Working Group. · Suggestion that elected Members should receive training on their roles as community leaders. · Confirmation that Officers would continue to work with the Citizens Advice Bureau were receiving lots of queries from families with regards to the cost of living crisis. RESOLVED – (i) That the use of funds to provide the interventions listed in paragraph 4.6 of report COEP/50/22 be approved. (ii) That the Chief Officer Finance and ICT, in consultation with the Lead Member for Finance and Performance, the Lead Member for Housing and the Lead Member Corporate Services, be authorised to enter into negotiations with Citizens Advice Bureau to agree the detailed services and outcomes to be funded. (iii) That this matter is dealt with as an urgent item of business in accordance with Section 5 (Rule 5.8.10(m)) of the Council’s Constitution. The reason for urgency is in order to provide services to respond to issues experienced by residents of the County Borough due to the cost of living crisis in a timely way and to commit and spend the funds available for this purpose in 2022/23. Reason for decisions To provide a timely response to this crisis and to work with partners to support those who are experiencing difficulties due to the rising cost of living.

The Lead Member for Corporate Services submitted a report (COEP/44/22) asking Members to consider the change to the library outreach service adopted during the Covid pandemic, and to approve the continuation of this delivery model of the ‘Pop-Up Library Service’. In the absence of the Lead Member for Corporate Services, the Lead Member for Environment presented the report and highlighted the main points contained within it. Concerns were expressed with regards to the increasing running costs of community and village halls. Officers advised that where possible, they tried to ensure that the pop-up library service would be provided when the building was already open, in order not to incur any additional costs. RESOLVED - That the Pop-Up Library Service delivery model be approved. Reason for decisions To achieve a reduced carbon footprint to make it into a cleaner and greener Outreach Public Library Service and to meet customer’s needs in a COVID safe environment.

The Lead Member for Corporate Services submitted a report (COGC/93/22) to inform Members of the Public Service Ombudsman for Wales Annual Letter 2021/22. The Lead Member presented the report and moved the recommendations contained within it. A discussion ensued and the following points were made: · Confirmation that elected Members had been given access to two training sessions provided by the Ombudsman. · Officers confirmed that a review of the Housing repairs process had been undertaken, and work had been done to improve communication. · Confirmation by the Lead Member that a report would be presented to the Homes and Environment Scrutiny Committee on priorities for the Housing Department, including Estate Management, Anti-social Behaviour, and Voids and Repairs. · Importance of recognising that the number of interventions by the Ombudsman was the most relevant statistic to note. RESOLVED – That the report and the Annual Letter be endorsed and the Council’s performance noted. Reason for decision To enable Members to review the Council’s performance in responding to customer complaints.

The Lead Member for Environment submitted a report (COEP/45/22) for Members to consider and approve a further three years funding to support the Stiwt Trust to deliver a programme of Welsh Cultural activities. The Lead Member presented the report and highlighted the main points for consideration. He responded to questions accordingly, and a debate ensued, during which, the following points were noted: · Concern that the mothballing costs didn’t reflect the current cost of living crisis. · Confirmation by the Lead Member that the funding provided to the Trust wasn’t directly related to mothballing costs, and that these figures were provided as an indication of the likely cost to the Council if the Stiwt were to close. · Confirmation that discussions will continue to take place with the Trust on a regular basis. · Importance of recognising that the Stiwt played a significant part in the City of Culture bid, and it was suggested therefore that county wide provision for arts and culture should be looked at in terms of submitting combined bids for funding. RESOLVED - (i) That the Chief Officer Economy and Planning be authorised to provide a grant for a further three years at a consistent £30,433 per annum to the Stiwt Trust to deliver a programme of arts and cultural activities to support the priorities in the Council Plan for three years (April 2022- March 2025). (ii) That that Officer time is provided from the Council’s Regeneration Team to support the Stiwt Trust in achieving its plans for growth, in securing third party grant support and in increasing earned income levels. (iii) That the Chief Officer Housing be authorised to negotiate and conclude the terms and conditions for the extension of the arrangements for the Rhos Housing Estate Office to be located at the Stiwt for a further 3 years. (iv) That this matter be dealt with as an urgent item of business in accordance with Section 5 (Rule 5.8.10(m)) of the Council’s Constitution. The reason for urgency is to put the 3-year SLA in place as soon as possible to make the payment backdated to 01/04/22. Reason for decisions To continue to assist the Stiwt Trust so that it can continue to provide a Welsh cultural facility for the County Borough, providing access for children and young people to experience cultural opportunities and a facility for the wider community.

The Leader vacated the Chair, and the Vice-Chair, Councillor David A Bithell, presided over the next items on the Agenda to enable the Leader to present Agenda items 9 to 12 in his capacity as Lead Member for Finance and Performance. (Councillor David A Bithell in the Chair)

(Members declarations of interest in relation to this item are set out in Minute 63 above) The Lead Member for Finance and Performance submitted a report (COH/24/22) to consider an appropriation of land from Environment to Education at Madeira Hill, Wrexham for use by St Giles Church in Wales Primary School as a Forest School. RESOLVED – (i) That the appropriation of the land shown in Appendix 2 to report COH/24/22 on Madeira Hill, Wrexham be transferred from Environment to Education, for use as a Forest School by St Giles on terms and conditions to be negotiated by the Chief Officer Housing, in consultation with the Lead Member for Finance & Performance. (ii) That the Chief Officer Governance & Customer be authorised to advertise the intention to dispose of the land shown cross hatched in Appendix 2 forming part of an open space pursuant to Section 123 (2A) Local Government Act 1972. (iii) That the Chief Officer Governance & Customer be required to report to the Executive Board on any objection received to the intended disposal of the site forming part of the open space but that in the absence of objection the land is disposed of as set out in the report. Reason for decisions To facilitate the creation of a Forest School at St Giles Primary School, Madeira Hill, Wrexham, LL13 7HD

The Lead Member for Finance and Performance submitted a report (COH/27/22) to seek approval to dispose of the former Pontfadog School site. The Lead Member presented the report and highlighted the main points for consideration. A discussion ensued and disappointment was expressed that Housing Associations had withdrawn interest in the site. It was requested that the local community group be provided with the opportunity to meet the asking price of the site once the valuation had been determined. Officers confirmed that pre-auction offers were often received, so there would be an opportunity to explore that further. The Lead Member pointed out that there was higher demand elsewhere across the County Borough for social housing. RESOLVED - That the Chief Officer Housing be authorised to negotiate and conclude the terms and conditions of disposal including determination of boundaries for the disposal of the former Pontfadog School, as shown hatched on the plan at Appendix 1 of report COH/27/22, in consultation with the Lead Member for Assets and the Local Ward Member, as per the previous Executive Board resolution under Report number COHE/07/21. Reason for decision The School is surplus to the requirements of the Council and therefore disposal of the site is recommended. A disposal of the site will relieve the Council of its future maintenance obligations for an empty Council property and generate a capital receipt should a sale be achieved as per previous report number COHE/07/21 and in accordance with the legal advice set out in 5.3

(Members declarations of interest in relation to this item are set out in Minute 63 above) The Lead Member for Finance and Performance submitted a report (MP/02/22) asking Executive Board to recommend to Council that they consider a resolution granting honorary Freedom of the County Borough to the Wrexham Association Football Club and the owners Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds. The Lead Member presented the report and moved the recommendations contained within it. Members spoke in support of the report and recognised the huge impact that the owners of the club had, not only in terms of the football club, but as the City as a whole. Recognition was also made to other businesses in the area who had invested millions of pounds in the County Borough, making such huge contributions and transforming thousands of lives. RESOLVED – (i) That Council consider granting honorary freedom of the County Borough to: (a) Wrexham Association Football Club; and (b) The football club owners Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds (ii) That the work of the Wrexham Supporters Trust be recognised. Reasons for decisions (i) In recognition of the long history of the football club in this area (ii) In recognition of the global promotion and awareness of the club and the Wrexham area