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The Board approved a hybrid working policy that requires staff to be in the office or on site on average 80% of the time from 1 September 2025. It also agreed to ask full Council to consider the Freedom award for Phil Parkinson, and approved new Change Programme objectives and Shared Prosperity Fund applications to progress.
Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Nigel Williams and Brian Cameron.
RESOLVED – That the Minutes of the Meeting held on 8 April 2025 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 declaration was made: Agenda Items 9 and 12 – Councillor Phil Wynn – Personal and Prejudicial – Family member employed by an applicant. The Councillor withdrew from the meeting for this item taking no part in the discussion and voting thereon.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED – (i) That the Hybrid Policy set out in report CE/10/25 be approved with an implementation date of 1 September 2025. (ii) That the Hybrid Policy include an average attendance of 80% located in the office or on site and 20% working at home. (iii) That the Hybrid Policy be reviewed within 12 months and where necessary, or if there is a negative impact upon service performance, report back to Executive Board. Reason for Decisions To ensure that the Council applies a modern, efficient and fair approach to working practices whilst retaining and attracting talent to deliver efficient services to our communities.
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.
Declarations are read from the minutes once they are published.
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The Lead Member for Corporate and Customer Services submitted a report (CE/10/25) to provide feedback on the workforce consultation on the draft hybrid working policy and to seek agreement on the future way of working for employees. Presenting the report the Lead Member explained that the policy provided a framework for managers and would be reviewed within 12 months. It was acknowledged that the consultation responses from employees, trade unions and Scrutiny had requested no more than a 60/40 model of Office/Site based and home working for roles that were suitable for hybrid working. The Lead Member explained that the policy afforded flexibility for employees with medical or caring needs or where there was a recruitment or retention concern. Members considered the report and during debate spoke both for and against the proposed 80/20 average level of attendance set out in the report. Reference was made to various factors including employees undertaking roles that were not suitable for hybrid working, potential economic benefit for city centre businesses, autonomy for managers, flexibility in the policy for reasonable adjustments, risk in respect of recruitment and retention, budget implications and negative impacts on carbon and staff with protected characteristics. RESOLVED – (i) That the Hybrid Policy set out in report CE/10/25 be approved with an implementation date of 1 September 2025. (ii) That the Hybrid Policy include an average attendance of 80% located in the office or on site and 20% working at home. (iii) That the Hybrid Policy be reviewed within 12 months and where necessary, or if there is a negative impact upon service performance, report back to Executive Board. Reason for Decisions To ensure that the Council applies a modern, efficient and fair approach to working practices whilst retaining and attracting talent to deliver efficient services to our communities.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED – (i) That Councillor John Pritchard be appointed substitute, in the absence of the Lead Member for Children’s and Family Services, to represent the Council on the National Joint Committee for the National Adoption Service and Foster Wales for the period up to the date of the next local government elections in 2027. (ii) 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. Reason for Decision To ensure that the Council is appropriately represented on the National Joint Committee for the National Adoption Service and Foster Wales and to enable the Member to attend meetings with immediate effect.
The Lead Member for Partnerships and Community Safety submitted a report (COGC/39/25) To consider the appointment of a substitute Member to represent the Council on the National Joint Committee for the National Adoption Service and Foster Wales, in the absence of the Lead Member for Children’s and Family Services who was appointed as the Authority’s representative in December 2023. RESOLVED – (i) That Councillor John Pritchard be appointed substitute, in the absence of the Lead Member for Children’s and Family Services, to represent the Council on the National Joint Committee for the National Adoption Service and Foster Wales for the period up to the date of the next local government elections in 2027. (ii) 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. Reason for Decision To ensure that the Council is appropriately represented on the National Joint Committee for the National Adoption Service and Foster Wales and to enable the Member to attend meetings with immediate effect.
Part of an issue followed across 2 meetings
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED – That Council consider granting honorary freedom of the County Borough to Phil Parkinson as manager of Wrexham Association Football Club. Reason for Decision In recognition of the third promotion in a row to the Championship of Wrexham AFC
The Lead Member for Finance and Performance submitted a report (MP/01/25) to ask Executive Board to recommend that Council consider a resolution granting honorary Freedom of the County Borough to Phil Parkinson, the manager of Wrexham AFC. Presenting the report the Lead Member referred to the incredible achievement of the manager and Wrexham AFC in securing a historic promotion to the EFL Championship with a third successive promotion, unprecedented in the history of England’s top five football divisions. Members spoke in support of the report and recognised the achievements of manager and the club and the huge impact, not only in terms of the football club, but for the City as a whole. RESOLVED – That Council consider granting honorary freedom of the County Borough to Phil Parkinson as manager of Wrexham Association Football Club. Reason for Decision In recognition of the third promotion in a row to the Championship of Wrexham AFC
Part of an issue followed across 3 meetings
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED – (i) That Members note the progress and achievements of the Change Programme in its first year of operation (from April 2024). (ii) That Members support and approve the revised Terms of Reference and objectives for the Change Programme as set out in report CE/08/25. (iii) That Members endorse the overarching Vision and ‘Key Principles’ contained in report CE/08/25, and work to ensure that these are central to the consideration of Change Programme related decisions going forwards. (iv) That Members endorse the Programme themes detailed in report CE/08/25 and support further engagement with key stakeholders on these themes. Reason for Decisions To support proposed revision of the Change Programme, agreeing future ways of working and programme priorities.
The Lead Member for Finance and Performance submitted a report (CE/08/25) to provide Executive Board with an overview of the Change Programme in its first year, as well as to formally agree future ways of working, and programme priorities. Presenting the report the Lead Member conveyed his thanks to the officers, Lead Members and members of the Change and Efficiency Board and highlighted the new programme themes as outlined in paragraph 4.10 of the report. Members considered the report and asked questions of the Lead Member and officer in respect of the following matters: · Vacancy management and efficiency savings · Service plans · Request for monthly All Member Workshops to enable more involvement and understanding from Members · Barriers to mid-long term transformational change · Partnership working RESOLVED – (i) That Members note the progress and achievements of the Change Programme in its first year of operation (from April 2024). (ii) That Members support and approve the revised Terms of Reference and objectives for the Change Programme as set out in report CE/08/25. (iii) That Members endorse the overarching Vision and ‘Key Principles’ contained in report CE/08/25, and work to ensure that these are central to the consideration of Change Programme related decisions going forwards. (iv) That Members endorse the Programme themes detailed in report CE/08/25 and support further engagement with key stakeholders on these themes. Reason for Decisions To support proposed revision of the Change Programme, agreeing future ways of working and programme priorities.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED – (i) That the recommendations from the Wrexham City and County Borough UK Government Shared Prosperity Fund Stakeholder Group for applications to progress to receiving funding should they pass the due diligence checks, be approved. (ii) That the reserve list of applications be approved. Should recommended projects not be able to go ahead for any reason and funds are available to reallocate, these should be allocated to the reserve list in ranking order and in agreement with the Wrexham City and County Borough UK Government Shared Prosperity Fund Stakeholder Group. (iii) That should any project declare an underspend throughout the 2025-2026 programme and funds are available to reallocate, these should be allocated to the reserve list in ranking order, or to existing projects if it is not possible to facilitate a new project due to timescales and in agreement with the Wrexham City and County Borough UK Government Shared Prosperity Fund Stakeholder Group. (iv) That delegated authority for decisions for applications below £50K, should any WCBC sub-fund be approved, be given to WCBC Chief Officer for Economy and Planning in agreement with WCBC Leader and WCBC Deputy Leader, as outlined in paragraph 4.7 of report COEP/34/25. (v) 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 in order to provide feedback to the applicants to progress to receiving funding following due diligence checks to ensure SPF funds are distributed as soon as possible. Reason for Decisions To consider the applications that have been through the technical assessment and have been recommended by the Wrexham City and County Borough UK Government Shared Prosperity Fund Stakeholder Group to progress to the next stage of the SPF process and submit a stage 2 application.
(Members declarations of interest in relation to this item are set out in Minute 130 above) The Lead Member for Finance and Performance submitted a report (COEP/34/25) for Members to consider the recommendations from the ‘Wrexham City and County Borough UK Government Shared Prosperity Fund Stakeholder Group’ for the projects to proceed and be considered for SPF 2025-2026 funding. The Lead Member thanked the Stakeholder Group and officers for the work undertaken and reported that UK Government had confirmed that the Wrexham allocation for 2025-2026 was £7,608,591. Requested that details of the membership of the Stakeholder Group be shared with all Members. RESOLVED – (i) That the recommendations from the Wrexham City and County Borough UK Government Shared Prosperity Fund Stakeholder Group for applications to progress to receiving funding should they pass the due diligence checks, be approved. (ii) That the reserve list of applications be approved. Should recommended projects not be able to go ahead for any reason and funds are available to reallocate, these should be allocated to the reserve list in ranking order and in agreement with the Wrexham City and County Borough UK Government Shared Prosperity Fund Stakeholder Group. (iii) That should any project declare an underspend throughout the 2025-2026 programme and funds are available to reallocate, these should be allocated to the reserve list in ranking order, or to existing projects if it is not possible to facilitate a new project due to timescales and in agreement with the Wrexham City and County Borough UK Government Shared Prosperity Fund Stakeholder Group. (iv) That delegated authority for decisions for applications below £50K, should any WCBC sub-fund be approved, be given to WCBC Chief Officer for Economy and Planning in agreement with WCBC Leader and WCBC Deputy Leader, as outlined in paragraph 4.7 of report COEP/34/25. (v) 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 in order to provide feedback to the applicants to progress to receiving funding following due diligence checks to ensure SPF funds are distributed as soon as possible. Reason for Decisions To consider the applications that have been through the technical assessment and have been recommended by the Wrexham City and County Borough UK Government Shared Prosperity Fund Stakeholder Group to progress to the next stage of the SPF process and submit a stage 2 application.
RESOLVED - That the press and public be excluded from the Meeting during consideration of the following items as it is likely that, if they were present, there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 14 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).