Author: Emma

You have less than two weeks to tell us what you know about elections and where you want to find information about voting and elections in Wrexham…and you could win a £50 Amazon voucher!

How? Just fill out our electoral services survey! Whether you know a little, nothing or everything there is to know about elections we want to hear from you.

The aim of the survey is to understand what you need from Wrexham Council’s electoral services. Completing the survey means we will know what information you need and, most importantly, where you want to find it.

You have until June 4 to complete the survey and be in with the chance of winning that £50 voucher.

Spotted a pothole? Let us know quickly and easily online.

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Does your child like building with Lego?

Why not get them to practice with a Lego master!

Steve Guinness, winner of Channel 4’s Lego Masters, will be visiting Gwersyllt and Chirk libraries this half term and posing creative build challenges. He’ll also give your child a mini kit to take home with them so they can build a book and pencil made out of Lego.

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These sessions are free, but you do need to book your place, and take place at the following times and venues:

Thursday, June 1
Gwersyllt Library
Age 4+
9.30am, 11am, 1pm and 2.30pm
Booking is essential – call 01978 722890

Friday, June 2
Chirk Library
Age 4+
9.30am, 11am, 1pm and 2.30pm
Booking is essential – call 01691 772344

Sessions are free as they are fully funded by NE Wales ACL.

You can find out more about Steve Guinness on his website, The Brick Consultant – LEGO Commissions, Workshops and Training

Spotted a pothole? Let us know quickly and easily online.

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There have been a number of reminders this year about the importance of following planning rules, as local landowners and business people were issued fines in court for ignoring Enforcement Notices.

What are Planning Enforcement Notices?

They are legal documents, sent when development has taken place without planning permission or when development has taken place which departs from the planning permission given.  They require breaches to be remedied.

So, what has happened in Wrexham?

In the last few months, thousands of pounds has been paid in fines and fees by local landowners.  Wrexham Council’s Planning Service is highlighting the importance of complying with planning rules and Enforcement Notices.

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Among those fined, a person occupying land in Llwyneinion Woods paid a total of £744 after putting buildings on land without permission and creating unauthorised access to it from a classified road. While in Penley Woods, a business was being run from the woodland and Enforcement Notices were issued, but not complied with, and the business owner was ordered to pay a total on £1160.

The largest fine was issued to the owner of a Wrexham farm, after an area of hardstanding had been laid without planning permission. The landowner was also storing non-agricultural vehicles on agricultural land. These breaches led to a total fine of £2282.

Councillor Terry Evans, Lead Member for Planning and Public Protection, said: “We take failure to comply with planning rules and Enforcement Notices very seriously.

“Landowners should work closely with our Planning Officers before undertaking development to make sure they stay within the rules, which are there to protect the County Borough and its residents.”

David Fitzsimon, Chief Officer for Planning and Economy at Wrexham Council, said: “Planning regulations help to protect the environment and our communities and breaches are taken seriously. Officers will not hesitate to take enforcement action, including prosecution, where it is expedient to do so.”

“I would strongly recommend that landowners contact the Planning Service before undertaking any development. The Team can provide advice if you’re unsure whether your project will need planning permission.”

You can find out more on the council’s website.

Spotted a pothole? Let us know quickly and easily online.

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Every 15 minutes another child comes into care, needing a foster family in the UK. Every day there are about 70,000 children living with 56,000 foster families.

As families across the country struggle with the ongoing cost of living crisis, Foster Wales is calling on employers in Wales to become ‘fostering friendly’’ in hopes of addressing the misconception that you cannot continue working if you become a foster carer.

This Foster Care Fortnight (May 15-28), local authority fostering services in Wales are calling on the wider business community to lend their support and make it easier for their employees to combine fostering and working.

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According to the Fostering Network, the UK’s leading fostering charity, nearly 40% of foster carers combine fostering with other work and their ‘fostering friendly’ policy encourages employers to provide flexibility and time off for employees who are prospective foster carers and are going through the application process.

The scheme also supports employees who are already foster carers, to allow time off for training, attendance at panels, to settle a new child into their home and to respond to any emergencies which may arise.

Having the support of an employer may make the vital difference in the decision of an employee to become a foster carer.

Alison from Wrexham is proof that working full time is not a barrier to becoming a foster carer. She made her dream of becoming a foster carer a reality in 2020 whilst continuing to work full time for Wrexham County Borough Council. She said: “I had always wanted to foster but I thought I was unsuitable as I was still working full time, single and over 50! But the team at Foster Wales Wrexham have been so encouraging from the start. There is a lot of flexibility.

“As I work for Wrexham Council, I get additional annual leave for fostering with my local authority, which I use to attend meetings, training and reviews. With the support from my own family, my social workers and the team at Foster Wales Wrexham, together, we have made fostering work for me.”

Cllr Rob Walsh, lead member for children’s social care, said: “The Fostering Friendly employers scheme is really important and offers businesses of any size the chance to make a difference for foster carers and the children they care for in, their local communities. It also improves support for their own employees at the same time.

“With so many foster carers who combine fostering with other work it is important for them to know they have a supportive employer to enable them to balance employment with caring for looked after children. I encourage employers in the county borough to look into ways they can become fostering friendly to help their employees make a difference to the lives of looked after children in Wrexham.”

Head of Foster Wales, Alastair Cope, added: “As the need for foster carers continues to grow, we need our community in Wales to step up.

“We know that when children stay connected, stay local and have someone to stick by them for the long term, we see better outcomes.

“So, if employers in Wales can support their employees in becoming foster carers, local authorities can help more children stay connected to their roots and ultimately, support them towards better futures.”

To find out more about becoming a foster carer in Wrexham visit: https://wrexham.fosterwales.gov.wales/

To discover more about becoming a fostering friendly employer in Wales visit: https://fosterwales.gov.wales/fostering-friendly-employers-in-wales/

Spotted a pothole? Let us know quickly and easily online.

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Over the next few weeks, we are asking you to tell us what you know about elections and where you want to find information about voting and elections in Wrexham.

Fill out our electoral services survey and you could win a £50 Amazon voucher just for taking part.

So…whether you know a little, nothing or everything there is to know about elections we want to hear from you.

The aim of the survey is to understand what you need from Wrexham Council’s electoral services. Completing the survey means we will know what information you need and, most importantly, where you want to find it.

You have until June 4 to complete the survey and be in with the chance of winning that £50 voucher.

Spotted a pothole? Let us know quickly and easily online.

[button color=”” size=”large” type=”square_outlined” target=”new” link=”https://myaccount.wrexham.gov.uk/en/service/Pothole_report”] REPORT A POTHOLE [/button]

This year’s Autism Acceptance Week runs from March 27 to April 2 and you are invited to the Well Being hub in Crown Buildings Wrexham, March 27 11am-2pm, to kick off the event.

Everyone is welcome to come along and learn more about Autism and events around Autism Awareness Week at this event hosted by Parent Champions (all over a cuppa).

Autism Acceptance Week began in 2007, with the aim of helping people have a better understanding of Autism and to celebrate the achievements of Autistic people.

Missed bin collection? Let us know quickly and easily online.

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If your child is in years 1 or 2 in primary school, you’ll want to read this!

Since September, all children in reception classes across Wales have been able to have free meals at school, and from April Universal Primary Free School Meals will be rolled out to all year 1 and 2 pupils in Wrexham as well.

This is the second stage of the Welsh Government’s response to the rising cost-of-living pressures on families, tackling child poverty and ensuring no child goes hungry in school.

The same offer will be available to years 3 to 6 from September 2023.

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Does your child already receive Free School Meals?

If your child currently receives Free School Meals based on your circumstances, you may also be entitled to additional help through the Pupil Development Grant, which includes financial support for uniform, sports equipment and devices. To access this year’s scheme visit  Pupil Development Grant (PDG) | Wrexham County Borough Council.

So, as the summer term approaches, we are urging parents to apply for the support they’re entitled to.

Has your financial situation changed in the last year?

If your child is not currently receiving Free School Meals, but your circumstances have changed this year, Wrexham might have support available for you. To check if you are eligible for Free School Meals, visit Free school meals | Wrexham County Borough Council. If you are eligible, you may also be able to receive the Pupil Development Grant.

Cllr Phil Wynn, Lead Member for Education, said: “If you think you may be eligible for Free School Meals, please visit our website and apply even if your child is in Reception,  Year 1 or Year 2 and qualifies for Universal Primary Free School Meals.. If your application is successful, you may also be able to access the Pupil Development Grant, which is an important part of stopping money getting in the way of children’s education. So, if you think you may be eligible, get in touch with us to support parents and learners through the school year.”

Child starting school? You’ll need a Parent Pay account

For your child to receive a free school meal – Universal Primary Free School Meal or an eligibility-based Free School Meal  – you will need an account on the Parent Pay website www.parentpay.com.  Here’s how you get one:

1. Email schoolmeals@wrexham.gov.uk with your child’s full name, date of birth and name of their school, and ask for a Parent Pay activation code
2. You will receive an activation code to get your account up and running

If you have any questions about financial help available for your child while they are at school you can contact us at freeschoolmeals@wrexham.gov.uk.

If your child is eligible for a free school meal, you’ll need to pre-order on Parent Pay too. This really helps your child’s school because teachers aren’t spending time taking orders. It also means your child gets their first choice of meal and helps us reduce waste. Once you are set up on Parent Pay, you’ll be able to book your children’s meals up to two weeks in advance.

Missed bin collection? Let us know quickly and easily online.

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The deadline is nearly here – make sure you let us know if the Wrexham Council’s plans for the future are the right ones.

The Council Plan 2023-28 identifies six areas that we believe are the most important areas to help us achieve our vision, to contribute to Wales’ well-being goals, and to ensure  that everybody is treated fairly.

But do you agree?

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Once finalised, the plan will be used to inform decisions about how we allocate money and other resources, so it’s important that you have your say.

You can take a look at the draft Council Plan and complete the online survey at www.yourvoicewrexham.com. The deadline is March 14.

If you are unable to access our survey online, printed copies of our survey in Welsh and English, are available from, and can be returned to, the Wellbeing Hub, Chester Street, Wrexham LL13 8BG, the Guildhall, Wrexham LL11 1AY, housing estate offices, local libraries, and other Warm Places in Wrexham County Borough.

If you need to get in touch with us, we can be contacted by:

Email: telluswhatyouthink@wrexham.gov.uk

Post: Tell Us What You Think, 3rd Floor Annex, Guildhall, Wrexham, LL11 1AY

Missed bin collection? Let us know quickly and easily online.

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