Category: Council Services

Do you visit our markets very often?

To say they’re a big part of Wrexham’s history would be an understatement.

Wrexham is known as a market town, and the Butchers Market, General Market and our weekly outdoor Monday Market are a big part of its day-to-day life.

We’ve got some wide-ranging reviews of the markets coming up.

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Read the info below to find out more.

“New plans for town centre’s markets”

Back in February 2019, the Employment, Business and Investment Scrutiny Committee looked at future development opportunities for the Butchers Market, the General Market and the outdoor Monday Market, which takes place on Queens Square and Lord Street.

They noted that there was potential funding of up to £2m which could be invested into the regeneration of the markets.
They put together a Task and Finish Group – a small group of councillors, set up to look at very specific issues – to review and develop plans for the future running of the markets, which will support the wider regeneration of Wrexham town centre.

That Task and Finish Group has finished its work, and the report putting together its findings and views will go back to the committee on February 5.

The Group took a look at a lot of information to see what could be done at the markets, including:

•  Surveys of market users and market traders – more than 350 people gave us their views
• Discussions with market trader representatives, to make sure those who earn their livelihoods at the markets are kept in the know of what’s going on
• Visits to other markets elsewhere in the UK, including Altrincham, Chester and Shrewsbury
• Reports on the markets by students at Glyndŵr University
• The vision for the markets outlined in the Henblas Study, which sees them playing a key part in the life of the town centre

As a result of their work, the Group has also put together a list of recommendations, which will be discussed by the Employment, Business and Investment Scrutiny Committee.

Those recommendations include coming up with a new business plan for the phased regeneration of the Butchers Market and the General Market, starting with the Butchers Market.

“Where can I find out more?”

You can read the full report detailing the results of their work here.

The meeting of the Scrutiny Committee will be webcast – and you’ll be able to follow it here.

“Members of the public will be interested in this debate”

Cllr Paul Roberts, Chair of the Scrutiny Committee, said: “I know this is a subject close to the hearts of a lot of people in Wrexham, and rightly so.

“Markets are a very large part of our history and of the fabric of our town, and the review proposed, which has the full backing of the Task and Finish Group, would have some far-reaching effects.

“Members of the public will be interested in this debate, and I would encourage all those interested to follow the webcast.”

The report is supported by both Lead Members, Cllr Mark Pritchard, Finance, Performance, Health and Safety and Governance and Cllr Terry Evans, Lead Member for Economic Development and Regeneration.

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We’re about to send out letters to households with information about how to pay for the green bin charges which come into effect from April 1.

If you wish to continue having your garden waste bin(s) collected can pay online at www.wrexham.gov.uk/gardenwaste. Payment can also be made by calling 01978 298989/Text relay: 18001 01978 298989. You can pay for this service from Monday 17th February 2020.

The charge is £25 per garden waste bin for 2020/2021.

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“Can I keep my green bin?”

You can keep your green bin but it will only be emptied from April if you have paid for the service.  If you decide that you no longer require your garden waste bin you can ask for it to be removed but if you change your mind in the future you will need to purchase a new garden waste bin as well as paying to have it emptied.

Darren Williams, Chief Officer Environment and Technical, said: “We hope that the majority of you will continue to use the service to help Wrexham achieve the Welsh Government’s statutory recycling, composting and reuse target of 70% by 2024/2025.”

Remember garden waste can be taken to the Household Recycling Centres located at Bryn Lane on Wrexham Industrial Estate and Brymbo or Plas Madoc.  Home composting is also encouraged if you have the space.

See previous article about green bin charges:

Green Bin Charges – Where are we now?

Never miss a bin collection – sign up for weekly email reminders now.

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Our Executive Board has considered the 2020/21 budget and will now recommended to Council a budget of £250.2 million and a 6.95% increase in Council Tax.

As everyone is aware we have been making cuts and efficiencies to our services since 2007 and services were reaching “tipping point”. Without improvements to funding from national government then critical services would begin to fall down.

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“Investment in services for the first time in a decade”

The provisional settlement announced in December gave Wrexham a small increase which has meant that, for the next financial year, it will allow for investment in services for the first time in a decade.

We will be able to put an additional resources into our priorities which include £0.5m into schools, and £0.5m into social care to deal with demand pressure, £1m into highways maintenance to specifically address potholes, over £1.5 million into children and young people services which includes £1m into children’s social care and £0.5m into education to support plans for improvement.

“Budget settlement … is not what the people in Wrexham deserve”

Cllr Mark Pritchard, Leader of the Council, said: “Whilst the funding settlement was very welcome we are by no means out of austerity and have to continue to look at our services and also at what residents expect of us. The budget settlement whilst better than expected is not what the people in Wrexham deserve and we will continue to lobby for improved funding for services into the next year.”

“I would like to thank officers for continuing to deliver services whilst under immense financial pressures.”

Mark Owen, Chief Officer Finance & ICT, warned that “Wrexham was likely to have a lower than average Settlement, not just in the next financial year but for the following year 2021/22 also.

“The Council’s spend is over £6 million below the Standard Spending Assessment (SSA) which is the amount of money calculated by Welsh Government that the Authority needs to spend on its services.

“Lowest Band D Council Tax levels in Wales and England”

“The Council Tax increase recommended for 2020/21 may appear high, but it will not change the Council’s position of being in the group of authorities having the lowest Band D Council Tax levels in Wales and England.  Going forward the Council must move up out of this group if it is to continue to deliver the mandatory services required of it.”

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Around one in four people will experience a mental health problem this year yet the silence can be as bad as the mental health problem itself.

We want to prevent this from happening and once again we’ll be taking part in Time to Talk day on February 6 at Tŷ Pawb between 11am and 2pm.

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We’ll be bringing together a number of organisations under one roof who will be able to offer advice and guidance on what to do, where to go and how to get help if you are affected by mental health problems.

“Time to Talk – help people over that first hurdle”

Cllr Joan Lowe, Lead Member for Health and Adult Social Care, said: “Many people find it very difficult to talk about mental health which means they often don’t know where or how to get help. This event will help people over that first hurdle – talking – please come along and talk to the professionals who will be only too willing to listen and, more importantly, offer support and guidance.

The Time to Talk event takes place on Thursday, February 6 between 11am and 2pm at Tŷ Pawb and everyone will be welcome.

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There’s a vacancy in Gwersyllt North for a County Borough Councillor to become a member of Wrexham Council to represent people from the area.

If you’re interested in standing for this role you can get nomination papers from the Returning Officer, The Guildhall, Wrexham, LL11 1AY which must be returned by 4pm on Friday, January 31.

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If there’s more than one candidate nominated then there will be an election which will take place on Thursday, February 27.

If you live in the Gwersyllt North area you must be registered to take part in this election which you can do online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.

The deadline to register to vote in this election is Tuesday, February 11.

You can take a look at the Notice of Election on our website.

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Did you go to one of the following schools?

St David’s High School, Bryn Offa Secondary School, Ysgol Rhiwabon, Ruabon Grammar, Grove Park Boys, Grove Park Girls, Groves High, Darland High, Bryn Alyn Secondary or Yale High?
Wrexham Museum are looking to borrow a selection of secondary school uniform items (blazer, pinafore, jumper, shirt and tie.) from the 1980s or earlier for ‘Back To School’, a forthcoming exhibition about Wrexham’s schools.

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No such items exist in the museum collection, so staff are hoping that examples may have survived in the back of a wardrobe or in the attic in someone’s home in the area. All items would be returned after the exhibition finishes.

If you can help, please contact Wrexham Museum on 01978 297 460 or email: museumcollections@wrexham.gov.uk Please phone or email first to avoid disappointment.

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