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Category: Featured

Featured posts

Jobs Fayre at the Memorial Hall
If you’re interested in a caring role then a visit to a Jobs Fayre on Tuesday (29 May) may be just the place to start.
We will be hosting the event between 10am and 3pm at the Memorial Hall and jobs caring for people in their own homes, with us and with private agencies, will be available.
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Cllr Joan Lowe, Lead Member for Adult Social Care, said: “The role looking after someone in their own home is very important and can be very rewarding. I know staff are looking forward to meeting as many people as possible and sharing with them the employment opportunities available in this vital caring sector.”
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May 23, 2018
Why do we ask the media and public to leave meetings?
You may have read recently that at certain times during a meeting we ask the press and public to leave the room so they cannot hear or report on what is being discussed.
Why do we do this? Well it’s really very straight forward.
It’s called going into “Part II” and only happens if the meeting will be informed of or will be discussing items that can be exempted from publication by law.
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The most common reasons for this will be where the information relates to a particular individual or is likely to reveal the identity of an individual or information relating to the business or financial affairs of a person or body including the Council, or information relating to consultations or negotiations connected with labour relations.
When looking at the above reasons it is our duty to consider the public interest and decide in each case whether the balance of public interest is in favour of it being public knowledge or not. In the case of information about individuals, if the information is likely to mean a breach of the Data Protection Act 1998 or of if there will be an impact on the individual’s concerned it will be rare to be seen to be in the public interest.
“there are occasions where publication may be prejudicial”
In the case of business or financial affairs and consultations or negotiations connected with labour relations, whilst the Council does try to discuss such matters in public where possible but there are occasions where publication may be prejudicial to either the Council’s affairs or those of a third party or to labour relations.
Sometimes it is a matter of timing and may be because Council employees have not been informed of possible changes in service delivery which may impact on their jobs or result in possible staff redundancies and it would not be right for them to find out from the media. Similarly it may be prejudicial for a third party seeking to do business within the County Borough and seeking support from the Council to have their plans prematurely disclosed.
“The chair will intervene”
Items like these are usually put at the end of the agenda where it clearly states “Part II press and public excluded”. Occasionally an item being discussed in the open part of the meeting can stray into these Part II areas – at that point the Chair will intervene and if the discussion of the exempt information is to proceed a decision may be made by the committee to ask the press and public to leave until discussion of the exempt information is finished, then they will be allowed back in.
Any decisions taken during Part II are minuted and are a matter of public record.
“May not be happy”
We understand that occasionally members of the public and the media may not be happy that they can’t listen to what’s being said and we try to ensure that Council business is published so far as possible, but there are occasions where there is good reason to exempt information from publication in reliance on the statute.
We hope this clears up any confusion surrounding why the press and public are sometimes asked to leave – and you can be assured that items will only be in Part II when there is a very good reason for it to be there.
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May 23, 2018
Would you lose your passport so your mate can get a pint?
A growing trend for underage drinkers to use passports and driving licenses of their friends or family in order to get into pubs and clubs is being tackled in partnership by ourselves and responsible bar owners in the town centre.
It might seem like a great idea but trying to access alcohol by using identity document that belongs to someone else is serious criminal offence as is lending the document for that purpose. For young people starting out in life a conviction could seriously damage future plans for careers and travel.
Since January any ID offered as proof of age that actually belongs to somebody else is being kept and sent to our public protection guys who will keep it for a couple of weeks until it is claimed.
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To get passports or driving licenses back, both the owner and the person who was using it will have to attend an informal meeting where all the implications of identity fraud are explained. Only when this session has been satisfactorily attended will the identity document be returned. It’s a bit like a speed awareness course.
“May refuse to issue replacement documents”
If it’s not claimed it will be sent back to the issuing authority – DVLA or Her Majesty’s Passport Office who will destroy it. The only option for the holder will be to pay for a replacement. Both passport office and the DVLA are made aware of the circumstances and may refuse to issue replacement documents.
There is then the real risk that when a new passport or driving licence is applied for it could be refused and anyone who was planning to go on holiday could be in for a big surprise when they realise their travel is restricted.
“It seems to be working”
The idea behind the clampdown is to reduce the amount of under-age drink and with 75 ID’s kept since the end of January it seems to be working. Only 3 have so far been claimed with the rest being returned to the issuing authority – the consequences for the owner could be harsh.
Parents are now asked to check their child’s passport and driving licence – do they still have them? If not has one or both been handed in as being used fraudulently? If you suspect this is the case you should contact trading standards on 01978 297455.
“A night to remember or forget?”
Cllr Hugh Jones, Lead Member for Communities, Partnerships, Public Protection and Community Safety, said: “The message is clear Don’t borrow ID and don’t lend ID – it could lead to you losing your passport or driving licence altogether and being refused a new one as it’s been used fraudulently. Is that a risk worth taking?”
“The law is also clear and is there to protect young people from the dangers of drinking underage – a night to remember could easily become a night to forget if a young person gets drunk and separated from their friends, they can quickly become vulnerable and the consequences could be very serious. Parents and carers are urged to look out any important missing documents that may have been retained by vigilant door staff.”
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May 23, 2018
Link Road Clean Up Starts Tuesday
Works to tidy up the Llan y Pwll link road will start on Tuesday (29 May)and are expected to last two weeks.
We’ll be sweeping the area, litter picking, gully cleaning and carryout out repairs where necessary.
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We’ll be staggering the works between the roundabouts of JCB and the Gresford interchange with works taking place during the day and evenings over the two week period.
During the clean up there will be lane closures and this will cause some inconvenience so you are advised to leave plenty of time for your journey.
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May 22, 2018
Local History buffs you’ll love this……
The Bronington Hoard, the medieval treasures named after the area they were found in, has gone on permanent display at Wrexham County Borough Museum.
Buried sometime after 1465 the hoard consists of 52 coins and a magnificent sapphire ring. It was discovered by a local metal detecting club between 2013 and 2017 near Whitewell, Bronington.
The coins date from the reign of Edward I through to Edward IV and consist of 4 gold nobles, silver groats, half groats and silver pennies. The gold ring contains a deep blue sapphire, worn perhaps to expel evil. This is the first hoard of its kind to have been discovered in the Wrexham area.
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“Buried in the Borderlands”
The Museum has worked alongside the local community as part of its ‘Buried in the Borderlands’ project, and local people were shown parts of the hoard at various locations including Penley Rainbow Centre in November last year.
There was also a chance for younger ones to get involved and Bronington VA School and St. Chad’s VA Primary School pupils worked with Sophie Mckeand, Wales’ Young Person’s Laureate creating poems; the museums Knit & Stitch Volunteers created 15th century costumes for visitors by expert Sarah Thursfield, a Medieval Tailor’s Assistant; whilst Maelor Volunteers, David and Jill Burton, researched the historical period locally and assisted with the tour.
“Large number of people involved”
Councillor Hugh Jones, Lead Member for Communities, Partnerships, Public Protection and Community Safety, said “We are very grateful to the Saving Treasure Telling Stories project for supporting this fantastically worthwhile project, there is little chance that the museum would have been able to acquire such a valuable discovery without the financial support provided by the scheme. It also allowed a large number of people to be involved with our medieval heritage through an amazing variety of different ways from poetry to costume. All in all I’m sure it has been a worthwhile experience for all concerned.’
The project has been funded by the Saving Treasures: Telling Stories scheme developed by Amgueddfa Cymru National Museum Wales and the Federation of Museums & Galleries in Wales and funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. The project has both funded the hoards acquisition by Wrexham Museum as well as the project elements detailed above.

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May 22, 2018
Do you appreciate the effect on children of separation and loss? Read on…
Do you have good listening and communication skills and an appreciation of the effect on children of separation and loss?
If so we’d love to hear from you. We are looking for two new independent members for our Fostering Panel and we’re particularly looking for people who have experience of being fostered or have been a foster parent with another local authority.
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“Personal and professional practice”
It’s a responsible and rewarding position for the right person as you will be making recommendations on each case by drawing on your personal and professional knowledge and experience.
It also looks at the Annual Reviews of all the county’s foster carers and to monitor policies, procedures and good professional practice.
It will meet once a month, may be more if additional meetings are need due to court timescales and you will be expected to attend at least 75% of all these meetings.
There is a small financial package on offer of £100 per year and travel expenses.
Interested? then get in touch by completing this form and send it to claire.gooding@wrexham.gov.uk and fostering@wrexham.gov.uk
The closing date for applications is 8 June and interview dates will take place on 18 June.
“Very important role in the welfare of children”
Cllr Bill Baldwin, Lead Member for Children’s Services, said: “The Panel plays a very important role in the welfare of children and it is important that it is well represented. At the moment we are particularly looking for those with experience of being a Looked After Child, those from a different ethnic background, people with disabilities and men – all are under-represented on the Panel and we’d like to put this right. I’d encourage anyone who cares about children to strongly consider making an application and we look forward to hearing from you.”
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May 22, 2018
Finding a way back: the innovative approach that’s helping people beat Spice
Posted on behalf of Wrexham Community Safety Partnership.
Drug addiction is a grim place to be. It often leads down a dark road, towards a chaotic and damaging lifestyle.
So is there a way back? For many people – with the right help and support – yes.
Last November, we blogged about an innovative approach in Wrexham that was showing early signs of success.
A few months down the line, and that early promise is taking root – helping a number of people break their dependence on synthetic drugs like Spice and Mamba, and improving their lives.
Holding down a job
We won’t identify individuals in this article, but we’ve seen several people benefit from the pilot project.
There are people who’ve got off the drugs and seem to be doing well – applying for university, holding down a job, working with charities, finding a place to live and so on.
Steve Campbell, Wrexham Council’s NPS (New Psycho-active Substances) Taskforce Co-ordinator, explains: “Over the past couple of years, these drugs have damaged a lot of lives and created a lot of problems in towns and cities all over the country.
“But the approach we’ve taken in Wrexham continues to show promise, and there are people making real progress thanks to the support they’ve been given.
“We’ve seen individuals successfully go through rehab, get back into education or employment, and get a place to live.
“So we hope we can build on that.”
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Spice in the headlines
Wrexham’s problems around Spice and Mamba made a lot of news last year, and were hot topics on social media.
There was concern for the welfare of people taking the drugs – with some graphic images showing the scary effects.
People were also worried about the effect on the town centre – the impression it gave, whether it would put people off coming into town, anti-social behaviour and so on.
Helping people get off the drugs was seen as key.
Grabbing the moment
So the organisations working to tackle the problem – including the council, police, charities and health services – started building ‘profiles’ on individuals with known drug issues.
It meant they got to know each person, so they could work out what kind of support they’d need if they decided to accept help.
“One person might need help with accommodation, another will need help with their mental health and so on”, says Steve.
“It means we can hit the ground running and offer them tailored support the minute they choose to accept it.”
This highly individualised approach plays a big part.
Making it easy to get help
The other really important factor is ‘accessibility.’
Steve says: “If you tell people they have to go to different places to get different types of support, some will miss appointments and you’ll lose the chance to engage them.
“So the partners created a ‘one-stop shop’ at a suitable town centre location. It means people can access all the different types of help they need in one place. It makes it easy.”
Because of the profiling, the professionals on-site know exactly what support to offer a person.
And a ‘rapid-referral’ system means they get that support fast. So if they need to go into detox or rehab, that happens very quickly.
A model for the future?
Cllr Hugh Jones, Wrexham Council’s Lead Member for Communities, Partnerships, Public Protection and Community Safety, says: “As a partnership, we’re working very closely – co-ordinating our resources and trying to find a solution to a very difficult problem.
“Not everyone who accepts help is going to see it through to the end, but – to some extent – we’ve found an answer.
“We’re seeing individuals make progress because of the highly-tailored, responsive and accessible support available.
“It’s also true that other parts of the country are looking at what we’re doing in Wrexham.
“And there’s a feeling this approach might help towns and cities tackle other types of drugs in the future– not just Spice and Mamba.”
Cllr Jones says a recent Home Office ‘County Lines’ review, which talks of good practice in Wrexham in tackling the supply of drugs from big cities, also shows we’re moving in the right direction.
But the fight against Spice, Mamba and other drugs is far from over.
Cllr Jones says: “We still have a long way to go, but we are determined to maintain our joint effort to support the individuals who need this help, and to manage the impact on our communities.”
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May 21, 2018
Did you see this video? Highlights from the HWB 2018
It might seem like a distant memory now (we’ve had an FA Cup final and a royal wedding since then), but it’s little more than a week since the HWB Welsh language event on Queens Square.
It was pretty awesome.
And if you haven’t seen it yet, here’s a neat little video featuring some of the highlights…
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May 21, 2018
Remember Dydd Llun Pawb? A new exhibition will recapture the day
The colour and fun of Dydd Llun Pawb, which saw thousands of people come to Wrexham town centre to celebrate the opening of Tŷ Pawb on a rainy Bank Holiday Monday might seem a distant memory as we head into the summer.
As Is this planet earth?, the inaugural exhibition at Tŷ Pawb comes to an end at the end of June, a new exhibition looking back over the groundwork for the carnival that was Dydd Llun Pawb will go on display.
Entitled Wrexham is the Name, the new exhibition will feature the six Wrexham-themed souvenirs commissioned by Tŷ Pawb as part of celebrations for Dydd Llun Pawb, along with other objects and images.
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Six stories chosen
In November last year, six artists were selected by Tŷ Pawb to develop a souvenir inspired by a specific story from Wrexham’s past.
The six stories that inspired the souvenirs were chosen by the public last summer from a long list of 25, and were developed by artists Sophia Leadill, John Merrill, Marcus Orlandi, Nicholas Pankhurst, Martha Todd and Bedwyr Williams.
The project resulted in a diverse collection of artefacts, from printed publications to football scarves, which will be exhibited at Tŷ Pawb.
The vibrant, humorous and poignant works will be displayed alongside various items of documentation of Dydd Llun Pawb – where versions of the souvenirs were paraded through the town to celebrate the opening of Tŷ Pawb – and interviews with each of the six artists.
This will include objects and images related to the year-long Dydd Llun Pawb project involving workshops and community engagement leading up to the day of celebration on April 2.
Wrexham is the Name will run at Tŷ Pawb from June 30 to August 19.
“Weird and wonderful stories”
Jo Marsh, Arts Lead for Wrexham Council, said: “The process of developing the six souvenirs has unearthed some weird and wonderful stories. All six artists have done a brilliant job in translating our heritage into something that visitors to Tŷ Pawb will want to own and treasure.”
Cllr Hugh Jones, Lead Member for Communities, Partnerships, Public Protection and Community Safety, said: “I would encourage anyone interested in Wrexham’s heritage to pay a visit to this exhibition at Tŷ Pawb. This is an excellent example of our local communities involving themselves in the life of Tŷ Pawb.
“The souvenirs produced have been inspired by a number of memories of bygone Wrexham, and I’m sure members of the public will have equally fond memories of them.”
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May 21, 2018
Need help for your business? Check out Wrexham’s new Enterprise Hub
Small businesses are the lifeblood of any economy, and today the number of people looking to enter self-employment in the UK is growing.
If you are one of those people with an idea or a passion to be your own boss, there’s now a free resource in Wrexham that can provide you with everything you need to start and grow.
The Wrexham Enterprise Hub was officially opened on Thursday by the Welsh Government Cabinet Secretary for Economy & Infrastructure, Ken Skates AM. The hub, which is run by Town Square Spaces Ltd for Business Wales and is funded by the European Regional Development Fund.
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The Hub is now inviting applications for one of its 20 full-time funded spaces. Successful applicants will receive everything they need to grow and launch, including one-to-one mentoring support and a full-time desk for 12 months.
“Real driver of economic change”
Cllr Terry Evans, Lead Member for Economic Performance and Regeneration, said: “I was very pleased to attend the opening of the new hub on Queens Square.
“I had the opportunity to attend an informal opening earlier in the summer and at both events, I was very pleased to see the enthusiasm behind the hub and its potential as a real driver of economic change in Wrexham – especially for small businesses.
“I wish the team at Town Square Spaces the best of luck and would advise anyone interested in setting up or developing their own business to get in touch with them.
“Our WCBC business team is looking forward to supporting this project and the Town Square Team to develop our entrepreneurs by ensuring they access all of the support that’s available to them.”
“Some incredibly passionate people”
Speaking at the event Gareth Jones, founder of Town Square Spaces, said the Hub aims to provide people with a realistic route to self-employment, which according to recent FSB research is the source of nearly two in every five new jobs in the last decade.
Mr Jones said: “We’re really excited to be finally launching the Hub after a lot of hard work from so many different people. This whole process officially started a year ago, but the idea of bringing something like this to Wrexham was talked about long before then. We’ve met some incredibly passionate people in developing the plan for the Hub, and I know that with their support we will achieve our aims and more.
“Wrexham is full of creative and driven people, and the Hub will be a place that provides the right support and conditions to help their companies and ideas grow. From individual passion projects and freelancers looking for a home to potential industry disruptors – we’re proud to say there’s a space for you in Wrexham.”
To find out how Business Wales can help start or develop your business, call 03000 6 03000, follow @_businesswales or @_busnescymru or visit www.businesswales.gov.wales/ or www.busnescymru.llyw.cymru/ for further information.
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May 21, 2018