Councillors to scrutinise Tŷ Pawb progress six months early after request approved

The progress of Tŷ Pawb against its original business plan will scrutinised by councillors by the end of the year – six months earlier than originally planned.

Last week Wrexham.com reported that a topic request form had been submitted to the employment, business and investment scrutiny committee regarding Tŷ Pawb and its progress against the original Fourth Street Business Plan (formulated by consultants in 2015).

The business plan provides details on the recommended governance model for Tŷ Pawb, projected finances and a ‘sensitivity analysis’.

The topic request form suggests a range of officers and representatives are in attendance at the future meeting, including: service manager – regeneration, Tŷ Pawb operations manager, arts lead, head of finance/finance business partner and the lead member for people – communities, partnerships, public protection & community safety.

External involvement also includes the chair of the Tŷ Pawb advisory board and the chairman of the Wrexham town centre forum.

It had initially been suggested that a report is presented to the committee in 2019, a year after the opening of Tŷ Pawb.

However speaking at last week’s employment, business and investment scrutiny committee, Cllr Dana Davies called for an update at the end of the year, noting that a six month period would allow the committee to make any recommendations if necessary to the executive board – leaving six months for any alternative actions to be put in place.

Cllr Davies added: “I am conscious that having gone through the business plan, I am aware of where the slippage is and where the other problems could be.”

This proposal was seconded by Cllr Geoff Lowe, who added: “We are all keen to see it succeed for Wrexham and for Wrexham traders.

“It would be useful as members that if there is a wobble taking place, the sooner we are able to know and help rectify if possible then the better.”

Rebeccah Lowry, regeneration manager at Wrexham Council, said that progress of Tŷ Pawb is being “monitored monthly” and that it would be possible for a six month report if that is what members are requested.

It was added that a review took place annually “to give a better picture” in the same way you’d review the progress of a business after a year.

The meeting did look at the town’s markets, but the topic of Tŷ Pawb was deemed off limits in a private pre-meeting with no public explanation as to why – you can read our full write up here.

A second review of a ‘Vibrant and Viable Places’ project was also proposed to be bumped up the work programme, with Cllr Davies requesting the long-standing review of Sprouts nursery was moved to the July meeting.

Both Sprouts nursery – which was closed last year by Wrexham Council – and Tŷ Pawb have both largely been funded by a Vibrant and Viable Places grant from Welsh Government. More details on the history can be found here.

The changes to the work programme were backed unanimously by councillors, with a review on Tŷ Pawb and its progress against the original business plan due to take place by the end of the year.