Community Agents come under scrutiny spotlight as future development plans are discusssed

Councillors are set to probe the performance of Community Agents, and input to a process of ‘project development’.

The Safeguarding, Communities and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee are set to probe the performance of the Community Agent Service (CAS) to date, with councillors told, “The Community Agent service was commenced 6 years ago, with a small number of Community Councils engaging with Wrexham County Borough Council to deliver the service through contractual agreement. There are now 26 Community Councils delivering a CAS; 13 of these Councils directly employ Agents and 13 have entered sub-contracting arrangements with a third sector provider.”

The Service provides low level, information, advice and assistance to older people to prevent social isolation making use of local assets and developing them where gaps exist.

The allocated service budget for 2023-24 is £382,807 – including funding to cover the currently vacant areas.

Councillors are told, “Six wards in Wrexham do not have a CAS. In the last 6-12 months, these Councils have been engaged to ascertain their interest to work with Wrexham County Borough Council to have a provision in their ward. Three areas have stated they wish to join the Service; these areas do not wish to employ a Community Agent and are working to explore how a commissioned CAS service could work in their areas. One area is yet to formulate their decision. A fifth area would like to work with a neighbouring ward to increase the hours of the Agent employed there to deliver over both wards. A sixth ward is without an Agent following some employment challenges and would consider a third party approach”.

Extra information is given to councillors, including the table below, and a SWOT analysis. That relates ‘positive evidence received from members of the public’, along with concerns over monitoring, and staff turnover. Looking forward it appears there is scope to expand the role so it includes all adults rather than focusing on older people.

Councillors could well discuss the performance, the ‘on the ground’ benefits, problems and positives as they look to inform ‘the next steps’ of the service at the meeting on Wednesday.