The meeting began with a farewell to Reverend Dr. Jason Bray, who is leaving Wrexham County Borough Council to become the Dean of Clandagh Cathedral. The council then proceeded with various administrative matters, including the confirmation of previous meeting minutes, the election of council leaders, and the appointment of committee members.

Farewell to Reverend Dr. Jason Bray

Reverend Dr. Jason Bray was thanked for his nine years of service as Mayor's Chaplain and Vicar at St. Giles. He will be leaving in July to become the Dean of Clandagh Cathedral. Jason has been involved in many civic and military events, and he has also appeared on TV shows like Bargain Hunt and Good Morning. The council expressed their gratitude and wished him well in his new role.

Confirmation of Previous Meeting Minutes

The minutes from the meeting held on March 20th were confirmed as correct. Councillor Mark Pritchard moved the minutes, and they were unanimously agreed upon.

Election of Council Leaders

• Leader of the Council: Councillor Mark Pritchard was re-elected as the Leader of the Council with 38 votes in favor, 13 against, and 1 abstention.
• Deputy Leader of the Council: Councillor David Aberthal was elected as the Deputy Leader with 44 votes in favor and 8 against.

Appointment of Committee Members

The council discussed the appointment of members to various committees, including the Executive Board, scrutiny committees, and various panels. The Chief Officer for Governance and Customer outlined the recommendations, which were moved by Councillor Mark Pritchard and seconded by Councillor David Biffle. The recommendations were unanimously approved.

Reappointment of Independent Members to the Standards Committee

The council reappointed Mrs. Elizabeth Granger and Mr. Steven Tilston as independent members of the Standards Committee for a term of four years, until September 2028. This was unanimously approved.

Calendar of Meetings

The proposed draft annual calendar of meetings for 2024-2025 was presented and approved. Councillor Mark Pritchard moved the recommendations, and they were seconded by Councillor David Biffle. The recommendations were unanimously approved.

Appointment of Independent Lay Members to the Governance and Audit Committee

The council approved the appointment of Caris Edwards as an independent lay member of the Governance and Audit Committee until May 2028. However, there was a contentious debate regarding the extension of the terms for the current three lay members. An amendment to extend their terms was defeated, and a new motion to advertise for three new independent lay members was passed with 36 votes in favor, 14 against, and 4 abstentions.