The Homes and Environment Scrutiny Committee of Wrexham County Borough Council met on 17 September 2025 to discuss workplace transport, weed spraying and grass cutting, and the committee's work programme. The meeting was scheduled to take place in Meeting Room 1, Guildhall. The meeting may have been filmed for live broadcast or training purposes.

Workplace Transport

The committee was scheduled to consider a report from Councillor David A Bithell, Lead Member for Housing and Climate Change, regarding workplace transport. The report provided an update on the workplace transport review and the development of the Occupational Road Risk policy.

In September 2024, the Executive Board approved a policy on the Use and Management of Council Vehicles, which came into effect on 1 January 2025. According to the report, this policy has led to improvements across the council, and work is ongoing to improve compliance, efficiency and consistency. The council's Fleet Manager now maintains a register of the management and storage arrangements of all council-owned fleet, and there is a process for submitting personal declarations for those who use council vehicles. Chief Officers are required to confirm compliance with this policy annually, and compliance is subject to audit by the council's Internal Audit team.

The council was also reviewing its Occupational Road Risk policies, which outline how it manages and mitigates risks associated with vehicles used for work purposes. A draft 'Operational Road Risk: Drug and Alcohol Policy' was included in the report pack as Appendix 1. The Driver Vehicle Standard Agency (DVSA) expects responsible operators to have a clear policy for preventing driving under the influence of drink and drugs. The proposed policy was intended to ensure that Wrexham Council meets these standards in order to receive 'Earned Recognition' from the DVSA.

The key points of the draft policy included:

• Improvements to support mechanisms for staff with drug and alcohol misuse problems
• Alignment of existing policies on driving and drugs and alcohol
• Clarification regarding prescription medication and recreational drugs
• Introduction of random drug and alcohol testing for anyone using a vehicle for work purposes, based on a risk-based approach

The report stated that the draft policy would require significant input and consultation with stakeholders. The draft timeline for consideration of this policy was as follows:

• 3 September 2025 – Consideration of the draft policy at SLT
• 17 September 2025 – Consideration of the draft policy at Homes & Environment Scrutiny Committee
• October 2025 – Full IIA completed to inform the updated draft policy
• November 2025 – Wider consultation of the policy including trade unions
• January 2026 – Presentation of finalised policy to the Executive Board for approval
• February 2026 – If approved, the policy to be implemented (without testing commencement)
• April 2026 – Testing process commences in line with the approved policy

The report also noted that the Welsh Government Energy Service had been commissioned to produce a 'Fleet Transition' report specific to Wrexham County Borough Council, which was expected to be completed in October 2025. This report was intended to assist in creating a practical policy for transitioning the council's fleet to electric vehicles and meeting decarbonisation commitments.

Weed Spraying and Grass Cutting

The committee was scheduled to discuss a report from Councillor Terry Evans, Lead Member for Environment, regarding weed spraying and grass cutting. The report was intended to inform members of existing ground maintenance activities and provide an update on current progress.

The council's Grounds Maintenance service aims for up to 8 cuts per season, depending on the weather. In 2024/25, all areas received at least 8 cuts, with some receiving 9. At the time of the report, the council was on its fifth cut for the current financial year.

The council's planned activities include cutting and mowing all council-owned public open space, including the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) estate. The council also undertakes grounds maintenance on the trunk road network on behalf of the North and Mid-Wales Trunk Road Agency and Welsh Government, and delivers a single planned cut of highway verges across the borough, with further safety cuts as required.

A Task & Finish Group was set up following consideration of a report on grass cutting and weed spraying at the November 2024 meeting. The group concluded in May 2025 and produced a report with recommendations. Progress against these recommendations was referenced in the report. These recommendations included:

• Exploring options to address weeds in play areas using appropriate technology.
• Issuing a press release about the use of a new chemical-free moss killer in public parks and play areas.
• Updating members on the results of the land ownership exercise, including details of responsibility for footways.
• Sharing the weed spraying plan with members once it has been agreed.
• Improving communication between the Environment and Housing Departments and with the public regarding grass and hedge cutting and weed spraying.
• Reassuring the group that the issues experienced in the previous growing season would not be repeated.

The report noted that an updated Service Level Agreement (SLA) had been agreed between the Environment & Technical Department and Housing Department for the 2025/26 period, including more detail on weed spraying and biodiversity. Teams from Housing and Assets and Environment had also been working in partnership to establish land ownership. The Environment & Technical Department was also working on uploading all open spaces to its asset management system (AMX).

Work Programme

The committee was scheduled to consider a report from the Chief Officer Governance & Customer regarding its work programme. The report allowed the committee to consider the revised work programme of the Homes and Environment Scrutiny Committee, attached as Appendix 1.

The proposed work programme up until July 2026 was to be considered, subject to proposed changes. The committee was asked to consider a topic request form, and to note information in paragraph 4.5 of the report. The report stated that the work programmes of each of the Scrutiny Committees are reviewed at each scrutiny committee meeting. The topics on the work programme are broadly aligned to the priorities in the new Council Plan 2023–28.

At its meeting in July 2025, the committee made the following changes to its work programme:

• The topic request form in relation to Parking Enforcement was to be included on the work programme, also including details in respect of enforcement in respect of dog fouling.
• The report on Hafod Landfill Site was deferred, pending the outcome of an inquiry by the Welsh Parliament's Petitions Committee.
• The following scheduling of reports was agreed:
  • September – Grass Cutting and Weed Control and Fleet Review
  • October – Sports Pitches and Pavilions and Parking Enforcement
• The report in respect of the Allocations Policy was moved from the March 2025 meeting to the one to be held in June 2026.
• The report requested for the September meeting in respect of the Fleet Review was amended to Workplace Transport.
• A further report on performance in respect of Housing Repairs was to be considered in July 2026.

The report suggested that the scope of the Parking Enforcement report be expanded to include all areas covered by the Environmental Enforcement Team, and that this report be considered at the November meeting.

A number of meetings had been held between the Chair and Vice-Chair of the committee and relevant Lead Members and Chief Officers to discuss the existing and future work programme. Arising from this, the following changes were proposed:

• That the October meeting consider an item in respect of the Performance of Housing Department, consisting of a presentation on the current performance of the Housing Department, together with details of the Accommodation Project.
• That the report on Sports Pitches and Pavilions be considered at the November meeting.
• That the Decarbonisation Plan 2021- 30 report scheduled for the December meeting also contain details of the Electric Vehicle Policy.
• That the report on Estate Management and Tenancy Enforcement be considered at the February 2026 meeting.
• That the report in respect of the Local Housing Strategy be considered at the March 2026 meeting.

The committee was advised at their last meeting of the Welsh Parliament's Petitions Committee undertaking a short inquiry regarding Petition P-06-1510 Direct NRW to revoke the environmental permit and ensure the closure of Enovert's, Hafod Landfill Site in Wrexham. Pending the outcome of this inquiry, it was proposed that a provisional date for an update on this matter be considered as soon as possible.