Wrexham Council Leader calls for more accountability from Community Councils amid CCTV budget challenges

The Leader of Wrexham Council has taken aim at some community councils who ‘sit on substantial sums of money’, suggesting there needs to be ‘checks and balances’.

The comment emerged as we asked Wrexham Council about the progress on CCTV ‘reshaping’ amid council budget cuts, plans that could be impacted with a possible scrapping of the £20m towns fund that had been suggested by some as helping plug the finance hole. (More: Council to review city CCTV service as part of budget cut process, Council looks to North Wales PCC and Community Councils to help ‘save the CCTV in Wrexham’ )

Previously Wrexham Council Leader Mark Pritchard has visited a range of community councils with a presentation outlining why Wrexham Council would encourage co-funding from them to help support the service.

Referring to him as a ‘CCTV salesman’ we asked if he would be revisiting community councils again, a comment that provoked an unhappy response.

Cllr Pritchard said, “There’s consideration and cuts in all departments, including the CCTV. We will look at everything. That’s what we said, no stone will turn left.

Unprompted, he picked out his visit to Offa community council over CCTV, adding, “In the meeting that I attended I thought that I was treated in a very unfair way. I left the meeting. If the Community Council clerks behave in that manner, it’s up for them to look at themselves and show members of the public and politicians some respect.

“I obviously left the meeting because I couldn’t share information to the public. I’m sure they’re fully aware that we as politicians and them as elected community councils, we have a responsibility to share information, but it must be kept in confidential part two arena.”

“I went there with good intentions. I was received by other community council politely, they showed respect and we had very good conversations. I’ve met lots of community councils and members of community council, they’re excellent, good people, and they give up the time free because they have a passion for their communities.

“I think the Community Council that you’re referring to needs to reflect on, and look at, what was said in that meeting.

“Community Councils have a massive precept and sit on substantial amounts of money, and there needs to be checks and balances.

“Will I be going back to revisit community councils on CCTV, yes, like everything else. Why wouldn’t we?”