MORE housing, more choice, better homes and a better service.
These will be the key elements of Wrexham’s housing strategy over the next five years, councillors have been told.
The draft plans were discussed at a meeting of Wrexham Council’s homes, environment and communities scrutiny committee.
A report by Cllr Mark Pritchard, lead member for housing and planning, said there were three over-arching themes to the strategy.
These were: more housing, more choice to improve homes and communities, and better services to improve people’s lives.
“For each section the strategy sets out the background information and the challenges, then ends with a set of commitments stating what the council will do,” Cllr Pritchard’s report says.
“The commitments are robust statements of intent which will be relevant throughout the life of the strategy.
“But to keep the strategy up to date and relevant, the delivery plans will be revised
year on year to continue to deliver in the changing environment.”
At the end of the consultation period each response and comment made will be considered and a second draft document brought to scrutiny.
“Once that draft strategy is approved the document will be finalised and submitted to the executive board for their approval,” the report says.
Chairman of the scrutiny committee Cllr David Kelly stressed the need for accuracy throughout the strategy document.
He pointed out in the introduction that in describing Wrexham’s borders no mention was made of Shropshire.
“Are we just copying and pasting something without considering what it is saying?
“If we are going to have a document and do it justice we need to be
sure it does what is says on the tin,” Cllr Kelly stressed.
Councillors questioned how practical it would be to fully implement the strategy, which was described as ambitious and challenging.
Cllr Graham Rogers said: “We are at the foot of the mountain at this moment in time.
“It will be interesting when we get to the top to see how many objectives have been achieved.”
Councillors agreed that in principle that strategy was progressing in the correct manner.