Labour councillors want to expand the warden scheme

Ten wardens will be employed across the county by spring but it has already been proposed to double that figure.

The council's executive board vetoed the move, which aims to reduce anti-social behaviour.

Members said they wanted proof that the wardens have helped reduce crime.

The neighbourhood wardens were introduced in Wrexham last year to help tackle anti-social behaviour and nuisance crime.

There are currently 12 warden posts in Wrexham but since last year only two wardens have been working, in the wards of Chirk and Caia Park.

A further eight will be in post by spring and there are two vacancies.

Council leader Neil Rogers said the Labour group wanted an extra �200,000 so they can employ an extra eight wardens.

The hard evidence is not there into the effectiveness of the scheme County councillor Aled Roberts

He hopes last month's decision will be overturned, saying the Labour group were "dismayed and disappointed" by the decision.

"We believe that the people of Wrexham need these wardens to work in the community," said Mr Rogers.

'Hard evidence'

"They are the eyes and ears of the community to tackle anti-social behaviour, to tackle graffiti, youth nuisance and abandoned vehicles."

Mr Rogers said there are high numbers of anti-social behaviour in a number of Wrexham communities.

"In Johnstown alone there've been almost 200 complaints to North Wales Police about anti-social behaviour, Holt, Llay and Cefn Mawr have problems and people perhaps wouldn't expect it in these sort of communities.

However, county councillor Aled Roberts and leader of the Liberal Democrat group said further evidence was required before a decision.

"The hard evidence is not there into the effectiveness of the scheme," he said.

"Before we spend an extra �200,000 we need to know the scheme works.

"There should have been 14 wardens working within the community already but due to problems with the scheme only two wardens have been working," he added.

The council meeting will be held at The Guildhall on Monday at 1830GMT.