School Closures, Population Needs And Complaints - Cyngor Gwynedd Council...

Cyngor Gwynedd held a meeting of the Cabinet on Tuesday, 15th September, 2026 at 1.00 pm. 
The agenda pack for the meeting can be found here - 
https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru//documents/g5769/Public%20reports%20pack%2015th-Sep-2026%2013.00%20The%20Cabinet.pdf?T=10

Members confirmed the closure of Ysgol Nebo and Ysgol Baladeulyn despite objections from the public, local councillors and even cabinet members themselves. But when it came to the vote, the cabinet voted unanimously for closure...

'An Action Plan for the Prevention of Suicide and Self-harm 2026-2028' was passed. Perhaps now, those struggling with mental health including farmers and survivors of abuse etc will finally get proper support. Or is this just another programme that will benefit council staff only?

The 'Quarterly Report – Chair of the Response Plan Programme Board (July 2026)' was presented. 
This is the ongoing work arising from the sexual abuse of children by the paedophile, Neil Foden. Many in Gwynedd have little faith in those undertaking the work and even the work itself. 

Yet another arrest of a school staff member in the summer shows that the problem may be more systemic than councillors wish to believe. 

An 'Adoption of an Education Transport Policy to be operational September 2027 onwards' was passed. 
Due to the closure of so many schools in Gwynedd, more pupils need transport to the larger schools that have been built. The increase in costs to the transport budget has been raised as a concern by many councillors, who do not seem to understand the effect their decisions have on other policies.

Not all bullying happens in schools - it also happens on school transport. 
Has this been considered by the education department? 

Complaints regarding transport are being badly handled by the head of education so councillors may be unaware of the true problems facing pupils and their families...

Cabinet members also passed the 'Compact: Cyngor Gwynedd and Third Sector Collaboration Agreement' This was enlightening on many levels due to the contribution from Bethan Williams of Mantell Gwynedd.

It appears that cyngor Gwynedd has not been fully supportive of the third sector - including volunteering organisations - for some time.

A reminder that these groups are attempting to pick up the pieces due to the cuts imposed by Gwynedd cabinet members. For some time, issues with with the council being able and even willing sometimes to work with both the third sector and health has been a problem. 

The full webcast of the meeting can be found here - 
https://gwynedd.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/1087345/start_time/354000

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A Care Scrutiny Committee was held on Thursday, 17th September, 2026.
The agenda pack for that meeting can be found here -
https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru//documents/g6830/Public%20reports%20pack%2017th-Sep-2026%2010.00%20Care%20Scrutiny%20Committee.pdf?T=10

It was a very long meeting, due mainly to councillors questioning the representatives of the housing associations that had been invited to the meeting. Some councillors do not like social housing and conscious and unconscious bias was evident at the meeting...

The webcast of the meeting can be found here - 
https://gwynedd.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/1126222  

The afternoon session began with the 'NORTH WALES POPULATION NEEDS ASSESSMENT 2027 DRAFT REPORT' and presented by Hawis Jones.

3. Details of the North Wales Population Needs Assessment 2027
3.1 Regional Partnership Boards (RPBs) must complete a Population Needs Assessment (PNA) of care and support needs under the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014. The report must assess the care and support needs of priority population groups including children and young people, older people, people with physical and learning disabilities, mental health, neurodivergence and carers who need support.

8. How does the assessment contribute to Council’s priorities?
8.1 The population needs assessment contributes to regional and local level strategic planning
cycles, consequently this will support all local authorities’ corporate priorities relating to the
health and social care needs of the population

This is one of the most important documents that cyngor Gwynedd produce.and helps drive services for the next five years. But like the last 'assessment' this too is ... lacking.

Unlike before, some councillors noticed and asked questions that Hawis Jones had trouble answering at times, this was not helped by cabinet member, Dilwyn Morgan's interruptions and his diversions away from what the members of the committee were seeking answers on. For some reason the head of adults SS, Mari Wynne Jones informed that she would be answering for both departments and Menna Trenholme cabinet member for children didn't seem to have anything to say at all! 
Car crash..?

Luckily, it is only a draft report and one can only hope that Jones uses the feedback to produce an informed and useful plan for the next 5 years...

The SS complaints handling report, authored by Sharron Williams Carter and Mari Wynne Jones was presented. Elliw Haf Hughes, the Assistant Head of Safeguarding and Quality was present but said very little during the meeting...

A reminder that the figures below may not be correct due to Gwynedd SS departments novel way of dealing with enquires and complaints...

 

 

In other news, councillors have signed off on properties to deal with the housing crisis -
To approve the purchase of Bron Menai, Caernarfon and Elm Bank, Bangor shown outlined in red on the attached plan, (including a commitment to agree a management fee for a period of 5 years to the current owners of the sites) in accordance with terms and conditions to be determined by the Head of Housing and Property.

More information can be found here -
https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-067c8e 

Something is very wrong within Gwynedd council...  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Safeguarding Arrangements in Gwynedd Schools Still Lacking...

Cyngor Gwynedd have finally published their -
Scrutiny Investigation Report into Safeguarding Arrangements in Schools

https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru/documents/s50904/Safeguarding%20Arrangements%20in%20Schools%20Scrutiny%20Investigation%20Report-.pdf

A reminder that this investigation was initiated by the Education and Economy Scrutiny committee in early 2025, yet makes no mention of the committee's own failings and missed opportunities to stop Neil Foden. 

Wasn't Dewi Jones, the cabinet member for Education, originally part of the investigation? 
Did he excuse himself..?

This report was intended to be published in 2025, but had to be delayed because the investigating team had not included the voice of the child...  

The children's voice...
It is of high concern that the council did not utilise the recognised 'provider' due to the provider having fears that the council's 'remit' did not go far enough.

Ignoring the concerns of the independent provider, cyngor Gwynedd chose instead to appoint Dr Ceryl Teleri Davies, a former senior officer within the council's SS department - on the initial remit that others had considered insufficient.

Only 57 pupils were engaged...
Her 'Pupil Voice Report' can be found in appendix 7 here - 
https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru//documents/s50889/Appendices.pdf

The schools chosen by the council for the sample were - 

Davies includes four bite sized quotes from the children...

Why Ysgol Friars, and Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle (the main schools where Foden was found abusing) were not included is not known...

The most vulnerable children...
Ysgol Pendalar in Caernarfon is a special school yet Davies does not give any detail of how these children were engaged with. There is no information to what measures are in place for ALN/disabled or how they are kept safe from predators and abuse...

What of the 21%  of children in mainstream schools with ALN? 
From reading the report there is no mention of how these pupils are engaged with in an appropriate manner and how their understanding is checked. How are pupils with speech and language and other communication issues supported in all of this?

Protect the higher pay-grades...
A reminder that everyone knew Neil Foden was an abusive bully...
Safeguarding arrangements did not fail - the toxic culture within schools and the council protected him from censure.

The Ffordd Gwynedd way...
The Safeguarding Arrangements report is not comprehensive and like many of the documents written by cyngor Gwynedd appears to be yet another exercise in tick boxing and marking the officers homework...

The report is to be presented to the Education and Economy Scrutiny committee on the 14th, July, 2026. The webcast of the meeting will be found here - 
 https://gwynedd.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/1109262

Something is very wrong within Gwynedd council - and its schools...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cyngor Gwynedd's Director Of SS Annual Report Blames Facebook For Poor Staff Well Being...

Cyngor Gwynedd's director of SS has published his Annual Report. 
Huw Dylan Owen uses a generic template and names it the Social Services Annual Report.

Mention of audits and reviews of the department can be found under the section 'Further Information' at the end of the report - but no links to Care Inspectorate Wales reports are included.  

It is to be presented to the full Council meeting to be held on the 2nd July, 2026 - 
https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru//documents/s50720/Item%209%20-%20Appendix%201%20-%20Social%20Services%20Report%2025-26.pdf

Owen begins with an apology - 
This year has been one of the toughest that Cyngor Gwynedd has faced in its 30-year history. Social services, and in particular the Children’s Services, have been through a period of significant challenge and change, following serious failures in the service and the Our Bravery Brought Justice Child Practice Review, which highlighted weaknesses in safeguarding.
There has been a major change in leadership across adult and children’s services. It is important to recognise that people have suffered and have been seriously hurt, and on behalf of Cyngor Gwynedd, I apologise. 

You had one job...
There were no weaknesses in safeguarding.
Neil Foden was able to abuse because those that should have stopped him failed - miserably...

The rest of his report is bloated, lacks clarity and appears to confuse mere activity with little regard to the outcomes for people. The traffic light system also appears to be misused, giving a green light to one project that no longer exists.

On page 40 under the section Mental Health Service - 
How can we do things better?
There are some situations where individuals with complex needs fall between services, leading to delays and discussions about responsibility for their care. This includes cases such as autistic individuals who do not meet the eligibility criteria for learning disability services, young people transitioning into adult services...

Why on earth has Owen mentioned autistic people under mental health? 
Since when has autism been a mental health condition? 

Of even more concern is what he says about autistic individuals without a learning disability, that they continue to be failed and are still 'falling through the cracks'

The Autism team was created after a complaint to the PSOW and the council then commissioned a review of autism services by Hugh Morgan OBE. This was meant to find ways to support autistic children and adults - without a learning disability - this same review also recommended that a transition social worker be employed with immediate effect, this the Ombudsman was told by the council was being implemented in October 2020.

Correspondence from the PSOW, Nick Bennett, from October 2020 - (personal information removed)

 

What happened? Nearly six years down the line these failings still exist, how on earth has nothing changed for this cohort of people, even after the 'promises' made by senior officers from the CEO, through the legal team to department heads and their senior managers...

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There is no update on the officers 'absent from work' nor the potential £250,000 their wages has cost the children's department so far. Both social workers are still registered as working/studying in the county of Gwynedd...

Registered Persons

Forename(s)	Surname	County of work address/ County of study	Registration Number
Dafydd	Paul	Gwynedd	W/1059093
Dafydd	Paul	Gwynedd	W/1059093

Showing 1 to 2 of 2 rows 

 

Registered Persons

Forename(s)	Surname	County of work address/ County of study	Registration Number
Marian Parry	Hughes	Gwynedd	W/1056715

Showing 1 to 1 of 1 rows

 

Is there not an obligation on the part of the council to report employees to their professional body under certain circumstances? If things are bad enough that employees are made 'absent from work' for over a year now, one would expect that the two employees 'absent from work' should have been referred to Social Care Wales? 

 

These two officers ran a department that not only failed children but ignored law, policies and procedures and parent blamed and smeared those who tried to raise concerns - over many years. 
                                                                 
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Deflect...
Owen also fails to mention that Jan Pickles undertook an EXTENDED Child Practice Review. 
This type of review is only undertaken when a child was on the child protection register or was a looked after child (or care leaver under 18) at any point in the 6 months before the incident.

Deny...
The director is surely old enough to remember the North Wales Child Abuse scandal. 
This happened in the former county council areas of Gwynedd and Clwyd and involved the sexual and physical abuse of children in the councils 'care' homes. 

A reminder that Gwynedd County council sacked the social worker who blew the whistle... 

The following page gives more detail of the statutory investigation chaired by Sir Ronald Waterhouse and links to the Lost in Care report published in 2000, the Macur Review from 2012 and details of Operation Pallial set up in 2012 - 
https://www.inquestsandinquiries.com/projects/waterhouse 

Delay...
Owen also fails to make mention of Canolfan Brynffynnon.
The director may claim that the showing of the TV documentary into the PRU came too late to be included in his annual report, but Owen must know the council has been paying compensation to former pupils since 2019. 

Who did know and when..?
The PRU was mentioned by councillors in a services scrutiny committee in 2016. 
There must have been other discussions in closed forums and meetings behind closed doors with the cabinet and the Plaid group, in particular. What of the other councillors?

A reminder that Morwena Edwards, the former director of SS, quit her post shortly after a final report into the PRU was received in 2022. 

Workforce well being...
Cliques within cliques and a toxic culture of nepotism, cronyism and bullying has meant that staff have been leaving in droves, most notable since the pandemic.

Remembering that Owen started with an apology he then goes on the attack...
On page 9 - 

 

The director's duplication of his sentence in the first paragraph is sloppy and it suggests a sentence may be missing.

So what 'measures' is Owen referring to?
What specific policy?
What reporting processes?

Read the room...
Social media gives the public a platform to discuss and raise issues that affect their local communities. 
The failings of social workers and departments that Owen is now ultimately responsible for has caused pain and trauma and has ruined lives. The financial cost to the public purse will also be considerable.
People are angry and understandably so.

Social media also allows former and present employees of the council, and other organisations, a safe space to raise concerns in small groups or even anonymously.

No safe places...
Has there been directed surveillance of social media by cyngor Gwynedd? 
While the occasional viewing of public posts is considered acceptable, the recording and repeated or targeted monitoring of individuals or groups is not and could be considered unlawful under RIPA.

Learn lessons from Bristol...
Bristol council has recently been caught spying on a local parents SEND group.
The lack of trust with the council's officers will take years to mend - if ever.

Has cyngor Gwynedd infiltrated or monitored parent groups in the county?
What of campaign groups such as those opposed to Article 4?
Is the council monitoring councillors accounts?

A public inquiry into Neil Foden AND this council's failings is needed. 
Release the Canolfan Brynffynnon files.
Publish the Woods report.

Something is so very wrong within Gwynedd council... 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Letters Warning Of Neil Foden Sent To Kirsty Williams AM Hywel Williams MP In 2019...

In 2019, the Plaid Cymru Member for Parliament for Arfon, Hywel Williams, was sent a letter that raised concerns regarding the Education Workforce Council and Neil Foden.

 

Presumably, Williams ignored the letter as a follow up letter was sent in November 6 months later...

 

Kirsty Williams, then Minister for Education in the Welsh Assembly was also sent a letter - 

The letters appeared online after they were put through the door of a digital creator from Bangor,
There was a covering letter - 

So did the author get a response from either the then MP or Welsh Minister?
What action did they take?

What of Angela Jardine, chair of the Education Workforce Council?
Was an investigation completed?

It does appear that many people were warned of Neil Foden - yet he continued to abuse...

 

  

Cyngor Gwynedd - Are The Public Welcome At Council Meetings..?

To attend a public meeting of Gwynedd council or one of its committees, you are first met with a locked door to the building where the meetings take place. A sign instructs visitors to sign in at another building across the road 100 metres away.

There you are informed that if attending a meeting you do not have to sign in...

Returning to the venue - a public building - you then have to wait for someone to open the door for you to gain access. This can take some time and means you can miss the beginning of the meeting and cause disruption to others when you take your seat.

 
On leaving the meetings, members of the public are reporting they have been approached by a woman demanding to know who let them into the building. One visitor says they felt harangued by the official and had to walk away. 

Another person who attended a meeting said that the committee he attended broke for lunch so he left the council chamber and walked down the stairs to the exit. The monitoring officer, Iwan Evans, stood at the bottom, staring at him. He nodded and said Hi  - Evans ignored him...

With Evans was Vera Jones, the Democratic Services manager, who approached him also asking how and why he was in the building and said she was asking as she was interested in how to improve things for those attending public meetings.

Jones was told that being allowed access to the public building, having a visitors book in the actual building and signage to the chamber would improve things for visitors. Jones agreed but did not give an explanation as to why these things are not already in place...

The visitor says that he felt so uncomfortable by Jones' questioning that he did not return to the committee meeting after the lunch break. One wonders if that was the intention of the two officers?

Have others had similar experiences when attending meetings? 

Something is very wrong within Gwynedd council...