Illegal Care Homes, Missing Children And Dementia - Cyngor Gwynedd...

Cyngor Gwynedd's care scrutiny committee held a meeting on the 5th November, 2026.

Yet again, there were issues which meant that there was no translated feed for the first 14 minutes of the meeting. The webcast can be viewed here - 
https://gwynedd.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/1110372

There was the Update on the Progress of the Response Plan: Our Bravery Brought Justice.
Gwynedd CEO, Dafydd Gibbard, reports that most of the recommendations have been implemented.

The report can be found in the agenda pack for the meeting -  
https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru//documents/g6831/Public%20reports%20pack%2005th-Nov-2026%2010.00%20Care%20Scrutiny%20Committee.pdf?T=10

But it was not policies and procedures that failed to stop the paedophile, Neil Foden.
It was the culture within schools and the council that protected him from censure. 

This culture is mentioned in the update report -  
Further work continues on more long-term matters related to culture change, measuring impact and embedding improvements sustainably. In any programme of significant change such as this, elements such as embedding culture are ones that will need to continue for a significant period of time and will need to be continually revisited over the coming years.  

But what exactly is the 'culture' that needs changing?
Gibbard does not give an explanation...

The adults SS gave their performance report presented by Dilwyn Morgan.
He updated the committee that the proposed Bro Lleu development in Penygroes, that was to be a health and well-being hub, integrating a doctors surgery, a care home, independent housing and more was downgraded to a health hub only.  

The department's report includes - 
2.2.5 The aim of the project is to ensure prompt and easy support for individuals and their families. That includes recognising the value of unpaid carers and supporting them appropriately and ensuring timely and effective home care.
2.2.10 There are many workstreams currently underway to ensure more resources to evaluate the needs of patients in hospital and to speed up care and discharge decisions,with dedicated resource from each team now responsible for assessing hospital cases.

The report does not hide the fact that there is no 'prompt and easy support for individuals and their families', nor is there support for unpaid carers unless you pass the SS assessment. It is well known that assessments carried out by Gwynedd social workers have been 'predetermined to fail'.  

 

The number of people awaiting Deprivation of Liberty (DoLS) assessments has not been recorded due to the new criteria that is to be decided after the Cheshire West ruling. Should the council not be worried for the vulnerable people affected?

22 individuals had been waiting over 91 days for a care needs assessment from the Older People, Physical and Sensory Disabilities Service. 

One care home in the county has been under an embargo which means no new admissions until the issues have been remedied. No other information was given. 

More corridor care..?
The department's failings to provide adequate social care in Gwynedd will also mean continued bed blocking in hospitals and more strain on the NHS.

Support for those with dementia...??
Mari Wynne Jones, the head of Gwynedd's adult SS, made mention that those with dementia could learn new tricks.
Jones did not give an explanation as to how this medical miracle will be achieved. 

Morgan concludes the annual performance report with -
The report has been created based on the information provided and the content of a recent meeting to challenge and support the performance of the Department for Adults, Health and Wellbeing, with the Director, Head of Department, Assistant Heads and myself attending this meeting. 

The children's department then gave their annual performance report presented by Menna Trenholme.
Sharron Williams Carter, the head of children's SS and Aled Gibbard, Assistant Head Resources, were present to answer questions of the committee. 

Trenholme begins with an update on the Autism plan. 
Her report gives the impression that the council is supporting autistic individuals and their families - this is not exactly the case - is it? 

A reminder that the Autism plan was to support autistic children and adults WITHOUT a learning disability, who were and still are falling through the gap in services.

Trenholme warns that the funding for this service ends in 2027. 
It is hoped that she and the department are preparing a case for extra funding from Welsh government to fully implement the recommendations from the Hugh Morgan OBE review that came about after a Stage 2 and Ombudsman for Wales complaints that were upheld. 
Perhaps the scrutiny committee could ask Morgan to evaluate the work of the council since his review..?

Has cyngor Gwynedd published Morgan's review on their website and has it been scrutinised or even seen by councillors?

Missing children...
Worryingly, the SS reports -
In addition, we saw good collaboration since April 2026 to be able to report on returning home interviews after children or young people were identified as missing. 55 children have been identified as missing children over the period, and 164 returning home interviews have been held. 

Neither the cabinet member nor the department clarified how many children are still missing... 

Trenholme also gives an update on the small group homes scheme for looked after children.  
The home in Morfa Bychan, with two children living in it, has now been registered and is no longer an illegal enterprise.

The home in Deiniolen, also houses two children, but is still not registered and so not open to inspections by outside agencies to check on the wellbeing of these children.
Two children also live in the home in Criccieth. This has also not been registered.

An unregistered home is not only unsafe for residents but also illegal. 
It is a criminal offence to operate such homes without registration...

Aled Gibbard, who is responsible for the group homes scheme alongside, Shelley Williams, appeared very uncomfortable during this segment of the meeting. His hand hovered continuously over the microphone ready to jump in, and he even pressed the button a couple of times by mistake. Sharron Williams Carter, the head of department noticed this and asked if he had anything to contribute - Gibbard declined.

To Gibbard's relief, committee members did not mention the legality of the homes. 
Perhaps they are unaware of the true situation..?

As with the adults SS, the children's report was based on information received at one meeting only.

Something is so very wrong within Gwynedd council...

Cyngor Gwynedd Council - 'Would You Like To Live Next Door To This?'

The Standards Committee of cyngor Gwynedd met on the 2nd, November, 2026.

The Annual Report of the Ombudsman for Wales, Michelle Morris, was presented.
Complaints against health boards have increased by 42% in the last year. 
Complaints against local authorities by 25% and housing associations by 27%.

Morris writes 'Looking beyond our office, many people still find it hard to complain to public service providers and there remain areas of public services in Wales where access to justice is incomplete'.

The PSOW does not give reasons why the public still find it hard to complain, nor does she mention how many variances to PSOW recommendations her office allowed public organisations after investigations are concluded. 

Are the same issues being investigated...?
How many new complaints are against organisations with the same or similar issues already investigated and upheld in past investigations?

Is the ombudsman still seeking robust evidence that its recommendations have been acted upon and lessons learnt?

The PSOW also investigates complaints against Councillors breaching the Code of Conduct.

Siôn Huws, Propriety and Elections Manager for cyngor Gwynedd has authored a report with summaries of the decisions received from the Ombudsman. His report - Allegations against members - can be found on page 191 of the agenda pack for the meeting here - 
https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru//documents/g5763/Public%20reports%20pack%2002nd-Nov-2026%2010.30%20Standards%20Committee.pdf?T=10

A reminder that the PSOW investigates town/community councillors as well as county councillors.

Complaints against councillors included - 
Summary of the complaint
The Member was alleged to have behaved inappropriately when she posted a photo of a garden showing signs of hoarding on Facebook and asked the public to comment on whether they could live next door. The Complainant felt that the person responsible for the hoarding issue could do with help and support, rather than the court of public opinion.

The ombudsman decided the the Plaid councillor Jina Gwyrfai, representing Yr Eifl, should not be investigated by concluding - 
While I fully appreciate that the Complainant may have been offended by the Member's post and feels that there may have been other ways of addressing the situation, the evidence provided does not indicate disgraceful or offensive behaviour that would affect the Code and justify intervening in the Member's right to political expression on this occasion.

But was the councillor's post a political expression..?
Some who saw it were of the opinion it was posted simply to humiliate a resident.

Another referral made to the Ombudsman - 
Summary of complaint
It was alleged that one of the members present at a meeting had breached the Code of Conduct ("the Code") by disclosing confidential information to the media. The complaint was made by one of the members present at the meeting asking the Ombudsman to investigate to establish which of the members disclosed the information. The complainant referred all members present, including herself, to the Ombudsman.

The ombudsman did not investigate saying -
(1) Whether there is evidence to suggest that there may have been breaches of the Code of Conduct. The Code is clear that members must not disclose confidential information or information which should reasonably be regarded as being of a confidential nature. 
The evidence provided by the Complainant suggested that the information discussed at a Council meeting ought to have reasonably been regarded as confidential. 
The evidence also suggested that this information was subsequently disclosed to the media. 
Having considered the information provided by the Complainant, I am not persuaded that there is evidence that identifies the Member as the specific individual who has disclosed the information and in the absence of evidence demonstrating that the Member was responsible for the disclosure, the Ombudsman cannot investigate. 
It may be helpful if I explained that the Ombudsman’s role is to consider and, when appropriate,undertake investigations of complaints that an individual member has breached the Code, rather than to independently establish the identity of the individual responsible for the disclosure.

 
Who decides what is and what isn't confidential information?
If this complaint concerns cyngor Gwynedd, then will it be the legal team that makes such decisions?

Could one say that the legal team is compromised by the amount of maladministration found by the PSOW in past investigations? Then there is the question of who the senior legal officer was that attended the safeguarding meeting in 2019, when a whistleblower raised concerns with Neil Foden?
Not forgetting the Canolfan Brynffynnon affair...

Siôn Huws, also presented the 'The Gifts and Hospitality Register for Members' report.
The solicitor writes - 
The Model Code of Conduct for Members makes it compulsory for members to provide written notification to the Monitoring Officer of any offer of a gift, hospitality material benefit or advantage above a value set by the authority and do so within 28 days. Gwynedd has decided that the value should be £25, and furthermore that such offers must be registered whether accepted or not.

 

Why has Huws allowed the recipient of the tickets for the Wales Women's International football matches not to disclose their value?

Something is very wrong within Gwynedd council...

Cyngor Gwynedd Staff Sickness Rises Again And Another Data Breach...

Cyngor Gwynedd held another Governance and Audit committee on 22nd, October, 2026,

The previous meeting had to be deferred due to technical problems that stopped the council's monitoring officer having to explain the reasons for his 'briefing note' that 'advises' lay members and councillors against the raising and discussing of concerns of certain organisational matters. The contents of the 'briefing note' have not been made public...

The last meeting went on long enough to appoint a new chair of the committee. 
The chair appointed earlier in the year had to be replaced due to the G&A Committee not understanding the correct policies and procedures...

A report authored by Dafydd Gibbard, the CEO, was presented to the meeting - 
Recommendations arising from the Panel Performance Assessment - Council's Draft Response

The panel was made up of -
Independent Chair: Emlyn Dole (Former Council Leader: Carmarthenshire County Council)
Senior Member Peer: Gwyneth Ellis (Denbighshire County Council)
Senior Officer Peer: Rob Thomas, (Chief Executive, Vale of Glamorgan County Council)
Wider Public, Private, or Voluntary Sector Peer: Siân-Elin Flint-Freel (Consultant)

This report is item 7 in the agenda pack -
 https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru//documents/g5757/Public%20reports%20pack%2022nd-Oct-2026%2010.00%20Governance%20and%20Audit%20Committee.pdf?T=10

The Ffordd Gwynedd way..?
Gibbard's report includes a section on the views of the public via the Council’s Residents Panel.
Some members of this panel will strongly disagree with the CEO's analysis and reporting of their input.
Serious concerns raised were not included.

There was a data breach of the Gwynedd residents panel personal information. 
This was dealt with internally and it is unclear whether other members of the panel are even aware of the breach. 
Was the ICO informed?

The panel raises concerns that Gibbard has perhaps taken on too much in his role as CEO.

The culture within a local authority is the responsibility of everyone, especially the legal team, cabinet members and councillors.

It is said that Dafydd Gibbard holds a wide strategic portfolio - why? 
Does he not trust his senior officers?
If not - why not?

The role of the CEO is to be responsible for the efficiency of all departments within the council.
The CEO oversees the financial aspects, including budgets and is responsible for the recruitment of staff to ensure a competent workforce and the smooth running of local government. 

The CEO is also responsible for emergency planning and, ultimately, the actions and behaviour of senior officers as it is he/she that carries the can for the council's failings. 

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Cyngor Gwynedd has finally released their accounts for the year ending 31st March, 2026. 
These can be found under item 9 on the agenda.

 

The balance in usable reserves at the end of March is £141.5 million pounds...

                                                     ************************
In other news, staff turnover at cyngor Gwynedd remains high - 

The levels of days lost to staff sickness is also high -
 

 Long term sickness is defined as 28 or more consecutive days of illness...

Staff discipline - 

 

This information comes from - The Annual Report - Workforce - 
Cabinet Member: Coun. Llio Elenid Owen
Relevant Officer: Eleri Jones, Human Resources Advisory Service Manager
https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru/documents/s51479/Cabinet%20Report.pdf

There are no figures for the numbers of staff suspended by cyngor Gwynedd.
Still 'absent from work' are Marian Parry Hughes and Dafydd Paul from the children's SS department.

Cyngor Gwynedd has not updated on the number of suspensions of school staff. It is now believed to be 8 after the arrest of a staff member just before the summer holidays.
(These figures may be higher)

Something is so very wrong within Gwynedd council...

 

 

Neil Foden Was Not The First HeadMaster To Abuse Children In Gwynedd...

Neil Foden, the paedophile head teacher, jailed for sexual assaults against children in Gwynedd, was an abusive bully and seemingly immune from censure by those who should have stopped him.

From senior police officers and councillors who sat on the board of school governors, MP's and Assembly Members, Local Authority officers and their legal team, councillors of the Education/Economy scrutiny committee, the Education Workforce Council et al...

Parents raised complaints. Local media reported on his assault on a pupil at Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle. 
Nothing was done...

It was the action of a child that finally brought his reign of terror to an end. 
A child that, after blowing the whistle, had to hide in a cupboard whilst the social workers at cyngor Gwynedd waited for the correct form to be filled in before they allowed the police to be called to Ysgol Friars.

The Plaid Cymru controlled council has apologised for its failings
These inadequacies stem, in part, from recommendations not being implemented after the case of headteacher, John Owen, whose abuse of children in another part of Wales led to the Clywch Inquiry and Report.

From an article written by Gwyn Loader, Chief correspondent, Newyddion S4C -
The Our Bravery Brought Justice report into Foden's offending has an annex devoted to similarities with Owen's offending, with reviewers noting "it is appalling that the recommendations of this review reflect those of Clywch so closely and that 20 years later the key issues still have not been resolved or acted upon"...

His Honour Nicholas Cooke KC, a former Deputy High Court judge and counsel to the Clywch inquiry, called for a national audit to ensure the 2004 report and its recommendations "haven't gone to waste as it's been acquiring cobwebs".

"History keeps repeating itself," he said.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce3kexe2eeko

Neil Foden is not the first head teacher to be jailed for sexually abusing children in Gwynedd...
In 2025, an 87 year old former primary headmaster was arrested on historic abuse charges.

The ex teacher was jailed in 1964 for sexual offences against children at a school in Holyhead, on Anglesey, and struck off the teaching register.

In 1970, the paedophile was readmitted to the profession by the Department of Education.

In 1978, he again faced charges of indecency against children but was found not guilty by the Magistrates court in Blaenau Ffestiniog. 

The teacher was defended in court by Hugh Emlyn Hooson, QC, who was the Member of Parliament for Montgomeryshire. Hooson later became Baron Hooson - 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emlyn_Hooson,_Baron_Hooson

Why this case was not heard in the Crown court is not known nor why a QC would take on a case in a Magistrates court.

This teacher taught at Gellilydan primary school in Trawsfynydd, and was then promoted to headmaster of Tanygrisiau primary school...

In 1986, he was charged with sexual offences against children, found guilty and jailed - again...

Gwynedd council held an internal review into the case which was called out as a 'whitewash' by then councillor, Wil Pierce. Frustrated by the council's behaviour, Pierce is believed to have then contacted the Ombudsman.

A reminder that this case occurred at the same time Gwynedd council suspended the social worker, Alison Taylor, who blew the whistle on the abuse of children in the region's care homes. 

For reasons unknown, the authorities are acting with no urgency in providing this now aged paedophile's victims with the justice they deserve.  If he dies, does this mean that documents relating to the safeguarding failures will not be examined in a court of law..?

In 2017, a FOI request for the number of complaints against this teacher from both parents and the general public was mishandled and refused by the council, who finally told the requestor that the council 'do not have any information relating to any complaints.'

The council was also asked for the name of all of the schools where the teacher had been employed prior to his arrest in 1986.
Gwynedd council shut this down by replying with 'The Council does hold information about the schools but this information is being withheld under section 40(2) of the Act.'

A request for an internal review was ignored by cyngor Gwynedd's monitoring officer. 

Something is so very wrong within Gwynedd council...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Briefing Notes, LADO's And AI systems - Cyngor Gwynedd Council...

Concerns with the 'briefing note', circulated to members of cyngor Gwynedd's Governance and Audit committee by the monitoring officer, were raised at the Education and Economy Scrutiny Committee held on Thursday, 8th October 2026.

An objection, by councillor Richard Glyn Roberts, was raised at the G&A meeting to the propriety of this note but technical reasons meant Iwan Evans explanation could not be heard. The meeting of 29th September was paused and eventually deferred until a later date. 

Councillor Roberts also sits on the Education/Economy committee and was present along with a few other councillors in the chamber, the remaining members participating via Zoom. In contrast there were 17 people sitting on the front bench, alongside the chair and Nia Jeffreys, the leader of the council.

Roberts again raised the matter of the briefing note. 
Dafydd Gibbard, the CEO, responded to the councillor.

Is the HR investigation perhaps asking questions of the involvement of the legal department at this point?
Jan Pickles report does mention that a senior legal officer was present during a safeguarding meeting that discussed the whistleblower's concerns with regard to paedophile Neil Foden. 

It was an odd meeting in many ways... 
Officers were reluctant to give themselves praise for the safeguarding work that has been done since Foden was arrested in 2023 - 
https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-13591195/paedophile-head-teacher-hiding-plain-sight-abuse-girls.html

Officers informed that work is still in progress and concerns were voiced that Welsh government's guidance on LADOs did not align with the CPR recommendations, that the LADO should not act alone.

The Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) is responsible for managing and overseeing allegations against individuals working with children, ensuring that concerns are handled fairly and promptly. They provide guidance, coordinate responses among agencies, and monitor the investigation process without conducting investigations themselves.

The Jan Pickles report was very critical of the last LADO and his failures.

Meetings held behind closed doors and not recorded...
One councillor asked about the recording of safeguarding meetings and proper minute taking. Dylan Owen, the director of SS, reported that meetings were recorded via an AI system that presumably writes the discussion down. This is a new system and one hopes that it is being closely monitored for accuracy.

School governors also came in for criticism with the cabinet member for education stating that some governors were  passive in their work and just followed what the headteacher wanted. This is unfair as most governors are ordinary people who do great work.

A reminder that Ysgol Friars board of governors included two senior police officers and at least one councillor whose background is TV and media. One ex governor of Friars is Mair Rowlands, now an MS in Welsh government.

I have no knowledge of the board of governors at Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle during the headship of Foden, but he was still in post even after the video of him assaulting a pupil appeared in the media. 
The education scrutiny committee itself discussed this video at the time but did nothing.
Why not?

Everyone knew Foden was an abusive bully but he was able to abuse because the culture within the council and the schools protected him from censure. New policies and procedures will not make any difference if the culture does not change. 

A reminder that many of the children abused by Foden were in the care of the council... 

Trauma informed or trauma induced..?
Menna Trenholme, the cabinet member for children, spoke of her work in becoming trauma informed. Trenholme may be even better informed if she read the work of Professor Luke Clements, who cites SS departments as causing trauma for many families when they seek help from the very services created to support them...

His report on Systems Generated Trauma can be found here - 
https://cerebra.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Systems-Generated-Trauma-Report-web.pdf

The reports of the meeting can be found in the agenda pack here - 
https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru//documents/g5777/Public%20reports%20pack%2008th-Oct-2026%2010.30%20Education%20and%20Economy%20Scrutiny%20Committee.pdf?T=10  

The webcast of the meeting can be found here - 
https://gwynedd.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/1133653

Public inquiry now. 

Something is very wrong within Gwynedd council...