‘Our Bravery Brought Justice’ Delayed Yet Again - Neil Foden Cyngor Gwynedd...

The Gwynedd Child Practice Review into paedophile headteacher Neil Foden, first due in early Spring, then late Spring, then September has been delayed yet again - 
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp98739vz49o

‘Our Bravery Brought Justice' review led by Jan Pickles, appears to have been usurped by the North Wales Safeguarding Board, which released a statement on its website - 

The North Wales Safeguarding Board have made the decision to delay the publication of the Gwynedd Child Practice Review this month as it considers its legal obligations and information sharing further.
https://www.northwalessafeguardingboard.wales/gwynedd-child-practice-review/

The NWSB is made up of senior officers from various organisations including local councils, North Wales Police, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and the Probation service.
https://www.northwalessafeguardingboard.wales/nwsab-members/

Cyngor Gwynedd's Corporate Director and their Head of Adults SS sit on the board.

There is considerable anger with the delay and, for many, it shows little thought for the survivors and their families, more an exercise in protecting reputations? 

Class actions against the council...
In other news, the Neil Foden case is still deemed a risk to the council by Gwynedd's Governance and Audit committee held on the 11th September. Article 4 was also highlighted as a risk but no mention of Canolfan Brynffynnon. Is that case also considered a risk?

Gwynedd's head of Finance also presented the draft accounts to the committee. They show money in reserves to be £592 million and usable reserves of £137 million...

Governance and Audit is the most important committee of a council and it is a surprise that cyngor Gwynedd do not webcast the meeting. The meetings, held over Zoom, are recorded but not available for later viewing by councillors nor the public. Not one member asked about the turmoil within the children's SS department, with senior officers still 'absent from work'.

Due to the make up of the G&A committee, not all members may be privy to the disclosures to councillors so it was disappointing that the Care Scrutiny committee, held on the 25th September, did not ask the interim head of children services, Aled Gibbard, if services were being affected. Hasn't the director of SS raised concerns..?

The agenda pack and SS Annual Complaints Handling reports can be found here - 
https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru//documents/g5530/Public%20reports%20pack%2025th-Sep-2025%2010.00%20Care%20Scrutiny%20Committee.pdf?T=10

The report mirrors last years report, presented by the senior safeguarding officer, Dafydd Paul. It gives little information on the nature of the complaints and, as before, tries to divert attention by attacking vexatious customers. A reminder that the way senior officers report is not always accurate... 

Something is very wrong within Gwynedd council... 

 

 

 

Private Sector Landlords In Gwynedd...

The photo below was taken during the fitting of an electrical consumer unit by a landlord into his rented property in Gwynedd.

The consumer unit failed an electrical inspection some years ago and a HHSRS report was recently created by cyngor Gwynedd after their inspection of the property, which found this and other hazards, in March of this year and gave advice on how the hazards were to be remedied by the landlord. 

In early July, no work had been started on the property when the landlord then emailed the tenant wanting the tenant to pay £65 an hour for his 'professional fee' (to include any standing time), another £35 an hour for a labourer, plus skip/trailer hire, .85p a mile travel expenses and all materials to be charged. 

The enforcement officer was informed of the situation, he then emailed the landlord to make it very clear that he could not charge the tenant anything and these costs were the landlords responsibility. 

The landlord is not a qualified electrician and ignored repeated directions from the local private housing enforcement officer that any electrical work "MUST" be carried out by a qualified electrician. 

On the 2nd September, he began ripping out the old electrical box. He was reminded of the council's report and directions but told the tenant to ring cyngor Gwynedd's enforcement officer if not happy.

During that call, the council enforcement officer u-turned and confirmed that an unqualified person installing a new electrical box is now acceptable as the council wanted the work progressed. 
Is this usual?

The officer has said there are only two officers for the whole of Gwynedd and that a lot of their time is spent dealing with houses of multiple occupation. (HMO's)

The consumer unit has not yet been tested by a qualified electrician but the council officer assured the tenant it would be certified in one week. 
Perhaps the fire insurance should be increased?