Neil Foden - Without Accountability Abuse Will Continue - Gwynedd Council...

Neil Foden, the paedophile headteacher, who was in charge of Ysgol Friars, Bangor and Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle in Penygroes was arrested in September, 2023 and jailed in 2024.
 
Many people in Gwynedd, including some councillors are of the belief that Foden was a one off. Abuse of children, especially of those in care in north Wales has been going on for decades.

The North Wales Child Abuse scandal...
Where children were abused in 'care' homes across Gwynedd, Clywd and Wrexham.
Gwynedd council sacked a social worker who blew the whistle on the abuse. 
This led to the Waterhouse inquiry and the Lost In Care Report, published in 2000. 

The Lost In Care report was reviewed in 2010 -  
'Lost in Care abuse report recommendations reviewed'
Sir Ronald will speak with health and social work professionals about the lessons learned and analyse whether local authorities across Wales are now developing and implementing effective care plans for looked-after children.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-11884852

In 2012, the scandal was raised by the government in Westminster - 
Theresa May, then Home Secretary, gave a statement - 
The recommendation was that there should not be a public inquiry but an examination of the work of private care homes and the social service departments in Gwynedd and Clwyd Councils.
This work revealed not only shortcomings in the protection of vulnerable children, but that the shortcomings had persisted even after the police investigation and subsequent prosecutions. 
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/historic-allegations-of-child-abuse-in-north-wales-home-secretarys-statement

Carwyn Jones, then First Minister for Wales, also gave a statement - 
It made extensive recommendations for improving child protection, many of which were subsequently implemented by the Welsh Government.   The Prime Minister has announced an inquiry to examine the extent to which the Waterhouse Report did what it was supposed to do.
https://www.gov.wales/written-statement-north-wales-child-abuse-allegations

Not forgetting Operation Pallial - 
In November 2012, Operation Pallial was set up to examine specific allegations of past child abuse in north Wales. This report looks at the early processes established by OperationPallial, including communications work, support for survivors, transition and the implications on children in present care settings in Wales - 
https://www.childcomwales.org.uk/2015/01/learning-the-lessons-operation-pallial/ 

Then there was the Macur Review laid before Parliament in 2016, with Plaid MP, Liz Saville Roberts leading the discussion - 
https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cdp-2016-0070/

'Lessons not learnt' from report into sex abuse teacher.
The Welsh government said: "The recommendations from the Clywch report were implemented, and consistent national policies and procedures to safeguard children were introduced.

"The Our Bravery Brought Justice review found that despite there being clear processes in place, including those implemented following Clywch, there was a failure to apply them properly."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce3kexe2eeko

The Clywch report, from 2004, involved teacher, John Owen, who sexually abused pupils at Ysgol Gyfun Rhydfelen, near Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf. 

But how is it that so many senior people in Gwynedd failed to follow procedures?
Worse still - many simply ignored concerns raised...

What of the two police officers, Essie Ahari and Keith Horton, then chair and vice chair of the school governors at Ysgol Friars?

What of the senior officer within Gwynedd's legal department who sat in on the safeguarding meeting re Neil Foden in 2019? 

Sexual harassment in schools...
Delyth Lloyd Griffiths, was the senior safeguarding officer within the Education department before becoming a councillor in 2022.

Griffiths is named as the relevant officer in a report entitled 'Sexual harassment in schools' discussed at the Education/Economy scrutiny committee on the 8th, February, 2022. This report was in response to an Estyn report dated 2021 - 'We do not tell our teachers'

The report can be found in the agenda pack for the meeting here - 
https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru/documents/g4378/Public%20reports%20pack%2008th-Feb-2022%2013.30%20Education%20and%20Economy%20Scrutiny%20Committee.pdf?T=10

Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle...
This committee also failed the children by not taking action against Foden when the video of him appearing to grab a pupil by the scruff of the neck appeared online. The matter was raised at the meeting and answers were promised for the next scrutiny committee.

The next meeting scheduled for the 31, March, 2022 was cancelled.  

Sshh...
The council elections in May, 2022, meant a new scrutiny committee was formed. 
Five members sat on both the old and the new committees - they are Olaf Cai Larsen, Beth Lawton, Dewi Owen, Paul Rowlinson and Colette Owen (co-optee)
It is believed that the alleged assault by Foden was never mentioned again...

Since Foden's arrest in 2023, cyngor Gwynedd have suspended 3 members of school staff from Friars. 
Two other staff at different schools have also been suspended. 
No further details have been released by the council or NWP.

Extended Child Practice Review...
Were all of the abused children receiving 'care' from the council ?
Were any in foster care?
The head and assistant head of the children's SS are still 'absent from work'.

A Statutory Public Inquiry...
Dafydd Gibbard, ceo of the council, told a meeting in February, that a reply to the requst for a public inquiry has been received from Welsh government but he has not yet shared the response...

Without accountability, the abuse will continue...

Something is very wrong within Gwynedd council...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Council Tax Up - Trust In Gwynedd Council Down...

The full council of cyngor Gwynedd met on the 5th March, 2026. 
The agenda pack for the meeting can be found here - 
https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru//documents/g5675/Public%20reports%20pack%2005th-Mar-2026%2013.30%20The%20Council.pdf?T=10

Council tax increase...
The Plaid Cymru council passed -
A budget of £379,701,110 should be set for 2026/27, to be funded by £264,009,390 of Government Grant and £115,691,720 of Council Tax income (which is an increase of 4.75% baseline plus a further 0.42% to meet the levy from the North Wales Fire and Rescue Authority, giving a total of 5.17%). 

Chief officers pay will increase... 
In July 2025 confirmation was received that the employers and the unions that represent chief officers had agreed on a pay increase for 2025/26, that being an increase of 3.2% on the pay of each chief officer. 

Council pension pot...
Is doing very well indeed.

Councillors also passed -
Amendments to the Members Code of Conduct and The Councils Whistle Blowing Policy, authored by the monitoring officer, Iwan G D Evans. 

But staff have said they do not feel safe to whistleblow and no amount of amendments will change that. From an Internal Audit Plan by Luned Fon Jones, published in early 2025 - 


Jones' full report can be found on page 138 in the agenda pack - 
https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru//documents/g5293/Public%20reports%20pack%2006th-Feb-2025%2010.00%20Governance%20and%20Audit%20Committee.pdf?T=10

According to the minutes, those present at that meeting were - 



On repeat...
Have any cabinet members raised concerns at meetings or with other councillors?
What action, if any, has been taken by the legal team?
It is the same with other audits of the whistle blowing policy - going back many years -

From 2011 - 
Authored by Dewi Morgan, then senior audit and risk manager - 
https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru/Data/Audit%20Committee/20110113/Agenda/05_01_Awareness%20of%20the%20Whistleblowing%20Policy.pdf

Observations from staff in 2011 include - 
“Would be too afraid of the consequences.”
“No faith in the Council’s confidentiality.”
“When whistleblowing, you have to face the consequences.”
“Afraid of repercussions from Line Manager.”

Culture culture culture...
It is not the policy that is lacking...
There appears to be a complete lack of trust in senior officers and a fear for confidentiality and retribution.
After the Neil Foden case, perhaps the policy should be ripped up and given to an external body for staff safety. 
                                                      ****************

Two questions had been accepted by the monitoring officer for discussion.
The first by Gwynfor Owen, asking for support for a memorial in Harlech for Catrin, daughter of Glyndŵr, was given support by the cabinet member for the Econonmy, Richard Medwyn Hughes.

A question by Beca Brown, the former cabinet member for Education, who resigned after the Neil Foden case, asked - 

 

Why Brown has asked this question five years after Audit Wales raised concerns is unknown.
Both questions in full can be found here - 
https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru/mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=48517

A prepared script..?
Brown's question was answered by cabinet member for corporate services, councillor Llio Elenid Owen. The councillor's supplementary question was also answered by Owen, reading from her laptop. It is not usual that the supplementary question is known in advance...

There were two NOTICE OF MOTION accepted by the council and passed at the meeting - 
One by Councillor Gruffydd Williams -
That this Council is totally opposed to the Digital Identification system and that Cyngor Gwynedd calls on the Welsh Government to oppose DI in line with the Government in Scotland and also in line with several local authorities across the UK. Convenience should never come at the expense of personal liberty...

No kidding...
The second Notice by Councillor Elin Hywel begins -
This Council recognises that trust is the foundation of democracy.
We know that recent events locally, nationally and internationally have undermined that relationship with the people of Gwynedd...

Trojan horse...
The discussion by councillors was more animated than has been seen in a long time.
Plaid Cymru councillor Dewi Jones, wondered if independent councillors were truly independent or if any were conservatives or reformers in disguise...
 
Deflection...
Jones may have been trying to divert attention from the former Plaid Cymru councillor, Iwan Huws, who attempted to defraud his employer, Anglesey council.  Huws escaped prosecution by accepting a police caution. Is that usual for employees?
Huws is the brother of the Plaid MS for Arfon.

Sshh...
Whilst the 'Our Bravery Brought Justice' report was mentioned several times, no councillor asked about the senior officer from the legal department, present at the safeguarding meeting re Neil Foden, in 2019. What legal advice was given re concerns raised by the whistleblower? 

The Ffordd Gwynedd way..?
A reminder that Garem Jackson, the former head of education, said he was 'advised' by a safeguarding officer to simply have a word with Foden re his closeness to some girls. The whistleblower was also outed to Foden.

The webcast of the meeting can be viewed here - 
https://gwynedd.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/1073997
For the translated feed press the english tab on the top left of the page. 

Singing from the same hymn sheet..?
Why was chair of the response board, Sally Holland, not in attendance?
She meets with cabinet members but not ordinary councillors..?
A reminder that cabinet members may be whipped not to ask embarrassing questions. 

Questions questions...
Has Estyn or Care Inspectorate Wales appeared before councillors? 
What of the two senior police officers who sat as school governors at Ysgol Friars?
Is there to be a public inquiry..?

The Pickles 'extended' child practice review found failings over many departments. 
Were any of the survivors in foster care?
Where is the report from the fostering team?
Where is the report from the education/economy scrutiny task and finish group - already overdue by many months? 

Something is so very wrong within Gwynedd council... 

 

 

 

 

 

Rules For Thee But Not For Me - Planning Committee Gwynedd Council...

Re the cyngor Gwynedd council planning committee, held on the 2nd March, 2026...

There had been much interest in the planning application for 15 homes to be built on land adjacent to Llys yr Eifl, in Llanaelhaearn.
Only Welsh speakers should live on new housing estate, local council says
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwy87gk8we8o

The agenda pack containing the planning applications can be found here - 
https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru//documents/g5481/Public%20reports%20pack%2002nd-Mar-2026%2013.00%20Planning%20Committee.pdf?T=10

Confusing...
Plaid Cymru councillor Jina Gwyrfai, who is also a town councillor for Cymuned Trefor a Llanaelhaearn, questioned the integrity of the data included in the application and spoke against the development whilst also making an argument for it...

Gwyrfai's husband/partner - also on the town council - had written to cyngor Gwynedd's CEO, Dafydd Gibbard, asking for the Welsh speaking only clause.  
Information for the town council can be found here -
https://www.cctreforallanaelhaearn.cymru/en/home

But it was councillor Gruffydd Williams, representing the Nefyn ward, who raised most eyebrows.
He began by proposing a site visit. 
Gareth Jones, the long suffering planning officer, explained that there had been a site visit the previous week.
Williams then proposed to refuse the application and then to postpone it...

Williams went on to say that it was 'a statutory duty on each and everyone of them to protect the AONB' - (area of outstanding natural beauty). 
Williams proposal failed due to nobody seconding his proposal.                                                        

                                                         **************
and hypocritical...
Councillors of the committee may have forgotten that they passed an application brought by William's father, in October, 2023 - 
Full application to upgrade an existing Caravan Park by siting five new cabins, retention of the temporary access road and creation of a playing field.
Location: Gwynus Caravan Park, Llithfaen, Pwllheli, Gwynedd, LL53 6LY

The caravan site, in the Llŷn Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the Llŷn and Enlli Landscape of Outstanding Historic Interest was recommended for refusal by the planning officers. 
Councillors went against their own planning policy by allowing the application... 

This led to an outburst from the now chair of the committee asking councillors -
"Where are your principles?'

That application can be found in the agenda pack here - 
https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru/documents/g4921/Public%20reports%20pack%2002nd-Oct-2023%2013.00%20Planning%20Committee.pdf?T=10
                                                       
                                                       ***************
Rules for thee but not for me...
The March, 2026, meeting also discussed an application for a - 
Non-material amendment to the design of planning permission C21/0411/46/LL.
Location: Tyddyn Du, Dinas, Pwllheli, Gwynedd, LL53 8SU - which lies in the Morfa Nefyn and Tudweiliog ward.

Gruffydd Williams had to leave the meeting for this item as the application was from his sister, Mrs Iona Rees. She did not attend the meeting and it was left to her husband to address the committee.

This application was brought before the planning committee after suspicions were raised and a visit to the property by Gwynedd council's enforcement officers. 

The purpose of the agricultural building, built on agricultaral land, is to keep equipment and feed and includes two stables and a tack store.

The property differed much from the original plans approved in 2022, 
• Change the orientation of the building on the eastern side of the site compared to the approved plans.
• Amend some window / roof window openings in various locations compared to the approved plans.
• Amend the roofing material to recycled Welsh slate instead of the permitted grey coloured steel sheets.

Councillors were informed the building was near completion. 

Bizarrely, Gwynedd's planning department recommended to accept the proposal.
One councillor said they thought this was a house...
Many people would think that this is NOT an agricultural building for horses and equipment but the committee passed the application anyway. 

A condition was imposed that the building be used for agricultural use only.
Will there be a retrospective planning application to turn the building into a home in the future?

The webcast of the meeting of the committee can be found here - 
https://gwynedd.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/1072059

Something is so very wrong within Gwynedd council... 

 

Revolving Doors - Cyngor Gwynedd Council...

Cyngor Gwynedd council are advertising for a new head of the children's SS department.

The job is paying £84,480 - £93,163 a year, which is a lot less than the £104,15, the former head, Marian Parry Hughes was 'earning' last year.
The highest-paid council employees in Gwynedd and Anglesey
https://www.northwaleschronicle.co.uk/news/25065053.highest-paid-council-employees-gwynedd-anglesey/

Hughes failed to act when concerns were raised against Neil Foden in 2019. 
The former headteacher of Ysgol Friars, in Bangor was finally arrested for sexually abusing children in September 2023.

Hughes leadership has been dogged with controversy since the farce of Canolfan Brynffynnon. Then there was the Ombudsman for Wales report highlighting the department's ignorance of law, policy and procedures. The PSOW recommendations for improvement were not acted upon...

Untrained social workers/senior officers...
Dilwyn Morgan, the former cabinet member for children, did raise concerns about a lack of training within the department in 2021 - 'it would frighten you how few members of staff undertake these training.'
What action did Morgan, now cabinet member for adults take..?

No outsiders allowed..?
Cyngor Gwynedd are advertising the position internally, 'for a period of 6 months, with the possibility of an extension of up to 12 months...'

Does this mean that one of the interim heads of the department, Aled Gibbard or Sharron Williams Carter, is next in line to take the reins? 

What next for Gwynedd's assistant head - safeguarding and quality also what next for the senior officer within the legal team? 
Both knew about Foden in 2019.

Something is still very wrong within Gwynedd council...