Gwynedd Cabinet, Full Council And Governance and Audit Committee...

Cabinet members of cyngor Gwynedd council have made the decision to close two more local schools in the county. 

'With a heavy heart...'
Ysgol Nebo and Ysgol Baladeulyn (Nantlle) will close at the end of the year...

The cabinet meeting was held on the 19th May, 2026 and the webcast of the meeting can be found here -
 https://gwynedd.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/1091820

Cabinet members also voted to allocate more money for Commissioning Investigations re the Neil Foden case and the failings of the children's department - 

4.2 As the Cabinet will commission these investigations, there will be a need to report back to a range of various forums, e.g., the Governance and Audit Committee, to the Scrutiny Committee or to the Safeguarding Strategic Panel - those paths will depend on the nature of the work and the investigation in question.

Any investigation reporting back to the Safeguarding Strategic Panel only will avoid proper scrutiny by Gwynedd councillors and the public...

The agenda pack for the meeting can be found here -   
https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru//documents/g5764/Public%20reports%20pack%2019th-May-2026%2013.00%20The%20Cabinet.pdf?T=10

The Governance and Audit committee met on the 21st, May, 2026.
The statutory director of Gwynedd SS departments, was to update members on the recent Estyn and presumably Care Inspectorate Wales reports. The agenda suffers from a bad interpretation at times...

It does contain this snippet - Still disappointed that there was no acknowledgment by Estyn of the deficiencies in their review of the Council's safety arrangements, June 2023.

This follows on from decisions made at the extraordinary meeting of the council in February, 2026 - 

Committee members appeared to have forgotten the reasons for previous decisions made by them and the director of SS, Huw Dylan Owen, left the meeting without giving the update requested. 

The Governance and Audit committee is one of the most important meetings of a council and should be webcast for other councillors and the public to view later. A webcast would also give members an opportunity to remind themselves of past meetings and prepare better.

Accountability at last..?
Later in the meeting, committee members called for senior managers to appear before them to explain the decisions and actions taken by the departments they are responsible for.  .

The agenda pack can be found here - 
 https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru//documents/g5754/Public%20reports%20pack%2021st-May-2026%2010.00%20Governance%20and%20Audit%20Committee.pdf?T=10

In other news, cyngor Gwynedd's Employment Appeals Committee have sat again recently. The committee has now heard more cases in 5 months then is usual for an entire year.

With a Plaid majority in the Senedd, will the Plaid council now renew their call for a public inquiry into Neil Foden? 

Something is very wrong within Gwynedd council...

 

 

 

 

Cyngor Gwynedd Full Council Questions - 14th May, 2026.

Paul Rowlinson, Gwynedd's cabinet member for Housing, spoke in favour of social housing at a full council meeting held on the 14th May, 2026.

Rowlinson was answering a question from councillor, Rhys Tudur, who sits on the planning committee which has opposed social housing applications. The planning committee is also responsible for decisions that have been lost on appeal costing the public purse thousands of pounds.

Gwynedd has a housing crisis with 4,107 individuals currently on the housing register. 
                   
Article 4 
Councillor Gruffydd Williams, who also sits on the planning committee, asked the next question - 
...Therefore, is the Council finally going to apologise to the campaigners for article 4, patriots, linguists and taxpayers, following the fact that it is now clear that a shortcoming in the key paperwork caused Article 4 to be quashed and that a sum of money of over half a million has been wasted?

Craig ab Iago, the cabinet member for the Environment, did not apologise.

Value for money..?
Cyngor Gwynedd made the decision to implement Article 4 after seeking external advice.
Who were the external advisors?
Will the council sue them to recoup the £500,000 this has cost the public purse?

Councillors also discussed the -
CYNGOR GWYNEDD PLAN 2023-28 - 2026/27 REVIEW
ADOPTION OF NEW ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR GWYNEDD 
VISITOR LEVY
ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE COUNCIL'S POLITICAL BALANCE
APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS TO THE STANDARDS COMMITTEE - INTERVIEW PANEL RECOMMENDATIONS

There were two Notice of Motion's.

The agenda pack for the meeting can be found here -
https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru//ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=130&MId=5543

The webcast of the entire meeting can be viewed here -
https://gwynedd.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/1091056 

This was yet another meeting that Dafydd Gibbard, the CEO of cyngor Gwynedd, could have updated councillors and the public re the calls for a public inquiry into Neil Foden - and the council processes that failed the children.
He did not...

Something is very wrong within Gwynedd council... 

 

 

 

 

Councillor Speaks Against Social Housing In Chwilog Because 'I.E Migrants'...

The planning committee of cyngor Gwynedd met on Monday, 27th April 2026.
Applications included -

C25/0403/09/CR Corbett Arms Hotel Corbett Square, Tywyn, Gwynedd, LL36 9DG

Part demolition of the listed building was passed by the committee despite objections from historical groups. There was also confusion in the department's report with comments from the community council being wrongly attributed to a different council.
A question to the cost of the scaffolding could not be answered by officers.

The report can be found in the agenda pack for the meeting -
 https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru//documents/g5483/Public%20reports%20pack%2027th-Apr-2026%2013.00%20Planning%20Committee.pdf?T=10

 

C25/0710/41/LL Land Adjoining Brynhyfryd/ Cae Capel, Chwilog, LL53 6SF 
An application for a mix of social housing and intermediate housing (higher rents and limited to those living within 6 kilometres of the area) was rejected. Advice by the monitoring officer - and other councillors warning of costs against the public purse if the case goes to appeal was ignored.  

 

Gareth Roberts, a Plaid Cymru councillor representing Bangor spoke against the proposal. 

He bemoaned the lack of Welsh being spoken in the university city and claimed a primary school headteacher was struggling to deal with pupils speaking 42 different languages.
'So what's going to happen is the people being housed in Bangor now in HMO's and bedsits - I can see them - they're housed here now and they're having children...'

Has Roberts raised his 'concerns' with the education department?
Or is it just a story to cover for what some may see as conscious bias?

Roberts spoke to the meeting in english...

 

Roberts lists himself as a consultant for BJA International Ltd and Sherrin.
 

What housing crisis..?

He is also a landlord owning 8 properties and land in Bangor. https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru/mgDeclarationSubmission.aspx?UID=684&HID=310&FID=0&HPID=1180987303

Berwyn Parry Jones made the proposal to refuse the housing on the grounds that the intermediate housing (with its restrictions) would be outside the boundary. Gruffydd Williams did ask that harm to the Welsh language be included in the proposal and whilst Jones did agree he did not wish for it to added to the proposal.

The full webcast of the meeting can be found here - 
https://gwynedd.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/1088208

Fraud At Age Cymru Gwynedd and Môn - Bontnewydd...

S4C News can reveal that the chief officer of one of the largest elderly charities in North Wales has been dismissed following financial fraud. 

Translated from -
https://newyddion.s4c.cymru/article/prif-swyddog-elusen-ir-henoed-gogledd-wedi-diswyddo-dilyn-twyll-ariannol

Caryl Jones was Chief Officer at the Age Cymru Gwynedd and Môn charity until she was made redundant at the end of January.

 

The fraud was referred to the police by the charity's trustees.

 

This led to Caryl Jones receiving a conditional warning from the police following an allegation of fraud through misuse of office.

 

In a statement to S4C News, North Wales Police said: "We can confirm that officers have investigated an allegation of fraud through misuse of office following a report made to us on 9 February.

"A 33-year-old woman was subsequently arrested in connection with the incident, and the matter resulted in a conditional caution."

 

A person must admit guilt when receiving a conditional warning from the police.

 

In a statement Caryl Jones told S4C News that the "issues you refer to are part of an ongoing legal dispute" in an employment tribunal.

"Due to the nature of these legal proceedings, I am unable to comment further at this time."

In response to questions from S4C News, Dafydd Iwan, chairman of trustees of Age Cymru Gwynedd and Môn, said that the charity had gone "through the appropriate steps under the direction of our employment advisers, and that led to the dismissal of the Chief Executive on January 30th".

"Because there was fraud related to money in the case, it was our duty to bring the facts to the attention of the police," he said.

 

He said that the financial fraud that the charity knew about had "definitely been repaid", but Age Cymru Gwynedd and Môn did not want to reveal the exact amount of the fraud.

 

He added that Age Cymru Gwynedd and Môn are partners within the Age Cymru network, and part of Age UK, and that "they have received very ready and practical help from Age Cymru and Age UK in this matter".

 

"An experience like this certainly makes us more aware of the need to ensure security and internal protection in the charity, and we are currently strengthening our internal policies," he said.

 

"Protecting our services for the elderly by strengthening our internal systems is a priority for us, with the help of Age Cymru and Age UK."

 

Caryl Jones was appointed to the post in the summer of 2023. Before that she was Senior Strategic Care Manager with the charity.

 

According to information on the Charity Commission website, Age Cymru Gwynedd and Anglesey employs 50 people and receives an income of £1,040,349, which includes contracts and grants from the government.

  

The charity operates from its headquarters in Bontnewydd near Caernarfon.

 

https://newyddion.s4c.cymru/article/prif-swyddog-elusen-ir-henoed-gogledd-wedi-diswyddo-dilyn-twyll-ariannol

 

Where Do Cyngor Gwynedd Staff Reside..?

Cyngor Gwynedd council currently employ 6290 staff.

The vast majority of these people live in the county. 

26 live in the CH postcode area.
19 live in the LD postcode area.
73 in the SY area.

Gwynedd staff furthest away live in London, Birmingham, Swansea, Sheffield, Cardiff, Bradford and Manchester.

Postcode Number of Staff
CH 26
LD 19
LL11 6
LL16 10
LL18 7
LL19 5
LL21 25
LL22 13
LL23 202
LL24 13
LL26 13
LL28 13
LL29 12
LL30 17
LL31 11
LL32 19
LL33 25
LL34 12
LL35 9
LL36 165
LL37 17
LL38 13
LL40 238
LL41 313
LL42 82
LL43 14
LL44 24
LL45 16
LL46 67
LL47 19
LL48 136
LL49 173
LL51 38
LL52 91
LL53 989
LL54 748
LL55 1435
LL56 83
LL57 647
LL58 12
LL59 64
LL60 39
LL61 102
LL62 13
LL63 7
LL65 57
LL68 12
LL71 10
LL74 5
LL75 14
LL77 73
SA 7
SY 73
LL postcode areas with less than 5
members of staff (LL14, LL15, LL17,
LL25, LL27, LL39, LL66, LL67, LL69,
LL72, LL76, LL77, LL78) 25

Other postcodes areas (not LL
postcode areas) with less than 5
members of staff (Postcode areas -
B, BD, CF, L, M, PR, S & W) 12

Total 6290

Cyngor Gwynedd - Canolfan Brynnfynnon - Open The Box...

Canolfan Brynnfynnon.
Staff suspended for 9 years.

Something is very wrong within Gwynedd council...

Meanwhile...

Where is the Woods report..? 

 Something is very wrong within Gwynedd council...

Cyngor Gwynedd CSA - 'Lack Of Serious Purpose Or Value...'

Does cyngor Gwynedd's response to FOI requests show a lack of knowledge of law?

Browsing through FOI's received via the Whatdotheyknow website it appears so...
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/body/gwynedd_council 

First on the list at this time is a FOI from a requestor who gives an initial and surname.
Elain Roberts (ar ran Tîm Rhyddid Gwybodaeth // on behlaf (sic) of the Freedom of Information team) responds with -

Requests under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) must include the name of the applicant. For a request to be valid, we need to be able to ascertain the real name of the requester or company name.
In this case, you have not provided any . Your first initial is not sufficient to identify you by itself.
This being the case, your request is currently not valid under the FOIA... 

This is not correct...

According to the ICO -
Recognising a request made under the Freedom of Information Act (section 8)

More from the ICO - 
https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/foi/freedom-of-information-and-environmental-information-regulations/recognising-a-request-made-under-the-freedom-of-information-act-section-8/

The second in the list is also asked by a requestor who uses an initial and their surname.
But this request is accepted by Elain Roberts and is partially successful.
Why the inconsistency?

Another FOI that raises an eyebrow is -
Employment status and roles of Dafydd Paul and Marion Parry Hughes
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/employment_status_and_roles_of_d#incoming-3350474

After an acknowledgment from the 'Freedom of Information team', the requestor then asks -
For clarity, I request that all correspondence and any substantive response to this Freedom of Information request is provided via the WhatDoTheyKnow platform, in order to maintain a complete public record of the request and response.

Has cyngor Gwynedd responded to this requestor off platform before?

The request was then refused by Lisa Williams of corporate services - 
The Council has determined that your requests fall within section 14(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 as vexatious. This decision was made based on the pattern, frequency and nature of your requests and correspondance.

An internal review was asked for and was responded to by Nia Grisdale, legal services manager.
Grisdale states -
Review Outcome
After thorough assessment, I have concluded that the original decision was correct. Section 14(1) allows a public authority to refuse a request if it is likely to cause a disproportionate or unjustified level of disruption, irritation, or distress, without a reasonable public interest justification.

In reaching this conclusion, the following was considered:
• The burden on resources: The request, when viewed in the context of previous correspondence, would require significant and disproportionate time and effort to process.

• The tone and nature of communications: The cumulative effect of the language and frequency of requests has created an unreasonable level of disruption to our ability to carry out core functions.

• Lack of serious purpose or value: I found no new or substantive public interest in the information sought that would outweigh the impact on our resources.

Grisdale's argument is weak considering that the officers are still 'absent from work' after failing children in the Neil Foden case. 

Re the burden on resources - this would be a simple task for the HR department.

Also if answering FOI's disrupts the council's ability to carry out core functions then the council is in serious trouble but that is not the fault of this requestor, or any other...

Grisdale's third point that she finds 'no new or substantive public interest in the information sought that would outweigh the impact on our resources' is under the circumstances shocking.

Why would the legal services manager say such a thing?
There is an obvious public interest in information relating to senior officer's failings that meant that a number of children continued to be sexually and physically abused over a number of years.

Senior officers are not exempt from legitimate scrutiny, especially after serious safeguarding failures. 

Something is so very, very wrong within Gwynedd council...

 

 

Outdated Laws, Canolfan Brynffynnon And An Interim Head Of SS - Cyngor Gwynedd.

In April, 2019, after a whistleblower raised concerns re Neil Foden, the head of children and families SS sent an email to Gwynedd's LADO requesting a meeting -
'Mater Diogelu Brys- Cyfrinachol’ (Urgent Safeguarding matter – Confidential)
 
But with a senior officer of cyngor Gwynedd's legal team present, the safeguarding meeting became one of a 'professional issue' only.
Who made the decision to ignore the safety of children - and why?

Is the answer to be found in the Canolfan Brynffynnon affair?

In 2016, the trial of two staff members at the pupil referral unit (PRU) in Felinheli, was halted after the CPS received new information...

In September, 2016, councillors of the services scrutiny committee did mention Brynffynnon when discussing the report -
GWYNEDD COUNCIL PERFORMANCE OVERVIEW 2015-16 -
CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE AND CARE
Cabinet Members: Cllrs. Mair Rowlands, Gareth Roberts, Gareth Thomas

The agenda pack for that meeting can be found here -  
https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru/documents/g1706/Public%20reports%20pack%2027th-Sep-2016%2010.00%20Services%20Scrutiny%20Committee.pdf?T=10 

A wall of silence...
No statement has been made by cyngor Gwynedd in a case that led to three staff members being suspended on full pay for approx 9 years. 
The council did not answer a FOI request on the length of suspensions and the monitoring officer ignored the request for an internal review.

The council also paid NWP £800,000 after the collapse of the trial...

Sshhh...
Why has no councillor called for an investigation..? 

It is believed Marian Parry Hughes and Dafydd Paul were the senior officers at this time. 
Who interviewed the children? 
Who gathered their evidence? 

Who else would have known?
Dilwyn Williams, who was then ceo of cyngor Gwynedd?
The director of SS at that time, Morwena Edwards?
Dyfed Edwards, who was the then leader of the council - and is now chair of BCUHB?
The monitoring officer?

In 2022, a final investigation report into Canolfan Brynffynnon, was received by the council.
Shortly after, Morwena Edwards, left her position.

The previous year, notable departures from the council included the ceo, along with the head of finance and a senior officer from the legal department. 

Once bitten twice shy... 
Were mistakes made in the handling of the Brynffynnon case possibly instrumental in officers failing to take action in regard to Neil Foden?

Evidence appears to have been an issue in both cases in one way or another - that, and the assessment of risk and thresholds. 

Paul was also senior complaints officer for the children's SS when officers raised a complaint on behalf of a resident - without the resident's knowledge - so the council could 'investigate' a data breach that had already been investigated and upheld by an independent investigator. 

This led to the manager of the Gwynedd information team producing a report that then vindicated the children's department. It was only after a second meeting with the manager that her report acknowledged the data breach of children's information. It took Parry three attempts before she finally took note of the evidence...

Both Hughes and Paul have been 'absent from work' for the last year after the council received a report by the barrister, Genevieve Woods, who investigated their roles in the Neil Foden case. (This report has still not been published)

It is well known that abuse continues when a system rewards silence and cover up...

In other news -  
Essie Ahari, former chair of governors at Ysgol Friars, has retired from north Wales police.

Cyngor Gwynedd are to appoint a new interim head of the children's SS.
The position advertised internally was needed as - 
'...a responsible and accountable Head was needed to lead; with the appointment of an interim Head, this
would allow for other vacancies within the Department to be filled retrospectively and the establishment of a robust structure for the service''

This would have been ratified at the chief officers appointment committee on March, 25th.
Cyngor Gwynedd have not yet announced their decision.
Only one application was received.
https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru//documents/g5693/Public%20reports%20pack%2025th-Mar-2026%2010.00%20Chief%20Officers%20Appointments%20Committee.pdf?T=10

Legislation and Law not updated in 16 years...
Cyngor Gwynedd's Private Rented Sector Housing Enforcement Policy is to be updated as it was revealed that the original policy created in 2010 is still in use - despite much new legislation coming into force over the last 16 years including for HMO's...

Something is very wrong within Gwynedd council...

 

 

 

 

 

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 request 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...