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. 
                                                                 
                                                                ***************

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... 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Article 4 Test Run @ Cyngor Gwynedd...

A report entitled 'Article 4 Direction', authored by Gareth Jones - Assistant Head of Environment Department and Iwan Evans - Head of Legal Services, is to be presented to the Communities Scrutiny Committee on the 11th June, 2026. 

It is a very informative document, revealing a lack of candour not only on the part of cyngor Gwynedd but also it would appear on the part of Welsh government. 

The document can be found in the agenda pack for the meeting here - 
https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru//documents/g5712/Public%20reports%20pack%2011th-Jun-2026%2010.30%20Communities%20Scrutiny%20Committee.pdf?T=10

At the full council meeting, held on the 14th, May, Gruffydd Williams, asked this question - 
Following the fact that article 4 was quashed by a court as a result of what has been ruled as misleading details by this Council, I previously asked if this Council would apologise to campaigners who fought so hard to get Article 4 in force, and there was no apology.
The Council's right of appeal has now been refused. 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?"

Response from the Cabinet Member for the Environment, Councillor Craig ab Iago - 
As I noted when answering a very similar question from the Member at the Council meeting in December, we remain determined to ensure that the people of Gwynedd have access to suitable housing in their communities.
That's why the Council introduced an Article 4 Direction – as part of a package of measures to manage the significant impact of second homes and short-term holiday accommodation on the housing market.
This decision was based on significant effort, including in-depth research, extensive consultation and expert advice.
Despite our disappointment with the legal outcome and our request to appeal the High Court's decision, I am confident that our decision to introduce Article 4 has been sound and appropriate. The Council acted responsibly and in good faith in addressing issues that are hugely important to the future of our communities.
This experience, including the 12-month period during which Article 4 was in place in the Gwynedd Planning Authority Area, will be key as we decide on the best way forward.  

ab Iago did not apologise.
Did he actually vote at cabinet for Article 4..?

Many people are of the belief that the near half a million pounds this has cost the public purse was money from cyngor Gwynedd's own coffers - it is not...

The Article 4 Direction report reveals that £311,683,05 has come from Welsh government...

  

4.48 '...which can be amended and re-used in the future'.

Why did Craig ab Iago not explain this?

Are Welsh government and cyngor Gwynedd acting together to control the housing market?

Empowered by the legal knowledge gained, it is apparent that the recent Article 4 action was not to actually implement Article 4 but an exercise in HOW to implement Article 4 in the future...

A test run and an opportunity for the council to be in a position to advise neighbouring authorities on the application of Article 4.
Regardless of the trauma and harm caused? 
Shocking... 

 

Will the new Plaid Cymru government now be supporting the Plaid controlled Gwynedd council in such matters? Will Gwynedd become a test bed for new Plaid policies?

It's not over... 

The meeting will be held on the 11th, June at 10.30am and can be viewed here - 
https://gwynedd.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/1098120

Something is so very wrong within Gwynedd council...

Nepotism, Cronyism And Bullying? - Cyngor Gwynedd Council...

Councillor Beca Brown presented a notice of motion re Neil Foden to a full council meeting of cyngor Gwynedd on the 4th December, 2025. The motion can be found in the agenda pack for the meeting - 
https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru//mgChooseDocPack.aspx?ID=5505

There were also 6 questions put to the council by elected members. 
One raised by Councillor John Pughe Roberts asked - 

 
The rest of the leader's response along with the other question and answers can be found here - 
https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru//documents/b15108/ITEM%206%20-%20QUESTIONS%2004th-Dec-2025%2013.30%20The%20Council.pdf?T=9 

John Nicholson, an ex governor at Ysgol Friars between 2013 and 2017, reports that he tried to raise concerns about Neil Foden but was not supported by other members of the board -
“If the maladministration was blatantly evident to me after just a few months of becoming a school governor, it must have been overwhelmingly clear to those members of staff who comprised the senior management team.
https://www.northwaleschronicle.co.uk/news/25655748.bangor-former-school-governor-reacts-neil-foden-report/

In the same article, Jan Pickles, appears to reply to Nicholson directly - 
“I understand that Foden was a controlling bully to children, staff and governors, and I don’t doubt he behaved that way with staff within the council’s education department.
“However, we are the adults in this situation. If he’s behaving like that with you as a governor, how is behaving with children?  

School governors did fail...
The chair and vice chair during the time of Foden's offending were Essi Ahari and Keith Horton - both serving police officers with North Wales Police. 
Is Pickles saying that experienced, senior police officers were bullied?
Did the officers give evidence to Pickles?

Councillor Richard Medwyn Hughes was also a governor during this time.
Hughes resigned after Foden's arrest but cyngor Gwynedd reinstated him last year.
For why...?

There can be repercussions for those who do raise concerns...
An example from a BBC article dated 2020 -

Gwynedd head teacher Neil Foden 'victimised staff'
"I felt victimised by Neil Foden due to the way he operated. You were either in his gang or you were not," person D told the panel.
He claimed he was never interviewed by school governors and that Mr Foden's daughter had investigated the allegations against him.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-51710557 
 
Neil Foden was an abusive bully and used the system to protect himself.
It is part of a culture that appears rife in Gwynedd that includes not just schools and the education department but many departments within the council.

Raising concerns in Gwynedd...
To raise a complaint about a senior officer in Gwynedd can be fraught with danger.
The culture means that complainants have on occasion been gaslit and smeared to others.
Foden used the 'vexatious complainants' approach to shut down complaints.
The children's SS use the term 'tiresome complainants'.

                                                                  ***********
Safeguarding children or safeguarding themselves? 
A reminder that the Pickles review was an 'extended' child practice review.
This means that some of the children were in the care of the local council or recently had been...

A whole team of social workers and their managers were meant to be protecting each child from predators such as Foden. 
All failed the children...
Were any of the kids in foster care?
Were Youth Justice involved?

The head of children's services is still 'absent from work' and Dafydd Paul, their senior safeguarding officer appears to have been replaced by Elliw Haf Hughes.

Leader of the council, Nia Jeffreys, could have explained what is happening within the department. 
She did not...nor did the cabinet member for children, or any of the senior officers present.

One Gwynedd councillor, Richard Glyn Roberts, saw through the mea culpa's -
Given the slowness in dealing with this issue and the lack of clinical focus on the procedural and organisational failures. one asks how we can have confidence in the leadership of the council.

Organisational failures of Gwynedd's senior officers will be detailed in the Woods report.
Councillors could ask Dafydd Gibbard to release this report which he has had in his possession since the Spring.

There was a question from Councillor Gruffydd Williams - 
Following the fact that article 4 has been quashed by Judge Justice Eyre and as a result of what he said, "that there has been significant misleading by the Officers of this Council", will the Council apologise to campaigners who have fought so hard to enforce article 4

Williams was answered by Craig ab Iago, cabinet member for the Enviroment.
The reference to officers misleading councillors was not properly answered...

The webcast of the full council meeting can be found here -
The translated feed is not working...
https://gwynedd.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/1044728

In other news, the job of Gwynedd's workforce development manager under social care is being advertised. Those interested should contact the current workforce development manager, Gillian Paul.

Something is so very wrong within Gwynedd council...