Buying Houses For Whom..? Cyngor Gwynedd Council.

A few years ago, Cyngor Gwynedd council sold off all their housing stock.
Now they are buying properties back on the open market under 'Buy To Let'

So which senior officers are allowed to purchase property and for what purpose?

The Review of the Delegation Scheme, authored by Iwan Evans, Gwynedd's monitoring officer can be found in the agenda pack for the Council meeting held on the 2nd October, 2025 here - 
 https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru//documents/g5504/Public%20reports%20pack%2002nd-Oct-2025%2013.30%20The%20Council.pdf?T=10

Is that all chief officers of all departments...? 

The webcast of the full council meeting can be found here. The translated feed is now working - 
https://gwynedd.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/1024523

One purchase is - 
https://www.gwynedd.llyw.cymru/en/Council/Documents---Council/Councillors-and-committees/Individual-members-decision-notices/June-2025/Decision-Notice-6-Griffin-Terrace-Penrhyndeudraeth.pdf

Gwynedd council state that after consultation with their planning authority there is no need to apply for a change of use...

Gwynedd council are also buying homes for foster carers -  
https://www.gwynedd.llyw.cymru/en/Council/Documents---Council/Councillors-and-committees/Individual-members-decision-notices/September/23-09-25-Purchase-1-Bro-Eglwys-Bethel.pdf

As before, Gwynedd council state that after consultation with their planning authority there is no need to apply for a change of use.

And another -
https://www.gwynedd.llyw.cymru/en/Council/Documents---Council/Councillors-and-committees/Individual-members-decision-notices/July/29-07-25-48-Purchase-of-48-Gorseddfa-Criccieth.pdf

Gwynedd council state that after consultation with their planning authority there is no need to apply for a change of use on this property either.

But is this to be a children's care home? The council go on - 
The possibility of accommodating an additional child in the future may be explored, subject to compatibility of needs.

For some children with complex needs, this could be the best way of supporting them. 
But what happens if the placement breaks down..?

Also, what happens when the children reach 18 years of age?
The children's department has said that when children reach their 18th birthday, they are no longer the responsibilty of the council. Is this the case with these children?  

Cyngor Gwynedd are also disposing of assets - 
Disposal of the Council’s freehold interest in a parcel of land located in Pwllheli Outer Harbour on terms and conditions to be determined by the Head of the Housing and Property Department - 
https://www.gwynedd.llyw.cymru/en/Council/Documents---Council/Councillors-and-committees/Individual-members-decision-notices/March-2025/20250303-Disposal-of-the-Councils-interest-plot-of-land-Pwllheli-Outer-Harbour.pdf

Also - 
To approve the disposal of the Council’s freehold interest in 1 Sŵn y Gwynt, Bala, to the current leaseholder on terms and conditions to be determined by the Head of Housing and Property Department - 
https://www.gwynedd.llyw.cymru/en/Council/Documents---Council/Councillors-and-committees/Individual-members-decision-notices/August/07-08-25-1-Swn-y-Gwynt-Bala-EN.pdf

In other news, cyngor Gwynedd are planning four weekly black bin collections and yet another hike in council tax is being considered. 

Something is very wrong within Gwynedd council... 

 

Cyngor Gwynedd Council - How Many Excluded Children Have Additional Learning Needs?

There appears to be some confusion regarding Cyngor Gwynedd council's Cabinet meeting to be held on the 21st January, 2024. While the front page is still saying that it will be a virtual meeting, the agenda pack is showing a hybrid meeting.
So which is it?

To add to the confusion, the link to the agenda front sheet does not work...

As well as accepting Gwynedd council's response to Neil Foden's offending, the Cabinet is being asked by senior officers to close the day care services in Blaenau Ffestiniog and Cricieth. These closures come on top of the day centres that have already closed in Bala, Porthmadog and Caernarfon. 

From the report -

Senior officers insist that the financial situation is not the reason for the closures -

Of course it is a financial decision - but in typical Ffordd Gwynedd fashion, the report is written in such a way to absolve the senior officers of bad decision making and simply blurs and deflects from the reality of the situation.

One sentence shows a total lack of understanding and empathy for those with dementia -
The focus would be on building on the strengths of those attending, strengthening skills and learning new skills and giving them a flavour of new experiences... 

What of the carers - usually the spouse and aged themselves with their own medical issues?
The day centres offered a little respite from the constant demands upon them.
Exhausted and isolated who now cares for the carers...?

 

The agenda also contains reviews of the Revenue Budget, the Capital Programme and the Savings Overview.

GwE, the schools improvement service is to close. 
Following a review of the responsibilities of Education partners in Wales, a recommendation has been made to move to a wider regional model of working.
To that end, the Transitional Board has been established to oversee the arrangements for transferring GwE services back to the local authorities in North Wales.

GwE have had their problems including the hotdesking and inflated expenses scandal but they are acknowledged as having done good work supporting schools in the North Wales region. Why this support was not embedded within the councils own education departments is not known. Privatisation?
The transfer back to LA's at this time does risk losing much needed expertise in the field.

The cabinet member for Education is to give the department's Performance Report.
Will the member be giving an update on the the issues contained in the agenda of the cabinet meeting that he missed in December?

 

In these times especially, the safeguarding complaint should be of high concern...
The complaint about an assessment is also concerning.
The cohort of children requiring assessments are usually disabled and or those with Additional Learning Needs.

Gwynedd council has a history of faking assessments on children to deny support...

The report also contains a section on Additional Learning Needs and Inclusion.

The CEO, Dafydd Gibbard, should have a good understanding of the situation as his wife is the senior specialist teacher within ADYaCh. This service and their educational psychologists support those with additional learning needs, speech delays, eating disorders and autism...
ADYaCH offer training for teachers to aid inclusion of this cohort of children within schools.

School absences remain high with 1 in 10 children often not in attendance.
The report also mentions the rise in exclusions from school -

How many excluded children have additional learning needs?
How many of the council's 'looked after children' have been excluded?

The agenda concludes with the Performance Report of the cabinet member for Finance and the Forward Work Programme.

The full reports for the meeting can be found here -
https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru//documents/g5261/Public%20reports%20pack%2021st-Jan-2025%2013.00%20The%20Cabinet.pdf?T=10

Something is very wrong within Gwynedd council...