Cheshire West @ Cyngor Gwynedd...

Cyngor Gwynedd Care Scrutiny committee met on the 4th June, 2026. 

Tick box exercise...
The meeting was more to vote through department's performance reports rather than proper scrutiny and many councillors did not bother to turn up for the meeting.

The Strategic Safeguarding Panel Yearly Report 2025/26 was presented by Dewi Jones, cabinet member for Education and now chair of the panel. It is of concern that this panel could be used to avoid scrutiny by councillors and the public. 

Jones' report does not give a clear analysis of the data.
There are now 282 children receiving education at home - up 20 from the previous year.
How many of these children have ALN and were failed in schools?
How many children no longer attend school because of bullying?

A reminder that Neil Foden not only sexually abused female pupils, but physically assaulted boys also.

Our Bravery Brought Justice... 
But has it really?
How many of those children abused by Foden are receiving support?
Are all of the children eligible for compensation from cyngor Gwynedd?

The Extended Child Practice Review undertaken by Jan Pickles, showed that the abused children were receiving 'care' from cyngor Gwynedd. Were any in foster care? 
It is concerning that there appears to be no reporting from the fostering team regarding the Foden case ?
A report states that an inspection has recently been undertaken of the Fostering Service and the report should be published soon.

Will it be accurate..?
 
Foden also targeted and excluded pupils with ALN and those considered to have behavioural issues. 

There appears to be an ongoing issue that this behaviour by teachers is not uncommon in Gwynedd schools...

Jones' report also includes - 

In the meeting, the Performance Report of the Cabinet Member for Children and Supporting Families was presented, authored by Sharron Williams Carter, Head of Children and Supporting Families Department.

The Autism Plan was mentioned. 
Carter's analysis is revealing - on many levels - 

Carter's word salad shows that parents seeking support for their autistic children have been blamed for their children's issues. Families are STILL being assessed under a safeguarding lens, instead of being assessed as disabled children, as they have no learning disability.

Trauma informed - Trauma induced...
The implementation of Care and Support plans rather than Child Protection orders show that the children's department under Marian Parry Hughes got it wrong - many times, on so many levels.

Hughes was supported in her decision making by the SS department's senior complaints officer, who has in the past tried to shut down legitimate complaints from parents seeking support.

This very same officer was also the senior safeguarding officer, it is not hard to see why 'neurodivergent families' were subjected to unjustifiable actions regarding child protection matters.

Councillors have ignored families when they have attempted to raise concerns. 

Both officers have been 'absent from work' for well over a year now - on full pay?

Is Gwynedd's service for disabled children, Derwen, still operating under unlawful criteria ? 

There is still concern about the mental health of children and young people who do not meet the threshold for CAMHS support. 

The Autism Plan - as is - does not afford the kind of support that it was designed to provide specifically for those WITHOUT a learning disability. 

Both children and adults are going unsupported including in Education throughout Gwynedd.

Perhaps Hugh Morgan OBE, could be asked for his thoughts on the council's actions after his report which can be found here - 
https://gwyneddsfailingcouncil.blogspot.com/2021/04/finally-gwynedd-councils-autism-report.html

Carter also writes on the Residential provision for looked after children in small group homes.
Her report confirms that the home in Morfa Bychan is no longer run as an illegal enterprise.
But the home in Deiniolen is operating illegally.
It is claimed that the homes in Edern and Cricieth are to become operational by the end of the year.

The adults department's report was authored by Mari Wynne Jones, presented by, Dilwyn Morgan, cabinet member for adults. In order -'To provide assurance that the Cabinet Member has a grip on the department’s performance matters.'

An officer run council...
Morgan, who presided over the closure of the day centres for the elderly, is grateful for the unpaid carers in the county who have been forced to continue caring duties with even less support.

He also began to give his view on the recent 'Cheshire West' ruling that will affect Deprivation of Liberty orders (DOLs). 

Morgan was closed down by the the director of SS, Huw Dylan Owen, saying that he had covered the court's ruling earlier. But Owen had only given a brief mention of the decision saying little more than the council's legal department were reading though and interpreting the 81 page ruling.

As the ruling will affect vulnerable people ie those with dementia and learning disabilities, Morgan may have offered some insight in to how the council will now operate in this regard.
It is concerning that the cabinet member was shut down by the officer. 
One wonders why the chair did not intervene...

Homelessness...
Last up on the agenda was the Housing and Property performance report, authored by Carys Fôn Williams. It was presented after the lunch break and one councillor appeared to wake up and attempt to hold officers to account re the numbers on the housing register. The numbers are correct...

If only scrutiny members would challenge all departments like this. 
Why don't they....? 

Not all of the reports figures add up when compared to each other...

   

The reports and agenda pack can be found here - 
https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru//documents/g5799/Public%20reports%20pack%2004th-Jun-2026%2010.30%20Care%20Scrutiny%20Committee.pdf?T=10

The webcast of the meeting can be found here - 
https://gwynedd.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/1095666

Something is very wrong within Gwynedd council... 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deprivation Of Liberty - Cyngor Gwynedd Council...

The Care Scrutiny Committee at Cyngor Gwynedd council held a meeting on the 13th June, 2024.

Dewi Jones, the mayor of Caernarfon and councillor for the Peblig ward, was elected as deputy chair of the committee and began his tenure by making a political statement. He was quickly rebuked by more experienced councillors and made to withdraw his comments. 

The minutes of the previous meeting were accepted.
The meeting on the 11/4/24 heard from one councillor who described his experience of the social services complaints process and felt the process merely defended the service. The minutes state -
It was not believed that the Children's Services behaved defensively and that everyone was always ready to learn from the lessons and improve services.

A reminder that the Ombudsman for Wales has called out the service for its ignorance of law, policy and procedures and that the head of department has herself commented on the need to read and understand reports...

The first report of the meeting was the Council's Ability To Implement The Deprivation Of Liberty Safeguards, authored by Mannon Emyr Trappe and can be found on page 17 of the agenda pack -
https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru//documents/g5187/Public%20reports%20pack%2013th-Jun-2024%2010.30%20Care%20Scrutiny%20Committee.pdf?T=10

Gwynedd council do not have the ability...
This is a high risk to the public purse as some local authorities are having to pay compensation of between £3000-4000 for every month in which the individuals have been deprived of their liberty without authorisation. There is a waiting list in Gwynedd of 340 individuals who have been deprived of their liberty without authority and 20 individuals have been waiting over 3 years for an assessment.

On average, 67 DoLS applications are received monthly by the council. Gwynedd council state they have one best interest assessor (BIA) who works two days a week and one co-ordinator who works four days.
But there are in fact 18 trained BIA's working within the Adult's department...

The meeting was notable not just for the slapdown of councillor Jones but also concerns were raised that recruitment of much needed staff may be hindered by the requirments for the Welsh language being spoken.

Also, this was yet another meeting where the Chair ignored requests of councillors.
Following on from Elin Hywel ignoring proposals from councillors of a different committee, Beth Lawton now did the same at this meeting. Non Plaid councillors may be wondering what is the point of the care scrutiny committee?

One can only imagine what these councillors will think when they realise that the reports they were meant to be scrutinising had already been accepted and passed by members of the cabinet two days earlier. How can something be scrutinised after it has already been accepted by the policy makers...?

Usually, webcasts are uploaded to the council's website one day after the meeting. In this instance, neither the Cabinet nor the Care Scrutiny meetings are yet available for the public and other councillors to view.

Something is very wrong within Gwynedd council...