Briefing Notes, LADO's And AI systems - Cyngor Gwynedd Council...

Concerns with the 'briefing note', circulated to members of cyngor Gwynedd's Governance and Audit committee by the monitoring officer, were raised at the Education and Economy Scrutiny Committee held on Thursday, 8th October 2026.

An objection, by councillor Richard Glyn Roberts, was raised at the G&A meeting to the propriety of this note but technical reasons meant Iwan Evans explanation could not be heard. The meeting of 29th September was paused and eventually deferred until a later date. 

Councillor Roberts also sits on the Education/Economy committee and was present along with a few other councillors in the chamber, the remaining members participating via Zoom. In contrast there were 17 people sitting on the front bench, alongside the chair and Nia Jeffreys, the leader of the council.

Roberts again raised the matter of the briefing note. 
Dafydd Gibbard, the CEO, responded to the councillor.

Is the HR investigation perhaps asking questions of the involvement of the legal department at this point?
Jan Pickles report does mention that a senior legal officer was present during a safeguarding meeting that discussed the whistleblower's concerns with regard to paedophile Neil Foden. 

It was an odd meeting in many ways... 
Officers were reluctant to give themselves praise for the safeguarding work that has been done since Foden was arrested in 2023 - 
https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-13591195/paedophile-head-teacher-hiding-plain-sight-abuse-girls.html

Officers informed that work is still in progress and concerns were voiced that Welsh government's guidance on LADOs did not align with the CPR recommendations, that the LADO should not act alone.

The Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) is responsible for managing and overseeing allegations against individuals working with children, ensuring that concerns are handled fairly and promptly. They provide guidance, coordinate responses among agencies, and monitor the investigation process without conducting investigations themselves.

The Jan Pickles report was very critical of the last LADO and his failures.

Meetings held behind closed doors and not recorded...
One councillor asked about the recording of safeguarding meetings and proper minute taking. Dylan Owen, the director of SS, reported that meetings were recorded via an AI system that presumably writes the discussion down. This is a new system and one hopes that it is being closely monitored for accuracy.

School governors also came in for criticism with the cabinet member for education stating that some governors were  passive in their work and just followed what the headteacher wanted. This is unfair as most governors are ordinary people who do great work.

A reminder that Ysgol Friars board of governors included two senior police officers and at least one councillor whose background is TV and media. One ex governor of Friars is Mair Rowlands, now an MS in Welsh government.

I have no knowledge of the board of governors at Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle during the headship of Foden, but he was still in post even after the video of him assaulting a pupil appeared in the media. 
The education scrutiny committee itself discussed this video at the time but did nothing.
Why not?

Everyone knew Foden was an abusive bully but he was able to abuse because the culture within the council and the schools protected him from censure. New policies and procedures will not make any difference if the culture does not change. 

A reminder that many of the children abused by Foden were in the care of the council... 

Trauma informed or trauma induced..?
Menna Trenholme, the cabinet member for children, spoke of her work in becoming trauma informed. Trenholme may be even better informed if she read the work of Professor Luke Clements, who cites SS departments as causing trauma for many families when they seek help from the very services created to support them...

His report on Systems Generated Trauma can be found here - 
https://cerebra.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Systems-Generated-Trauma-Report-web.pdf

The reports of the meeting can be found in the agenda pack here - 
https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru//documents/g5777/Public%20reports%20pack%2008th-Oct-2026%2010.30%20Education%20and%20Economy%20Scrutiny%20Committee.pdf?T=10  

The webcast of the meeting can be found here - 
https://gwynedd.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/1133653

Public inquiry now. 

Something is very wrong within Gwynedd council...

 

 

 

Gwynedd Cabinet Member Ignores Yet Another Arrest Of School Staff - And Canolfan Brynffynnon.

Cyngor Gwynedd held a full council meeting on Thursday, 24th September 2026.

Questions were asked by councillors, that included concerns of drones at Llanbedr airfield.
The questions are asked in advance, vetted by the monitoring officer, then a written reply by the relevant member of the Plaid controlled cabinet is included in the agenda for the meeting.

Is it all scripted..?
The questions are then asked at the meeting and cabinet members recite the prepared answers.
A supplementary question is allowed.  
Not all councillors bother with a supplementary - for some that do, it is noticed that cabinet members know what the question is before it is even asked... 

The Scrutiny Annual Report 25/26 was presented by councillor, Cai Larsen, chair of the Scrutiny Forum, with Ian Jones, Head of Democracy Services (Head of Corporate Services) named as the contact officer...  
To ensure that scrutiny arrangements are effective, members across the political groups work as a team to investigate concerns about the quality of services; acting as a Critical Friend ensuring that proper attention is given to the citizen's voice; identifying good practice and weaknesses and holding the Cabinet and its members to account.

Smoke and mirrors..?
For many years now, complaints regarding abuse in Gwynedd have been nodded through by councillors instead of proper scrutiny or investigation.
 
Larsen himself sat on a committee that did nothing to hold Neil Foden to account, when a video of the head teacher physically assaulting a pupil at Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle, was reported in the media and discussed at the committee.
 
Ian Jones, the head of corporate services, has included a social services complaint in one of his past documents. This, some believe, was to avoid the care scrutiny committee - and a serious matter was simply passed through by cabinet members without proper discussion. 

Dewi Jones, the cabinet member for Education, presented the -
Strategic Safeguarding Panel's Annual Report 2025/26 which can be found in the agenda pack for the meeting - 
https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru//documents/g6853/Public%20reports%20pack%2024thSep-2026%2013.30%20The%20Council.pdf?T=10 

His presentation to the full council was weak and he made no mention of yet another arrest of a school staff member just before the summer holidays.   How many arrests of school staff (past and present) have there now been since Neil Foden?  Seven? More..? Jones instead mainly focussed on pupils absent from school. There are those parents who home educate due to a failure to adequately support their children in school, some electively, some not. Not long ago there were issues with children being suspended, excluded and even off rolled by some schools - is this still the case?  Many of these children have ALN.... In some cases children are not popular with staff and this can become a problem for the child, this is not something that ever comes up for discussion though. Instead of acknowledging the pressures these children face with bullying and lack of understanding by some teachers, Jones wishes for more powers to punish the parents.  Where is the voice of the child? Has Jones spoken to the children and parents/carers of these particular cohorts?  If not - why not..?  The curriculum is also a concern for some parents. Dewi Jones. made no mention of the abuse of children at Canolfan Brynffynnon in Y Felinheli. The children who attended this unit had ALN. A recent documentary of the PRU by Y Byd ar Bedwar can be found here -  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgMHbCNY0Yc One councillor did raise concerns and in response, Jones did promise to include Brynffynnon in next year's report... A reminder that three staff members were suspended for 9 years, two have been given redundancy packages and one has recently been reinstated by cyngor Gwynedd. The webcast of the full council meeting can be found here -  https://gwynedd.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/1129335 The Governance And Audit Committee of 29th September, 2026 10.00 am The Governance and Audit committee is one of the most important of all meetings, yet is not webcast so not available for later viewing by councillors or the public.  Members of the committee had been given a Briefing Note by Iwan Evans, the monitoring officer.  He directed lay members and councillors not to raise employment issues. This likely relates to Marian Parry Hughes and Dafydd Paul, who have been 'absent from work' on full pay since the spring of 2025... Evans was challenged over this note and he floundered in his response but technical difficulties meant he could not be properly heard and the meeting was suspended whilst officer's tried to sort out the problem,  This was not possible and the meeting was eventually deferred. The reports that should have been discussed at the G&A meeting can be found in the agenda pack for the Education and Economy meeting to be held on the 8th, October -  https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru//documents/g5777/Public%20reports%20pack%2008th-Oct-2026%2010.30%20Education%20and%20Economy%20Scrutiny%20Committee.pdf?T=10 Councillors could be asking Dafydd Gibbard, CEO and the legal team to - * Commission an independent investigation into Canolfan Brynffynnon. * Publish the Woods report that looked at the failings of council officers re Neil Foden. * Ask how many Section 5 meetings there have been in regard to staff that are in a position of trust since Foden's arrest?   * Ask if the senior legal officer who sat in on the meeting in 2019, when the concerns of the whistleblower re Foden were discussed and downgraded from a safeguarding concern to a professional issue only, is still in post?  Something is so very wrong within Gwynedd council...

School Closures, Population Needs And Complaints - Cyngor Gwynedd Council...

Cyngor Gwynedd held a meeting of the Cabinet on Tuesday, 15th September, 2026 at 1.00 pm. 
The agenda pack for the meeting can be found here - 
https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru//documents/g5769/Public%20reports%20pack%2015th-Sep-2026%2013.00%20The%20Cabinet.pdf?T=10

Members confirmed the closure of Ysgol Nebo and Ysgol Baladeulyn despite objections from the public, local councillors and even cabinet members themselves. But when it came to the vote, the cabinet voted unanimously for closure...

'An Action Plan for the Prevention of Suicide and Self-harm 2026-2028' was passed. Perhaps now, those struggling with mental health including farmers and survivors of abuse etc will finally get proper support. Or is this just another programme that will benefit council staff only?

The 'Quarterly Report – Chair of the Response Plan Programme Board (July 2026)' was presented. 
This is the ongoing work arising from the sexual abuse of children by the paedophile, Neil Foden. Many in Gwynedd have little faith in those undertaking the work and even the work itself. 

Yet another arrest of a school staff member in the summer shows that the problem may be more systemic than councillors wish to believe. 

An 'Adoption of an Education Transport Policy to be operational September 2027 onwards' was passed. 
Due to the closure of so many schools in Gwynedd, more pupils need transport to the larger schools that have been built. The increase in costs to the transport budget has been raised as a concern by many councillors, who do not seem to understand the effect their decisions have on other policies.

Not all bullying happens in schools - it also happens on school transport. 
Has this been considered by the education department? 

Complaints regarding transport are being badly handled by the head of education so councillors may be unaware of the true problems facing pupils and their families...

Cabinet members also passed the 'Compact: Cyngor Gwynedd and Third Sector Collaboration Agreement' This was enlightening on many levels due to the contribution from Bethan Williams of Mantell Gwynedd.

It appears that cyngor Gwynedd has not been fully supportive of the third sector - including volunteering organisations - for some time.

A reminder that these groups are attempting to pick up the pieces due to the cuts imposed by Gwynedd cabinet members. For some time, issues with with the council being able and even willing sometimes to work with both the third sector and health has been a problem. 

The full webcast of the meeting can be found here - 
https://gwynedd.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/1087345/start_time/354000

                                                             *******************

A Care Scrutiny Committee was held on Thursday, 17th September, 2026.
The agenda pack for that meeting can be found here -
https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru//documents/g6830/Public%20reports%20pack%2017th-Sep-2026%2010.00%20Care%20Scrutiny%20Committee.pdf?T=10

It was a very long meeting, due mainly to councillors questioning the representatives of the housing associations that had been invited to the meeting. Some councillors do not like social housing and conscious and unconscious bias was evident at the meeting...

The webcast of the meeting can be found here - 
https://gwynedd.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/1126222  

The afternoon session began with the 'NORTH WALES POPULATION NEEDS ASSESSMENT 2027 DRAFT REPORT' and presented by Hawis Jones.

3. Details of the North Wales Population Needs Assessment 2027
3.1 Regional Partnership Boards (RPBs) must complete a Population Needs Assessment (PNA) of care and support needs under the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014. The report must assess the care and support needs of priority population groups including children and young people, older people, people with physical and learning disabilities, mental health, neurodivergence and carers who need support.

8. How does the assessment contribute to Council’s priorities?
8.1 The population needs assessment contributes to regional and local level strategic planning
cycles, consequently this will support all local authorities’ corporate priorities relating to the
health and social care needs of the population

This is one of the most important documents that cyngor Gwynedd produce.and helps drive services for the next five years. But like the last 'assessment' this too is ... lacking.

Unlike before, some councillors noticed and asked questions that Hawis Jones had trouble answering at times, this was not helped by cabinet member, Dilwyn Morgan's interruptions and his diversions away from what the members of the committee were seeking answers on. For some reason the head of adults SS, Mari Wynne Jones informed that she would be answering for both departments and Menna Trenholme cabinet member for children didn't seem to have anything to say at all! 
Car crash..?

Luckily, it is only a draft report and one can only hope that Jones uses the feedback to produce an informed and useful plan for the next 5 years...

The SS complaints handling report, authored by Sharron Williams Carter and Mari Wynne Jones was presented. Elliw Haf Hughes, the Assistant Head of Safeguarding and Quality was present but said very little during the meeting...

A reminder that the figures below may not be correct due to Gwynedd SS departments novel way of dealing with enquires and complaints...

 

 

In other news, councillors have signed off on properties to deal with the housing crisis -
To approve the purchase of Bron Menai, Caernarfon and Elm Bank, Bangor shown outlined in red on the attached plan, (including a commitment to agree a management fee for a period of 5 years to the current owners of the sites) in accordance with terms and conditions to be determined by the Head of Housing and Property.

More information can be found here -
https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-067c8e 

Something is very wrong within Gwynedd council...  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Safeguarding Arrangements in Gwynedd Schools Still Lacking...

Cyngor Gwynedd have finally published their -
Scrutiny Investigation Report into Safeguarding Arrangements in Schools

https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru/documents/s50904/Safeguarding%20Arrangements%20in%20Schools%20Scrutiny%20Investigation%20Report-.pdf

A reminder that this investigation was initiated by the Education and Economy Scrutiny committee in early 2025, yet makes no mention of the committee's own failings and missed opportunities to stop Neil Foden. 

Wasn't Dewi Jones, the cabinet member for Education, originally part of the investigation? 
Did he excuse himself..?

This report was intended to be published in 2025, but had to be delayed because the investigating team had not included the voice of the child...  

The children's voice...
It is of high concern that the council did not utilise the recognised 'provider' due to the provider having fears that the council's 'remit' did not go far enough.

Ignoring the concerns of the independent provider, cyngor Gwynedd chose instead to appoint Dr Ceryl Teleri Davies, a former senior officer within the council's SS department - on the initial remit that others had considered insufficient.

Only 57 pupils were engaged...
Her 'Pupil Voice Report' can be found in appendix 7 here - 
https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru//documents/s50889/Appendices.pdf

The schools chosen by the council for the sample were - 

Davies includes four bite sized quotes from the children...

Why Ysgol Friars, and Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle (the main schools where Foden was found abusing) were not included is not known...

The most vulnerable children...
Ysgol Pendalar in Caernarfon is a special school yet Davies does not give any detail of how these children were engaged with. There is no information to what measures are in place for ALN/disabled or how they are kept safe from predators and abuse...

What of the 21%  of children in mainstream schools with ALN? 
From reading the report there is no mention of how these pupils are engaged with in an appropriate manner and how their understanding is checked. How are pupils with speech and language and other communication issues supported in all of this?

Protect the higher pay-grades...
A reminder that everyone knew Neil Foden was an abusive bully...
Safeguarding arrangements did not fail - the toxic culture within schools and the council protected him from censure.

The Ffordd Gwynedd way...
The Safeguarding Arrangements report is not comprehensive and like many of the documents written by cyngor Gwynedd appears to be yet another exercise in tick boxing and marking the officers homework...

The report is to be presented to the Education and Economy Scrutiny committee on the 14th, July, 2026. The webcast of the meeting will be found here - 
 https://gwynedd.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/1109262

Something is very wrong within Gwynedd council - and its schools...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Letters Warning Of Neil Foden Sent To Kirsty Williams AM Hywel Williams MP In 2019...

In 2019, the Plaid Cymru Member for Parliament for Arfon, Hywel Williams, was sent a letter that raised concerns regarding the Education Workforce Council and Neil Foden.

 

Presumably, Williams ignored the letter as a follow up letter was sent in November 6 months later...

 

Kirsty Williams, then Minister for Education in the Welsh Assembly was also sent a letter - 

The letters appeared online after they were put through the door of a digital creator from Bangor,
There was a covering letter - 

So did the author get a response from either the then MP or Welsh Minister?
What action did they take?

What of Angela Jardine, chair of the Education Workforce Council?
Was an investigation completed?

It does appear that many people were warned of Neil Foden - yet he continued to abuse...

 

  

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... 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 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... 

 

 

 

 

 

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...