Thursday, 16 April 2026
Monday, 6 April 2026
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...
Saturday, 4 April 2026
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?
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...
Friday, 20 March 2026
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
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...
Friday, 6 March 2026
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...
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