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... 

 

 

 

 

 

Rules For Thee But Not For Me - Planning Committee Gwynedd Council...

Re the cyngor Gwynedd council planning committee, held on the 2nd March, 2026...

There had been much interest in the planning application for 15 homes to be built on land adjacent to Llys yr Eifl, in Llanaelhaearn.
Only Welsh speakers should live on new housing estate, local council says
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwy87gk8we8o

The agenda pack containing the planning applications can be found here - 
https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru//documents/g5481/Public%20reports%20pack%2002nd-Mar-2026%2013.00%20Planning%20Committee.pdf?T=10

Confusing...
Plaid Cymru councillor Jina Gwyrfai, who is also a town councillor for Cymuned Trefor a Llanaelhaearn, questioned the integrity of the data included in the application and spoke against the development whilst also making an argument for it...

Gwyrfai's husband/partner - also on the town council - had written to cyngor Gwynedd's CEO, Dafydd Gibbard, asking for the Welsh speaking only clause.  
Information for the town council can be found here -
https://www.cctreforallanaelhaearn.cymru/en/home

But it was councillor Gruffydd Williams, representing the Nefyn ward, who raised most eyebrows.
He began by proposing a site visit. 
Gareth Jones, the long suffering planning officer, explained that there had been a site visit the previous week.
Williams then proposed to refuse the application and then to postpone it...

Williams went on to say that it was 'a statutory duty on each and everyone of them to protect the AONB' - (area of outstanding natural beauty). 
Williams proposal failed due to nobody seconding his proposal.                                                        

                                                         **************
and hypocritical...
Councillors of the committee may have forgotten that they passed an application brought by William's father, in October, 2023 - 
Full application to upgrade an existing Caravan Park by siting five new cabins, retention of the temporary access road and creation of a playing field.
Location: Gwynus Caravan Park, Llithfaen, Pwllheli, Gwynedd, LL53 6LY

The caravan site, in the Llŷn Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the Llŷn and Enlli Landscape of Outstanding Historic Interest was recommended for refusal by the planning officers. 
Councillors went against their own planning policy by allowing the application... 

This led to an outburst from the now chair of the committee asking councillors -
"Where are your principles?'

That application can be found in the agenda pack here - 
https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru/documents/g4921/Public%20reports%20pack%2002nd-Oct-2023%2013.00%20Planning%20Committee.pdf?T=10
                                                       
                                                       ***************
Rules for thee but not for me...
The March, 2026, meeting also discussed an application for a - 
Non-material amendment to the design of planning permission C21/0411/46/LL.
Location: Tyddyn Du, Dinas, Pwllheli, Gwynedd, LL53 8SU - which lies in the Morfa Nefyn and Tudweiliog ward.

Gruffydd Williams had to leave the meeting for this item as the application was from his sister, Mrs Iona Rees. She did not attend the meeting and it was left to her husband to address the committee.

This application was brought before the planning committee after suspicions were raised and a visit to the property by Gwynedd council's enforcement officers. 

The purpose of the agricultural building, built on agricultaral land, is to keep equipment and feed and includes two stables and a tack store.

The property differed much from the original plans approved in 2022, 
• Change the orientation of the building on the eastern side of the site compared to the approved plans.
• Amend some window / roof window openings in various locations compared to the approved plans.
• Amend the roofing material to recycled Welsh slate instead of the permitted grey coloured steel sheets.

Councillors were informed the building was near completion. 

Bizarrely, Gwynedd's planning department recommended to accept the proposal.
One councillor said they thought this was a house...
Many people would think that this is NOT an agricultural building for horses and equipment but the committee passed the application anyway. 

A condition was imposed that the building be used for agricultural use only.
Will there be a retrospective planning application to turn the building into a home in the future?

The webcast of the meeting of the committee can be found here - 
https://gwynedd.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/1072059

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...

Did Estyn And Care Inspectorate Wales Get It Wrong? Cyngor Gwynedd Council...

In 2017, Ysgol Friars underwent an inspection by Estyn - 
https://estyn.gov.wales/system/files/2020-08/Ysgol%2520Friars.pdf

In June, 2023, Estyn undertook an inspection of education services in cyngor Gwynedd -
https://www.estyn.gov.wales/system/files/?file=2023-09/Inspection%20report%20Cyngor%20Gwynedd%202023_0.pdf

 

It's not my fault...  
But cyngor Gwynedd did not have an effective digital strategy at this time. 
Geraint Owen, the former corporate director, was responsible for the strategy and had to defend himself at one council meeting for not creating the strategy...!

Estyn's analysis of the safeguarding arrangements within cyngor Gwynedd was completely wrong...

How did Estyn get it so wrong..? 
Questions remain as to Estyn's diligence and methods of scrutiny.

Some clues can be found in another report dated September 2023, co-produced by Estyn, Health Inspectorate Wales and Care Inspectorate Wales after the death of Child T, from Bridgend.
Rapid review of child protection arrangements


The full report can be found here - 
https://www.careinspectorate.wales/sites/default/files/2023-09/230928-Rapid-review-of-child-protection-arangements-en.pdf

On page 15 -


The effective child protection model incorporating the Risk Model, utilised by cyngor Gwynedd, was created by Dafydd Paul, the senior safeguarding and quality officer for the council.

In March, 2022, a project evaluation of the ECP was undertaken by Bruce Thornton,  a consultant and trainer in social care. His report can be found here - 
https://www.effectivechildprotection.wales/sites/default/files/Effective%20Child%20Protection%20Project%20Evaluation_%20Full%20Report.pdf

Thornton writes - 
I was asked to examine whether child protection in Gwynedd is more effective as a consequence of adopting the Effective Child Protection model?
The unequivocal answer to that question is ‘Yes’

Obviously not...

The model focuses on parents needing to change behaviours but appears not to mention the risk of abuse from those in a position of trust/authority. The last child abuse scandal in this area of north Wales involved those in a position of trust/authority over children in care... 

Paul is believed to be 'absent from work' since the Spring of 2025, as is Marian Parry Hughes, the head of children's SS department. Cyngor Gwynedd refuse to confirm the identities of the officers until investigations commissioned by the HR department are complete.
When will that be..?

Have the investigations looked at the role of the senior officer within the legal department who was present at the safeguarding meeting in 2019 re Foden or is it focused solely on the officers within the children's department?  

A reminder that Foden physically abused boys..

It gets worse...
Estyn and Care Inspectorate Wales held a Joint inspection with a focus on safeguarding in Gwynedd Council in November, 2025. That report can be found here - 
https://estyn.gov.wales/app/uploads/2025/12/Safeguarding-inspection-report-Gwynedd-Council-2026.pdf

On page 11 - 



The 'effective child protection' model created by Dafydd Paul - in 2019 - appears to have failed in Gwynedd. 
Estyn and Care Inspectorate Wales chose not to name Paul, simply referring to him as a 'senior leader in the children and families department. For why?

Perhaps this report should be removed out of respect for the children and families involved?

As an evidence base, the investigators included - 
• A meeting with members of the education and social care scrutiny boards.
• Meetings with practitioners, staff, officers, managers, senior officers, elected members, leaders of scrutiny committees (a total of 20 meetings)
• Scrutiny of sample files (24 child safeguarding cases under Section 3 and Section 5 of the Wales Safeguarding Procedures for the period between 1/09/24 and 30/09/25)

Shifting blame...
Sounds great the scrutinising of sample files, some presumably written by the same officers now absent from work? BUT do they give a true representation of the facts? Some officers have history...

Where is the public inquiry?
At the extraordinary council meeting, in February, Dafydd Gibbard stated that he had had a response from the government and that 'we need to share that'.
Gibbard did not share the response at the meeting - so is there to be a public inquiry?

Something is very wrong within Gwynedd council... 

 

 

Low Hanging Fruit - Cyngor Gwynedd Council...

Surrey County Council has been accused of carrying out "illegal" and "immoral" care assessments of vulnerable adults, and excluding their families, in a bid to save money by reducing their support.

Learning disabled adults face 'dangerous' cuts to care after 'illegal assessments', claim families.
https://www.itv.com/news/2026-02-12/learning-disabled-adults-face-care-cuts-after-unsafe-assessments-say-families

In response, Sinead Mooney, Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care said - 
We’ve just approved an adult social care budget increase of more than £27million.

 
Cyngor Gwynedd have been faking assessments on vulnerable adults and children - for years.
An Ombudsman for Wales report from 2018 -
https://www.lukeclements.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Ombudsman-Gwynedd-Council-report-201700388.pdf 

 Using a person's disability against them..?

 

Low hanging fruit..? 

Untrained social workers sent out to remove services from vulnerable people by untrained senior social workers - simply to save money. 
The PSOW was so enraged it included the case in its hall of shame casebook on human rights -
https://www.ombudsman.wales/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/104483-Equality-and-Human-Rights-Casebook_Eng_v03.pdf

The then cabinet member for adults, Dafydd Meurig, should have presented this case to the care scrutiny committee who could have called for an investigation/review of the department.
Meurig did not...

Ombudsman recommendations...
This case is even more appalling when it was discovered that Gwynedd council had lied to the PSOW by saying that specific staff training had taken place when it had not.

Gwynedd council target children too...
A social worker undertook an assessment on a disabled, autistic child but did not tick the disabled box. This excluded the child from support by Derwen, cyngor Gwynedd's service for disabled children.
An Ombudsman's investigation found that the assessment was 'predetermined to fail'...

On the recommendation from the Ombudsman, another assessment was undertaken...
This time a social worker from the 16+ team, Sharon Keys and Barry John Thomas, a social worker/complaints officer from Derwen assessed the child.

Both social workers said they knew nothing about the PSOW ordering the re-assessment and declined the report when offered it. They said they weren't looking back, but 'taking it from today'.

Incredibly, the social workers said they would not be considering the child's autism for the purpose of the assessment... 

Parent bashing... 
It was no surprise that the second assessment also denied support for the child.
Instead, the social workers used the 'assessment' to parent blame.

Complaint shut down...
A stage 2 complaint was raised against the social workers assessment.
It was not allowed to progress and was eventually timed out.

Protect the senior officers...?
Emails indicate that the investigating officer and the independent person may have not been as 'independent' as they should.The emails also suggest that Gwynedd's senior complaints manager was more active in the 'independent' investigation than perhaps he should have been. 

Both Surrey and Gwynedd councils have been caught faking assessments on vulnerable people.
Whilst Surrey are unlikely to be repeat offenders - Gwynedd council certainly are...

Something is so very wrong within Gwynedd council...