Monday 4 July 2022

Wales Audit Recognise Cyngor Gwynedd Council - For What?

Cyngor Gwynedd council held a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, 28th, June, 2022 - 
https://gwynedd.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/679724

One Councillor spoke of his experiences on social media and that people think the council live in ivory towers, do bugger all and collect bonuses for everything. He spoke of the council's plans for the future outlined in the agenda and made a plea to the new CEO, Dafydd Gibbard, to ensure they were carried through...

He referenced paragraph 5 of Mr Gibbard's statement in an attempt to rebuff criticism on Facebook -
The full statement and meeting agenda can be found here -
https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru/documents/g4693/Public%20reports%20pack%2028th-Jun-2022%2013.00%20The%20Cabinet.pdf?T=10

Can we have a factcheck, please?

The new CEO has only been in post for a year and may not have read all the reports relating to past performance and failures of this council - but 'recognised as performing excellently...'
By whom? Which departments?

Certainly not the Children and Families department which has been undertaking 'fake assessments' on disabled children - their complaints process manipulated to shut down complaints - interference in 'independent' investigations and behavior by senior officer's which 'outraged' even the Ombudsman.
On training staff, the former Cabinet Member for Children, Dilwyn Morgan, warned in November, 2021 - "it would frighten you how few members of staff undertake these trainings..."

Nor the Adult SS, which Dilwyn Morgan now has responsibility for, with recent Ombudsman investigations highlighting serious failings in this department, too. Have all the recommendations arising from the investigations been carried out yet? A reminder to the Member to seek robust evidence of compliance not just an officer's word...

It is a concern that neither the Children's nor Adult SS departments have allowed proper scrutiny of their Annual Complaints Reports since 2019. Three years with no proper scrutiny - a pandemic - and the Director with ultimate responsibility for both departments now leaving the council.

Mr Gibbard mentions 'recognition' from the Wales Audit Office - for what? A Wales Audit Office report from January, 2022 into Gwynedd council can be found here -
https://www.audit.wales/sites/default/files/publications/gwynedd_performance.pdf

From the report -



There is more....The report is not positive.

The CEO gives Care Inspectorate Wales a mention, too. The CIW's time would be better spent ensuring its past recommendations for improvement have been fully complied with. Gwynedd council have a history of not carrying through with agreements made...

And Estyn and local education...There is still the issue of Headteacher, Neil Foden, who claimed the council threw him under a bus during the school meals fiasco. The Education officer failed to answer a Committee and a public update regarding the video of the headteacher appearing to have a pupil by the neck is also outstanding. 

Perhaps, Beca Brown, the new Cabinet Member for Education, could give an update?

In the past year, the council has now lost its two most senior Executive officer's.

Just over a year ago, an investigation report was completed and presented to the council - has it been released?

In other news, the Information Commissioner is currently 'advising' the council to release information first asked for in 2020 and on the subject of data law - how long does an internal review of an FOI request take nowadays?
Openness and transparency...

Something is very wrong within Gwynedd council...



 




 



 



 


Monday 27 June 2022

Director of Cyngor Gwynedd Council Social Services To Leave Post.

More change at Cyngor Gwynedd council as the Director of Social Services is leaving...

Morwena Edwards, whose background is finance was employed as Director of Adult and Children's Social Services in 2012.

The Director of Gwynedd SS is to leave her post in the summer - a year after the Chief Executive Officer retired..

To lose a chief executive officer in the midst of a pandemic was...unfortunate. To lose two such senior officers in just over a year suggests every officer for themselves...

Is another scandal about to come to light?

How long does it take a Monitoring Officer to respond to an FOI request for an internal review?

Something is very wrong within Gwynedd council...





Tuesday 3 May 2022

Cyngor Gwynedd Council - The Car Pool, A Party And An Internal Review.

The return of staff to council offices should by now be complete - just in time for the council elections. 28 councillors have already been elected in uncontested wards as they were the only ones to put their name forward - 19 of these are Plaid Cymru members giving them nearly 30% control of the council before a vote is even cast.

So what unresolved matters will face the new councillors?
There is still the issue of Gwynedd council's own #partygate scandal during the pandemic -

'The incident which saw them share a minibus was described by Dilwyn Williams, chief executive of Gwynedd Council  as "completely unacceptable" in a letter to staff.
Mr Williams said in the letter that "the individuals involved will be dealt with accordingly" as the council has had to fork out additional costs to cover their work during the self isolation period.'


More on that here - https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/gwynedd-council-worker-tests-positive-18850705

Then there was the issue of officers misuse of the council's vehicles as reported in the Daily Post, last year -

“We are aware that there are some instances where staff may not have adhered to this policy, and we are working with our trade union partners to address this matter and update our policy.
“We can also confirm that the council removed a banner which was placed without consent on railings near Morrisons roundabout in Caernarfon last weekend.”

More on that here -
https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/gwynedd-council-review-vehicle-policy-19777848

'Arfon Assembly Member, Sian Gwenllian has already written to the authority after concerns were raised with her, confirming she would “continue to communicate” with the authority'
Any update for the public?

Then there is the Education department and its failure to explain why the headmaster Neil Foden reported being thrown under a bus by the council during the school meals fiasco. No explanation of the video circulated on social media of the teacher appearing to have a pupil by the neck, either.

In other news, an FOI request was raised with the council last year. The Information officer did not answer the question fully and so an Internal Review was asked for. The council has failed to carry out this review and an email asking for an update was ignored...

What possible reason could the council have to ignore its duties under the FOI Act?

Something is very wrong within Gwynedd council...


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