Whistleblower INC explores controversial proposals to establish an ‘Office of the Whistleblower’ based on bounty schemes in the US – and why such legislation would be a mistake for the UK. Under this proposed bill, the non-governmental body would decide who counts as a whistleblower. The same body would decide which companies to fine, and how much — up to £18 million per case, or ten per cent of global revenue. The same body would decide how much of that fine to pay to the individual whistleblower. The same body would be funded by the fines it imposes. The film outlines some of the risks campaigners have raised over these proposals and looks at claims surrounding the controversial organisation pushing this bill, WhistleblowersUK (WBUK). Those in the film detail concerns over how WBUK treats whistleblowers, including asking them for money in return for support. The film includes shocking messages and testimony which show a damning lack of compassion towards those who have turned to the organisation for help. The documentary highlights the case of Norwegian businessman, Christen Ager-Hanssen, who despite a court ruling there to be no merit to his whistleblowing, WBUK have championed as an “ambassador” because, according to an insider who is bravely speaking out in the film, WBUK believes his case will net them £250,000. We sincerely hope that this documentary marks a turning point in the debate and those MPs inclined to support the Bill look at it with an open mind, as these issues can no longer be ignored.
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?
Construction blacklisting risks being inadequately scrutinised by the undercover policing inquiry after a key expert was barred from giving
Construction blacklisting risks being inadequately scrutinised by the undercover policing inquiry after a key expert was barred from giving oral evidence, a union has claimed.
Dave Smith, a blacklisted construction worker and secretary of the Blacklist Support Group (BSG), had applied for a judicial review to overturn a decision not to hear from him in the third phase of the Spycops inquiry.
However, earlier this month the High Court rejected his bid.
“Our concern is it (blacklisting of construction workers) will not be dealt with properly,” a Unite the Union spokesperson told Construction News after the decision.
Smith’s lawyers had previously argued that he was the only person who has “the knowledge or expertise to challenge the police narrative” on blacklisting in the industry.
Unite is one of more than 100 signatories, including the TUC, GMB, and blacklisted workers, who have sent an open letter to the inquiry’s chair, Sir John Mitting, following the High Court’s decision.
More -
https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/government/blacklisting-expert-loses-bid-to-appear-before-spycops-inquiry-29-04-2026/
The planning committee of cyngor Gwynedd met on Monday, 27th April 2026.
Applications included -
C25/0403/09/CR Corbett Arms Hotel Corbett Square, Tywyn, Gwynedd, LL36 9DG
Part demolition of the listed building was passed by the committee despite objections from historical groups. There was also confusion in the department's report with comments from the community council being wrongly attributed to a different council.
A question to the cost of the scaffolding could not be answered by officers.
The report can be found in the agenda pack for the meeting -
https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru//documents/g5483/Public%20reports%20pack%2027th-Apr-2026%2013.00%20Planning%20Committee.pdf?T=10
C25/0710/41/LL Land Adjoining Brynhyfryd/ Cae Capel, Chwilog, LL53 6SF
An application for a mix of social housing and intermediate housing (higher rents and limited to those living within 6 kilometres of the area) was rejected. Advice by the monitoring officer - and other councillors warning of costs against the public purse if the case goes to appeal was ignored.
Gareth Roberts, a Plaid Cymru councillor representing Bangor spoke against the proposal.
He bemoaned the lack of Welsh being spoken in the university city and claimed a primary school headteacher was struggling to deal with pupils speaking 42 different languages.
'So what's going to happen is the people being housed in Bangor now in HMO's and bedsits - I can see them - they're housed here now and they're having children...'
Has Roberts raised his 'concerns' with the education department?
Or is it just a story to cover for what some may see as conscious bias?
Roberts spoke to the meeting in english...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1cybNmRUAk
Roberts lists himself as a consultant for BJA International Ltd and Sherrin.
What housing crisis..?He is also a landlord owning 8 properties and land in Bangor.
https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru/mgDeclarationSubmission.aspx?UID=684&HID=310&FID=0&HPID=1180987303
Berwyn Parry Jones made the proposal to refuse the housing on the grounds that the intermediate housing (with its restrictions) would be outside the boundary. Gruffydd Williams did ask that harm to the Welsh language be included in the proposal and whilst Jones did agree he did not wish for it to added to the proposal.
The full webcast of the meeting can be found here -
https://gwynedd.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/1088208
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...
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...
World BEYOND War Board Member, pacifist, and opponent of all wars and violence, has been abducted by police in Ukraine. He has long been thr
Today, March 19, 2026, representatives of the Pechersk District Police in Kyiv, along with an individual claiming to be a TCC (Territorial Recruitment Center) officer who refused to identify himself, illegally detained Yurii Sheliazhenko—a human rights defender, pacifist, and conscientious objector to military service.
This act of lawlessness took place on Perspektyvna Street. The detention was led by Senior Operative Serhiy Vitaliyovych Nakopyuk. No protocol was drawn up. Yurii managed to call his lawyer, but the officers did not wait for the lawyer’s arrival. According to Yurii, he is currently being transported to an unknown location at 20 Boichuka St....
More...
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.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/FY1QjMDlMCc
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 OperationPallial -
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 requst 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...
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.
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...
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...
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
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
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?
Five years ago, Audit Wales flagged the culture within cyngor Gwynedd as 'destructive'.
At the recent extraordinary meeting of the full council, councillors Nia Jeffreys and Olaf Cai Larsen spoke of staff feeling safe to challenge.
Irony indeed - speaking to a full council meeting where councillors had been 'advised' not to challenge...
The webcast of the meeting can be found here -
https://gwynedd.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/1063308
Larsen, the chair of the Plaid Cymru constituency party and Jeffreys may have missed the council's recent audit on whistleblowing. Staff do not feel safe...
It is not just staff...
People who do raise concerns have been smeared by senior officers and ignored by councillors.
Actions not words...
Safeguarding, scrutiny and culture are now buzzwords for council officers/members since Neil Foden's arrest in 2023.
The reality is somewhat different...
On April 11th, 2024, the children's department finally released their annual complaints handling report from 2022/23 to the care scrutiny committee.
Standards...
It was the first time the SS annual complaints reports had come before a scrutiny committee since 2019, after which a complaint was made against a senior officer for misleading the committee. The same officer had refused to answer questions of the care scrutiny committee at a previous meeting.
The report can be found in the agenda pack here -
https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru//documents/g4975/Public%20reports%20pack%2011th-Apr-2024%2010.30%20Care%20Scrutiny%20Committee.pdf?T=10
Page 36 mentions a historic complaint –
The Senior Manager discussed fully with the Senior Complaints Officer as ten years had passed. The social worker did not work here anymore, therefore we would need to rely on records only to investigate the complaint...
Who is the senior manager?
It is believed that Dafydd Paul was the senior complaints officer at this time.
Did the legal department give advice to the officer's on the matter..?
The Ffordd Gwynedd way...
The PSOW can investigate historic complaints.
Treating the complaint in this way may have shut down the pathway to the Ombudsman for Wales.
There was another historic complaint on page 37 –
The cabinet member for children was silent on the historic complaints and not one councillor of the committee raised concerns. The report was voted through by the committee...
Shameful...
The presentation of the 2022/23 report for scrutiny had been long delayed.
The report - with the historic complaints of safeguarding failures - was finally released to the committee after Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) had completed its review of the council.
Would the CIW's report been different if they had known of the historic complaints of failure to listen and safeguard these two individuals ?
Playing catch up..?
5 months later, on the 26th, September, 2024, the SS departments presented their annual complaints handling reports for 2023/24 to the care scrutiny committee. The agenda pack for the meeting and the reports can be found here -
https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru/documents/g5188/Public%20reports%20pack%2026th-Sep-2024%2010.30%20Care%20Scrutiny%20Committee.pdf?T=10
The 2023/24 complaints report credits Marian Parry Hughes – Head of Children and Supporting Families Department and Aled Davies – Head of Adults, Health and Well-being Department as the authors.
During the meeting, Dafydd Paul, acting as the senior complaints officer and presenting the report gave the impression that he was the author of the children's report.
Darvo...
Paul, did not update the committee on the investigation that had taken place of the historic abuse from 2013/14 nor did any councillor ask...
Neil Foden used the same tactic of denial and blaming others...
The committee also scrutinised this complaint from the adult's learning disability team -
Dodgy..?
What was the 'relationship' between the support worker and the service user?
No proper explanation was given nor asked for by councillors.
Councillors passed the reports anyway...
3 months later, on the 17th, December, 2024, a cabinet meeting was held.
The 'Complaints and Service Improvement Report Quarter 1-2 2024/25' was presented.
The report can be found in the agenda pack here -
https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru/documents/g5260/Public%20reports%20pack%2017th-Dec-2024%2013.00%20The%20Cabinet.pdf?T=10
The contact officer for the report is Ian Jones, Head of Corporate Services.
For some reason, a complaint from the children's SS department was included.
Neither Jones nor Menna Trenholme, the cabinet member for children, explained why the report was being presented to the cabinet rather than the care scrutiny committee...
'difficult and tiresome complainants...?
So a complaint to the children's service was brought to the attention of the monitoring officer who had to remind the children and adult's SS customer care/complaint officers of the law when dealing with complaints...
Nolan Principles...The officer's are well aware of the law, procedures and guidelines.
It is a choice to ignore them and infringe on the rights of the residents of Gwynedd.
Jones, also included two complaints concerning the education department.
Again, these complaints were not presented to the education/economy scrutiny committee...
The complaints in question are on page 53 and 54 of Jones' report.
Three serious complaints - one a safeguarding issue - avoiding proper scrutiny.
Cabinet members should have challenged Jones' report.
Instead, cabinet members voted to accept the report without real discussion...
All this has taken place after Neil Foden's arrest...
Many councillors continue to turn a blind eye...
Trauma informed...
For many families, seeking advice and support from Gwynedd's SS departments is traumatic -
SYSTEMS GENERATED TRAUMA
How disabled children and their families are traumatised by dysfunctional public services when they ask for support -
https://cerebra.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Systems-Generated-Trauma-Report-web.pdf
The Cerebra report is authored by Professor Luke Clements and Dr Ana Laura Aiello.
They give insight to the damage caused to children and families by the very departments that were created to support them...
Culture...
Clements is a Professor of Law at Leeds University and has written an article on Gwynedd council -
‘Omg … will it never end’
https://www.lukeclements.co.uk/omg-will-it-never-end-2/
Grooming...?
Some councillors and senior officer's have mentioned they were also groomed by Foden.
This is disingenuous...
Cabinet members through to scrutiny committee members – most complicit in the toxic culture that has been allowed to continue to cover for incompetence and protect reputational damage - for years.
A public inquiry is needed.
Has the Children's Commissioner for Wales, Rocío Cifuentes, been approached?
When will the monitoring officer give an account of the 'advice' given by a senior officer within the legal department to the safeguarding meeting re Neil Foden in 2019?
Stephen Wood, manager of the Gwynedd and Ynys Mon Youth Justice Service presented his report to the care scrutiny committee on the 29th, January, 2026.
The webcast of the meeting can be found here -
https://gwynedd.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/1060285
There appears to be a change of culture within the service that coincides with a big drop in the numbers of young people being criminalised through the courts.
Wood informed that the short, sharp shock tactics do not work.
On youth offender's...
Asked what the big problems were, he stated, violence and adults taking drugs.
He mentioned that middle class children also commit crime - but they don't get caught.
Hotspots include Caernarfon, Bangor, Holyhead, Blaenau Ffestiniog and Llangefni.
Cocaine was also raised as a problem locally.
It takes a village to raise a child...
Over the years, local schools have closed and super schools built instead. Many village's then lost their local shop, their bakery closed and then the pub. Families moved and communities were lost.
Then the council shut the youth clubs and sacked the youth workers.
Audit Wales warned against this but the messenger was derided by councillors at a full council meeting on the 3rd October, 2019.
Schools have failed the children, too.Pre-pandemic the policy was to include children - now figures show more children are excluded.
Idle hands and all that...
Does the ''Keeping Families Together' strategy co-authored by the interim head of the children's department, Sharron Williams Carter, show a change of culture?
One can hope...
Predetermined to fail..?
The work of the 16+ team was discussed.
This service has had its issues, too.
From social workers poor note taking and a team leader that has been accused of faking assessments and setting up children and families to fail.
Estyn have just completed a joint inspection with a focus on safeguarding in Gwynedd Council -
The purpose of this inspection was to evaluate developments in Gwynedd Local Authority’s safeguarding arrangements since September 2023.
Joint inspection with a focus on safeguarding in Gwynedd Council by Estyn, His Majesty’s Inspectorate for Education, and Training in Wales, and Care Inspectorate Wales.
Date of inspection: November 2025
The inspection team considered one key question:-
How well are children protected from individuals who may pose a risk to them and when concerns are raised about those who care for them or work with them, either in a paid or voluntary role?
This question is not answered...
Estyn and the CIW do mention this -
Did Estyn and Care Inspectorate Wales actually read this piece of work?
https://www.effectivechildprotection.wales/en/
Was this presented to Estyn and CIW as new and innovative?
The 'effective child protection' model was created by Dafydd Paul - many years ago.
It does not answer the investigation teams key question nor deal with abuse by those in a position of trust...
Now where is the report of the fostering team..?
Something is very wrong within Gwynedd council...
