Gwynedd Council - "I'm not claiming that the way we're reporting is completely accurate..."

Cyngor Gwynedd  held an Education and Economy Scrutiny Committee meeting on Thursday, 19th June 2025. The webcast of the meeting can be found here -https://gwynedd.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/993870

The Task and Finish Group recommendations for Gwynedd council's Draft Education Language Policy - Cyngor Gwynedd Language Strategy 2023 - 2033 were discussed. There has been a recent push by councillors for schools to be taught through the medium of Welsh only...

The recommendations can be found in the agenda pack here - https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru//documents/g5496/Public%20reports%20pack%2019th-Jun-2025%2010.30%20Education%20and%20Economy%20Scrutiny%20Committee.pdf?T=10

On the 16th June, the Planning Commiittee held a meeting. That webcast can be found here - https://gwynedd.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/992005

The meeting discussed an application for an 'affordable self build' house in Penygroes. It has been refused in the past but the local councillor called it in for a debate. The councillor did not attend the meeting...The recommendation was to refuse with the department citing three reasons including a lack of communication with the applicant. For reasons unknown some councillors wished to support the application anyway. The application was refused... 

Gwynedd's Care Scrutiny Committee met on Thursday, 12th June 2025. The webcast can be found here -  https://gwynedd.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/991166 A performance report from the head of Housing and Property department, Carys Fôn Williams, was presented. 

Next up was the performance report of the children and supporting families department, presented by cabinet member, Menna Trenholme.With Marian Parry Hughes absent from work, it was left to the interim heads, Aled Gibbard and Sharron Carter Williams, to answer members questions. 

The department's report makes no mention of the absences of two of its most senior officers and not one scrutiny member raised concerns. 

Morfa Bychan was discussed. The children's home should have been open last year. and whilst children have been placed there, the home is still not registered...

Councillor Beth Lawton raised concerns that according to the graphics in the report the interim heads had no concerns with the department at all. Lawton pointed out that there were concerns and described the Derwen service and its workload as huge.Gibbard replied "I'm not claiming that the way we're reporting is completely accurate..." 

Councillor Gwynfor Owen asked the officers for the criteria that allows access to the disabled children's service. He was told, a learning disability and those with a substantial delay. Owen also asked if access to Derwen services was dependant on IQ. Gibbard replied no...  Some parents have been told exactly that...

 The Derwen criteria has been called out as unlawful in the past and in 2019, the Ombudsman for Wales recommendation was -  The Council should review its Derwen policy to ensure its criteria aligns with the Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Act 2014 and the Equality Act 2010’s definition of ‘disability’, and ensure staff are informed about any changes (within three months). 

What of the Hugh Morgan Autism Review? Have his recommendations been implemented? Perhaps Mr Morgan could be asked for his thoughts on 'progress' since his review? His review can be found here - https://gwyneddsfailingcouncil.blogspot.com/2021/04/finally-gwynedd-councils-autism-report.html

Moving on, the report staes that the purpose of the performance report is 'to present the performance of the Children and Supporting Families Department over the past year.'

But then states 'the report has been created based on the information and content of the latest meeting to challenge and support the performance of the Children and Supporting Families Department with the Director, the Senior Operational Officer and myself present at this meeting.'

So not over the past year? Only since the 'latest meeting' - whenever that was...?

The performance report for the Adults SS was also presented.

For what they're worth the reports can be found in the agenda pack here - https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru//documents/g5531/Public%20reports%20pack%2012th-Jun-2025%2010.00%20Care%20Scrutiny%20Committee.pdf?T=10

In other news Cyngor Gwynedd is advertising for a Corporate Director. https://www.gwynedd.llyw.cymru/en/Council/Jobs-and-Careers/Corporate-Director.aspx

Something is very wrong within Gwynedd council...