What Next At Gwynedd Council ? CEO Retires.

The Chief Executive Officer of Cyngor Gwynedd council, Dilwyn Williams, has announced he is to retire at the end of this month.

Dilwyn O Williams was appointed CEO in 2014, replacing Harry Thomas who had been in position since 2003.

Like Thomas, Mr Williams had worked for the council for many years, before the creation of the new unitary Gwynedd council and abolishment of the previous authority after the North Wales Child Abuse scandal and boundary changes.

The reign of Harry Thomas ended under a cloud with 'angry council workers will walk out of their jobs in protest after bosses were awarded pay rises of thousands of pounds while theirs were frozen...'

From 2013 -https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/angry-council-workers-walk-out-2503378

"Assets and customer care director Dilwyn Williams, education, skills and regeneration director Iwan Trefor Jones and planning and public protection director Dafydd Lewis had rises of £5,839 to £88,960. Increases for 11 heads of service ranged from £1,042 to £5,094. For example the heads of social services and education saw their salaries rise by £3,311 from £72,200 to £75,511. The decision was taken by the council in June but staff say they weren’t told."

Dilwyn started off as a clerk for the former Caernarfon Council, then became Head of Accountancy for the new authority, then Strategic Resources Director, Corporate Director and finally CEO, where he has held the position for the last seven years.

His tenure as CEO began when the Westminster government austerity cuts really began to bite. Some in the council have praised his work over the period, making £millions of cuts to vital services and jobs, the closing of community schools and youth clubs, the increasing Council Tax rises. Less services for even more money. This in the main under the dictates of the westminster government and the austerity measures first imposed by Cameron and Osbourne.

Under his stewardship, serious failings with the council have been highlighted in many reports, including five Ombudsman for Wales investigations. These include breaches of Human Rights, interference with the social services complaints process and so called 'independent' investigations, ignorance of Law, policy and procedures and basically council officer's behaving very badly, indeed.

There have been data breaches, censoring of personal information, misrepresenting evidence, misinformation and fabrication.

There was the case of the social worker being suspended by Gwynedd council for two and a half years until she won her Employment Tribunal. More on that here -

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5cf61dd7e5274a0771578036/1600022.2017_Mr_S_Parry_v_Gwynedd_Council_-_CORRECTED_JUDGMENT_AND_REASONS.pdf

Then there was the Employment Tribunal which found against the council for their dismissal of two local teachers - “extraordinary”, “ill-conceived”, and “emphatically wrong”. More on that here - https://gwyneddsfailingcouncil.blogspot.com/2020/07/cyngor-gwynedd-council-extraordinary.html

Then along came the pandemic and a year of death, stress and change for all. At a national and a local level Wales did well with the first lockdown and community spirit came to the fore. Some schools remained open to take the children of 'key workers'. People and organisations all rallied round and ensured medications were received and food parcels delivered to those in need.

Cyngor Gwynedd council kept things very close to their chests. Millions of pounds have been given out to local businesses for support during the pandemic whilst Councillors have complained of being left out of the decision making process - https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/gwynedd-councillors-say-were-shut-18705757 'One member claimed there was a 'lack of trust' in the ruling cabinet group'

Then came the issue of hotdesking and virtual locations and the Audit office raising concerns with travel expenses - https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/eyebrows-raised-what-schools-agency-18716183

'While the council's decision to change the rules was aimed at saving around £290,000 a year, GwE - which is funded by North Wales authorities - saw its expenditure increase between 2017 and 2019.'

'An audit also found that mileage claims were not being checked properly, leading to one instance where an 800 mile claim submitted for an 80 mile journey was processed before the mistake was found

'

Then there was the issue of the council's car pool when it was reported that some officers were using the vehicles inappropriately, publicised by the very obvious banner next to Morrison's supermarket in Caernarfon, that was quickly taken down by the council.

A review of the council's social services policies for those with Autism without a learning disability has been released though not yet published. It mentions the ring fenced monies that have been allocated for such services over the years and calls for immediate actions.

Statutory annual reports from some council departments are already late, with no dates announced for completion nor opportunity to scrutinise what has been a truly tumultous period.

At the time of Dilwyn's announcement to retire the news came that a former colleague of his, Lucille Margaret Hughes, had died. Miss Hughes was once the Director of Gwynedd social services during the North Wales Child Abuse scandal and presided over the sacking of a social worker who attempted to whistleblow the care home abuses.

Miss Hughes, also worked for CAIS and had been living in the grace and favour apartments at Penhyrn Castle for many years.