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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Cyngor Gwynedd Council to review vehicle policy amid 'misuse' claims.

 https://www.cambrian-news.co.uk/article.cfm?id=135014 - by Gareth Wyn Williams

Cyngor Gwynedd Council is reviewing its transport policy amid claims the authority’s vehicles have been “misused” by some members of staff driving them home and falling foul of regulations.

According to the council, staff who require vehicles are permitted to take them home if “on call” or have “stand-by” out of hours duties, by being available to support incidents such as storms or accidents.

But officers have conceded there have been “some instances” where staff have not adhered to the policy, confirming it is currently being reviewed as part of ongoing talks with unions.

The move comes after the unveiling of a banner on a busy roundabout in #Caernarfon calling for a stop on the “misuse” of vehicles. It was swiftly taken down by officers who say it had been installed without consent.

A Gwynedd Council spokesman said: “We allow staff that are participating in a recognised out of hours arrangement that requires the use of a specialist vehicle to take a council vehicle home so that they can respond to emergencies as quickly and safely as possible.

“We are aware 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.”

Arfon MS Sian Gwenllian has already written to the authority after concerns were raised with her, confirming she would “continue to communicate” with the council.

Cllr Aeron M Jones said he had received similar concerns from council employees.

He said: “For the council to say they’re looking into it, well, I’ve been a member for 12 years and they’ve been saying the same for all of that time.”

“I agree that any member of staff that may have to go out on call should have their council vehicle with them, but there are officers who may be on-call only over the phone and others, perhaps managers, who don’t need them at all in my view.

“The running of these vehicles cost a lot to the taxpayers of Gwynedd and it’s only right that people get value for money, especially with council tax rising every year.

“I fully support whoever placed the sign, while the correct procedure may be for staff to raise concerns with their line managers, some may be afraid of repercussions and I fully support a new whistleblowing policy.

“I don’t know who put the banner up but they have been very brave and it has shed some light on an issue that is clearly of concern.”

 https://www.cambrian-news.co.uk/article.cfm?id=135014

Complaint Against Gwynedd Council - 6 Of 6.

The customer care and complaints department at Cyngor Gwynedd council continue to remain silent in regard to our complaint first raised in May, last year on the advice of the Ombudsman for Wales.

So this is the sixth and final point of our Stage 2 complaint  -

Despite repeated requests, (complainants) have never been offered a carers assessment by social services.

And our desired outcome -

The complainants seek a Carers Assessment to be undertaken and completed by Gwynedd County Council.

I am reminded that we had to ask Sian Gwenllian, #Plaid_Cymru AM for Arfon for help in getting the Children and Family department to respond to our request for a carer's assessment, last year.
It took Marian Parry Hughes, Department Head of Children and Family services three months to respond to the AM....

"...we had responded to the family's lawyer, by letter from Sharron Carter, Senior Operational Manager, dated March 27th setting out the reasons for not offering a carer's assessment to (Mother)"

The solicitor states this letter was never received.
More detail on this from an earlier post -  https://gwyneddsfailingcouncil.blogspot.co.uk/2017/07/gwynedd-department-head-finally.html

This child has a diagnosis of Autism, PDA and the council itself has made reference to the childs 'complex needs'.

Marian Parry Hughes goes on -

"This response was sent following consultation with our legal department. Consideration was given to the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 and the Equality Act 2000 when considering our response...

 ...(childs) needs does not make him eligible to receive a care and support plan, and (...) did not reach the cirteria to be considered as a disabled child/young person under the Equality Act. Therefore, since the Act specifies that a carer's assessment is offered to carers of a disabled adult or child, we were not in a position to assess (mother) as a carer..."
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 Where is the Independent Report ?

 




                                   













 

                                                   

Arfon AM Ignored By Gwynedd Head Of Department.

I had an email from the office of Sian Gwenllian, Assembly Member for Arfon, this morning.

Marian Parry Hughes, Head of Children and Supporting Families at Cyngor Gwynedd has still not replied to the AM's letter sent in April.

How is it that a council employee can refuse to acknowledge and reply to a democratically elected Assembly Member for Wales ?

 http://gov.wales/topics/health/socialcare/act/?lang=en

Where is the accountability ?

How many other local and national politicians are ignored when they raise issues on behalf of their constituents ?

Or is it just in Gwynedd and Anglesey ?