Decision details

Item 11 (a):  NOTICE OF MOTION FROM COUNCILLOR BECA BROWN

 

In accordance with the Notice of Motion received in accordance with Section 4.19 of the Constitution, a motion was received from Councillor Beca Brown proposing as follows:-

 

We would like to welcome the publication of the Child Practice Review on 4 November, noting our deep thanks to chair, Jan Pickles, for her careful work, and so too to the panel and to the North Wales Safeguarding Board.

 

We would like to note the title of the report, which is Our Bravery Brought Justice. It is important that we always acknowledge the title when discussing this report, as it pays a well-deserved tribute to the bravery of children – children who were supposed to be safe in their schools, and children who ended years of horrific offending by one of the most powerful men in this county. We owe them a great deal. Our thoughts are with them, and we thank them from the bottom of our hearts for their remarkable determination and resilience.

 

We as a council are committed to learning all the lessons that come from the report, but beyond that, we are committed to looking at any relevant issues that have fallen outside the remit of the CPR, which looked at the case of this offender in the period from 2017 to September 2023.

 

 

We once again express our sincere apologies to the children who have suffered harm, and we pledge to leave no stone unturned to ensure, to the best of our ability, that 'never again' means 'never again'.

 

Item 11 (b): NOTICE OF MOTION FROM COUNCILLOR NIA JEFFREYS

 

In accordance with the Notice of Motion received in accordance with Section 4.19 of the Constitution, Councillor Nia Jeffreys will propose as follows:-

Propose that the Council:

 

1. Notes: that suicide figures in Wales registered in 2024 were 15.7 per 100,000 people which was an increase on the figure for 2023, which was 14.0 per 100,000. There are several factors associated with suicide, including: poverty, unemployment, mental and physical health problems, grief, abuse, loneliness, relationship problems, alcohol and substance misuse etc.

 

We also note that suicide is the leading cause of death of young people up to the age of 35 according to the Papyrus charity, because young people rarely die from other causes.

 

Middle-aged men between the ages of 30-44 in Wales are most likely to commit suicide. 76% of deaths by suicide were men. There is a correlation between poverty and suicide, with 15.8 in 100,000 suicides occurring in deprived areas, and 8.6 in 100,000 in the least deprived areas. 126.7 in 100,000 are unemployed.

 

Suicide is preventable, and support is available.

 

2. Believes: That the people of Wales have a right to live in communities that are free of the fear and stigma that are associated with suicide and self-harm. We believe that the people of Wales have a right to be empowered and supported to access and offer support wherever they are needed (Welsh Government, 2025). 

 

We all have a role, as individuals and organisations, to support those affected by suicide. We believe that the Council has a role to work with other stakeholders, to take action to prevent suicide, reduce stigma, and offer support. We believe that the Council has a role to play in taking concrete steps to protect our young people, empowering them to look after themselves and others.

 

Principles - Welsh Government's Suicide Prevention Strategy (Understanding: suicide and self-harm prevention strategy

1. Self-harm and suicide are everyone's business, and everyone can make a difference with the right training and support.

2. It must be clear who leads on and is responsible for every action in the strategy.

3. The focus is on prevention, identifying risks early on and offering appropriate support to keep people safe.

4. Services should be fair and accessible to all, removing barriers that affect different groups.

5. There is a need to focus on higher risk groups, providing proportionate and appropriate support.

6. Anyone should be able to get help immediately ('no wrong door') without having to repeat their story.

7. The voices of people with lived experiences must be listened to and individual-centres services must be co-planned.

8. The strategy should support the Welsh language, ensuring that people are cared for in their own language without having to ask.

9. The actions must be evidence-based and their consequences clear.

10. The work should be trauma-informed, providing compassionate and empathetic care.

11. It is important to address stigma, promoting understanding and compassion.

12. A rights-based approach should be adopted, protecting the rights of all individuals.

13. The strategy must cover all ages, ensuring that support is available to everyone from babies to older people.

14. The social and economic factors that influence health and well-being should be recognised.

15. The role of digital technology should be considered, where it can improve outcomes or sustainability.

16. Funding and resources must be made available, testing what steps are realistic within the existing resources.

 

3. I call on my fellow Members to support the motion. 

(a) That this Council declares firm support for the principles of the Welsh Government's Suicide Prevention Strategy and supports the work of the Cabinet to establish a strategy for Cyngor Gwynedd.

(b) That members should do all they can to ensure that the Council implements policies that support individuals, prevent suicide, empowering the Council's structures,

(c) It supports opportunities in schools to discuss suicide as an aspect of mental health discussions, in the context of personal and social education, equipping our pupils to look after themselves and others in a sensitive way, by teachers who are given the appropriate support, supervision and training to provide such education.

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