Issue - meetings

To accept the report.

The report was presented by Cllr. Nia Jeffreys.

DECISION

To accept the report.

DISCUSSION

The opportunity was taken, before Professor Sally Holland reported as the Board's Independent Chair, to acknowledge and thank the victims and survivors for their courage highlighting that they are at the forefront of the Board's mind in driving this work forwards. It was noted that the Response Plan had been adopted back in January to collate all the support, reviews, audits and work streams relating to the response to the crimes. Attention was drawn to the objectives of the response plan published in January 2025. Soon after the plan was adopted, independent members were appointed to the Board and this report reported on the progress being made and any work outstanding. 

Professor Sally Holland presented her report, reminding the Cabinet that the Response Plan had emerged following a breach of trust and criminal behaviour of a well-known headteacher employed by Cyngor Gwynedd. It was noted that such abuse often involved someone using their power over others, and in this case had involved age, gender and status. It was expressed that the Council was required to examine all its systems and ways of working to ensure and prevent such behaviour from happening again, and that a culture of being alert and challenging was in place. It was highlighted that a shift in culture would be much more difficult to measure than processes and policies.

It was explained that the Board's role was two-fold, namely to advise and to scrutinise the progress and developments of the Board's Response Plan. It was explained that the Board consisted of Senior Officers, Cabinet Members and Independent Members. It was noted that the Chair met the independent members separately on a quarterly basis to seek their views. It was explained that it had been written by the Response Board before the board had been appointed and, at their first meeting, it was explained that the Board had reviewed the response methods along with the objectives adding the important objective of accountability, to ensure transparency and measure the impact of any changes. It was noted that additional measures had subsequently been included. It was noted that the Board also highlighted any national issues such as how governance boards provide support and training.

It was noted that consistent progress had been seen since March, however it would take time to see the impact of the vast majority of these. It was emphasised that it was very easy to change policies but that changing ways of working would take time. It was highlighted that work had been undertaken to initiate annual visits to monitor safeguarding in every school in the county and that support had been given to the leadership and governing body of Ysgol Friars.

It was explained that the content of the plan had changed following advice from the Board, and that more plans to seek young people's views about their confidence in safeguarding had now been included along with recommendations received from  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6