Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillors Sasha Williams, John Brynmor Hughes, Jina Gwyrfai, Gwion Emyr, Wendy Cleaver and Anwen Davies.

To receive any declarations of personal interest.

No declarations of personal interest were received.

To receive any Chair’s announcements.

It was confirmed that this extraordinary meeting of the Full Council had been convened by the Chair in accordance with paragraph 4.12.1(b) of the Council's Constitution, to discuss the 'Response Plan to the Our Bravery Brought Justice report'. It was highlighted that an additional item had been programmed as an exception to the programme, namely 'Re-appointment of an Independent Member to the Standards Committee'. It was reported that a discussion on the Response Plan would be held first because of its importance, with the Members' permission.

Condolences were extended to the families of the late John Wynne Meredith, former councillor of Garth (Bangor) and Alwyn Elis Roberts, former Cyngor Gwynedd secretary following their recent bereavements. Condolences were expressed to everyone within the County's communities who had recently lost loved ones. The Council stood in silence as a mark of respect and remembrance.

It was noted that several Council members had been ill recently, and they were wished a speedy recovery.

The following were congratulated:

·       Councillor Elfed Wyn ap Elwyn and his wife, Anwen, on the recent birth of their daughter, Nanw Eluned.

·       Councillor Craig ab Iago on winning an Enablement UK 2025 Award.

·       Elfyn Evans on the achievement of coming second in the first World Rally Championship rally in Monte Carlo recently. He was wished well for the championship this year.

·       Bangor City Football Club 1876 and Caernarfon Town Football Club on reaching the semi-final round of the Welsh Cup.

·       Nick Thomas from Talysarn on winning a gold medal in the World Para-Archery Championship.

To note any items which are urgent business in the opinion of the Chair so they may be considered.

None to note.

To consider and approve the re-appointment of  an Independent Member to the Standards Committee

RESOLVED to re-appoint Hywel Eifion Jones as an independent member of the Standards Committee to serve for a further term of four years from 05 February 2026.

The Monitoring Officer submitted a report noting that Mr Hywel Eifion Jones's term had come to an end but the Standards Committees Regulations (Wales) 2001 allowed independent members to be re-appointed for an additional term, not being longer than four years, as requested in the report.

It was reported that Mr Hywel Eifion Jones had been a member of the Standards Committee since 2019 and he had served as the Chair of the Committee since 2023. ⁠It was confirmed that his first term as a Committee Member had ended in July 2025 and that the vacant seat had not been filled in the meantime. It was assured that he could be re-appointed in accordance with the above Regulations, for a second membership term. It was highlighted that there was a gap in his membership, but legal advice had agreed that it was appropriate for him to be re-elected.

Many expressions of support were received from the Members, as Mr Hywel Eifion Jones had been a very hard-working Member of the Standards Committee. He was thanked for his thorough, knowledgeable, valuable and objective work throughout his first term.

RESOLVED to re-appoint Hywel Eifion Jones as an independent member of the Standards Committee to serve for a further term of four years from 05 February 2026.

That the Council asks the Cabinet to consider the additional observations made at this meeting, as well as the observations of the Scrutiny Committees and the Governance and Audit Committee, when adopting the new Response Plan.

The main points of the Meeting's discussion were confirmed as follows:

·       To reiterate the request to the Welsh Government for a public inquiry, and share the Government's response to the request with the Members of the Full Council.

·       To emphasise the importance of the efficiency of Whistleblowing, Safeguarding and Reasonable Force Policies.

·       To ask for the wider distribution of Safeguarding Referral Forms rather than only to Headteachers and Chairs of Governing Bodies.

·       To share information about expenditure on support, therapy and counselling for victims to give assurance that we are spending enough on this support.

·       To emphasise the importance of the Reasonable Force Policy and that it is given due consideration in the response.

·       To consider how to ensure that the safeguarding policy is followed when the information is confidential and not known to all members of a school's governing body.

·       To give consideration to ensuring that concerns are taken seriously and that this is reinforced in culture.

·       To ensure that record keeping arrangements, and any relevant training, are reviewed and that a dedicated officer be considered to verify the quality of records.

·       The need for reassurance of what would be different if someone should raise concerns today.

·       The need to publish a concise and easy-to-read version of the document.

RESOLVED:

To ask the Cabinet to consider the above observations, as well as those from an Extraordinary Meeting of the Care Scrutiny Committee (13 January 2026), an Extraordinary Meeting of the Education and Economy Scrutiny Committee (19 January 2026) and the Governance and Audit Committee (15 January 2026), in adopting the new Response Plan.

This item was submitted by the Chair noting the following main points:

It was acknowledged that the 'Our Bravery Brought Justice' report was a difficult and emotional document to read and that it highlighted a number of missed opportunities by many bodies, including Cyngor Gwynedd, to try to stop Neil Foden: former Ysgol Friars Headteacher. The sincere apologies given to the victims were reiterated and emphasis was given on the responsibility of ensuring that everything was done to ensure that nobody suffered in the same way again.

It was reported that significant scrutiny work had been undertaken on the Response Plan during January 2026. It was elaborated that 12 hours had been spent scrutinising this matter between the Care Scrutiny Committee (13 January 2026), the Governance and Audit Committee (15 January 2026) and the Education and Economy Scrutiny Committee (19 January 2026). It was highlighted that the committees' observations had been included as part of the documentation for this meeting.

Members were taken through the order of the meeting, noting that priority was given to those Members who had not already had the opportunity to submit observations in the committees above, to ensure that all Members had an opportunity to provide input. It was explained, in fairness to everyone, that Members should refrain from repeating the same matters raised in the meetings above, and also note which of the 7 themes of the Response Plan they were referring to. Members were reminded of the usual procedure to try not to take more than 5 minutes of the meeting's time to contribute to the discussion.

It was emphasised that the Members and officers had no right to discuss any employment matters or possible investigations, as they were matters that the employer must address in accordance with the statutory employment rights and constitution. They were reminded that the Monitoring Officer had provided and circulated a briefing note to the members advising them on this matter.

It was explained that the observations made during the discussion would be submitted to the Cabinet, as well as the observations of the Scrutiny Committees and the Governance and Audit Committee, should the observations receive the Members' approval at the end of the discussion on this item.

The report was submitted by the Council Leader. The following main matters were emphasised:

A sincere apology was offered to the victims and all those affected by the heinous offences committed that had led to requiring this report. Furthermore, apologies were given that the voice of the children had not been heard, emphasising that acting to ensure change was the greatest tribute the Council could achieve.

It was confirmed that this Response Plan tried to ensure that these types of failures highlighted in the Review did not happen again. Input was welcomed by all Council members, noting that a healthy discussion and challenge was essential to the Council's success.

It was highlighted that the Response Plan was a live and public document, confirming that the minutes of the Response Plan  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.