Chair of Crime Response Programme Board appointed

The former Children's Commissioner for Wales has been appointed to chair the Programme Board tasked with closely monitoring progress made by Cyngor Gwynedd’s Response Plan in relation to the crimes committed by Neil Foden.

One of the cornerstones of Cyngor Gwynedd's response to the terrible crimes committed has been the establishment of a specific Programme Board to coordinate matters and to ensure the appropriate and timely progress of response actions. This work has taken a significant step forward as Professor Sally Holland, who was the Children's Commissioner for Wales from 2015 to 2022, has agreed to chair the Board.

Sally Holland comes from a social work background and is highly respected in the field. Before becoming Children's Commissioner for Wales, she was the director of the Children's Social Care Research and Development Centre (CASCADE) and continues to be an assistant director of the Centre. Sally Holland is also an academic – she is a Professor at Cardiff University where she teaches Social Work studies and is the Director of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion at the School of Social Sciences.

Sally Holland said: “It is vital that that victims and survivors and the wider community are confident that the council is taking firm steps to learn from the circumstances surrounding this distressing case.

“Cyngor Gwynedd has set out its plan and the people of Gwynedd will expect to see results from this.

“The Programme Board will have an important role in scrutinising, challenging and advising Cyngor Gwynedd as it implements its response plan, and as Chair I will endeavour to ensure that the plan retains momentum and has a tangible impact.”

Councillor Nia Jeffreys, Leader of Cyngor Gwynedd, said: “We continue to be shaken by the dreadful crimes committed and our thoughts remain with the victims, and everyone affected.

“We are committed to doing everything possible to ensure that no one will ever suffer in the same way again and the Programme Board will be central to ensuring that lessons are learned and that we do everything within our power to protect our children and young people.

“It is good news that Professor Sally Holland has agreed to chair the Programme Board. I am pleased that we have been able to appoint an individual of the highest possible calibre who has been a prominent advocate for children’s rights and safeguarding in Wales for many years. She is very experienced and will be an independent and strong voice.”

The Board will scrutinise and challenge the progress of each work stream within the Response Plan and will ensure that all individual issues are thoroughly and appropriately addressed. It will report regularly to Cyngor Gwynedd Cabinet meetings.

This work will be carried out in tandem with the statutory Child Practice Review, which is being conducted by the North Wales Safeguarding Board.