Agenda item

To submit a report by the Director of Function (Council Business)/Monitoring Officer.

The Welsh Language Annual Report was presented for the Committee’s consideration and for comment prior to its submission for delegated approval by the Portfolio Member for publication.

The Portfolio Member for Education and the Welsh Language said that in accordance with the Welsh Language Standards Regulations 2015 the Council must prepare an Annual Report regarding the compliance with the standards.  He referred that there has been an increase in staff receiving Welsh language training over the year and the National Centre for Learning Welsh has supported the Council.  He further said that it was pleasing that the Welsh Language Commissioner and Care Inspectorate Wales have praised the Authority that it has met all the Welsh language standards. 

The Head of Democracy reported that the Annual Report has been structured in accordance with the requirement of the Welsh Language Commissioner and to comply with the headings that is required to be reported upon. He further said that the Anglesey perspective has also been incorporated within the report to highlight the wider successes attained within the Authority during the last year.

In considering the report the Committee raised the following issues:-

·         Reference was made to the impacts on the recruitment process for posts that are challenging to fill and the requirement, in some services, to recruit people who need additional training and support to develop their Welsh language skills and to what extent does a focus on the Welsh language limit the ability to attract individuals to posts requiring a set of specialist skills?  Further questions were raised that there are 178 staff with language skills of 0 – 1 Welsh language skills with only 27 having received training.  The Head of Democracy responded that it is essential that the Council provides training to staff to support their language skills. He noted that the Welsh language is considered a crucial skill with levels of language skills varying depending on the requirements of the role of a specific post.  If there is a change in the language skills of a post discussions need to be undertaken within the Recruitment Panel.  He further said that some posts only require the lower level of language skills, and that level will remain part of that post.  It is recognized that there is a requirement to invest more to increase the linguistic skills of staff. The recruitment of some specialised posts is challenging to fill for a number of reasons including  linguistic requirements, but support and training is available to improve their Welsh language skills.  The Chief Executive said that the robustness of the Welsh Language Policy and the expected language skills is a way of measuring improvements of staff linguistic skills and the Welsh culture of the Authority.  He further said that there is an expectation when an individual within a team is having an affect on front line services due to the lack of Welsh language skills, there is an expectation within the employment contract of that individual to undertaken Welsh language training.

·         Questions were raised as to what additional information could add value to the Annual Report?  The Head of Democracy responded that internal discussions have been undertaken as to how the Annual Report can be improved in the future and especially the use of data as regards to the use of the Welsh language within the services offered by the Council and the language choice of the customers. He said that case studies could be beneficial to the enhancement of the Annual Report and to track development and progress of staff attending Welsh language training. 

·         Reference was made that there has been a decrease in internal Welsh language training courses in 2023/204 to 30% from 55% in 2022/2023.  Questions whether it would be advantages to afford additional training sessions and the need to ensure resources is spent more effectively.  Further questions were raised as to whether there is a lack of confidence in staff speaking Welsh and it was considered that Welsh awareness sessions be afforded to give the history of Wales and culture.  The Head of Democracy responded that more bilingual language training courses are offered and there is a need to examine the data from the uptake of these training session.  He noted that he would make enquiries as to the availability of Welsh awareness session.

·         Questions were raised as to whether there are courses available to continue the improvement in written and language skills.  The Head of Democracy responded that it is important that there is a variety of levels of training available to staff from basic skills to language refresher courses.  Work has undertaken with the Centre for Learning Welsh which afford training courses free of charge and courses are also available to continue with the development of people to improve their Welsh written and language skills.  He further said that during the Annual Conversions process with staff the Welsh language levels can be discussed and staff can be offered training provision to use the Welsh language formally within the workplace. 

·         Reference was made that there has been an increase in the use of the Welsh language within the schools in the Holyhead but there is a lack of Welsh language course availably for adults in the area.  The Head of Democracy responded that the Authority works with partner organisations through the Anglesey Language Forum who organise Welsh language courses within communities.

·         Questions were raised as to whether the publications of findings of the innovative research into the field of recruitment to help organisation to recruit more Welsh speakers by reducing any barriers to applicants has been published. The Head of Democracy responded that the findings of the research will assist the Authority’s recruitment process and to guide Managers to gauge language levels to certain posts within the Council. 

·         Reference was made to the assessment of the effect on the Welsh language when planning applications are submitted and especially large developments within communities and the effect it can in the longer term.  The Head of Democracy responded that the Policy and Welsh Language Manager is consulted when planning applications are considered during the consultation process.  He further said that the Welsh Language Assessment is afforded by the developer under the planning regulations.  He noted that the process could be considered under the new Local Development Plan.  Comments were made that the support of the Welsh Language Commissioner be ascertained to put pressure, on a national level, on Welsh Government that there is a need to change the legislation that developers can afford Welsh Language Impact Assessments. The Chief Executive said that there will be collaboration between Officers on a strategic level in the development of the new Local Development Plan, however, planning applications must be evaluated on the population data and especially the linguistic perspective must be fully considered within the national planning policies set out by Welsh Government.  The Portfolio Member for Education and Welsh Language said that a joint letter between both him and the Portfolio Member of Planning, Public Protection and Climate Change has been forwarded to Welsh Government ascertaining whether there is a more comprehensive guidance as regards to language risk assessments as there is a high proportion of Welsh language speakers on the Island. 

·         Reference was made that some members of Town and Community Councils are unable to contribute within meetings in Welsh as translation facilities are unavailable.  Questions were raised as to what translation support is available from the Council at Town and Community Council meetings. The Head of Democracy responded that work will be undertaken to identify Welsh Language Champions within communities and Town and Community Councils to understand the requirements and existing practise.  He noted that there is an intention to consider the Welsh language provision within the Town and Community Councils Forum in October.  The Policy and Welsh Language Manager has been in contact with organisations who afford translation facilities to support Town and Community Councils.

It was RESOLVED:-

·     To accept the Welsh Language Annual Report for 2023/24;

·     To note its contents and that Scrutiny’s comments be forwarded to the   Portfolio Member as part of its submission for delegated approval and subsequent publication.

ACTIONS : 

·         That Welsh awareness sessions be made available to staff to promote the  history and culture of Wales;

·         That the consultation process on the effect of the Welsh language should be reviewed during the planning application process.