To submit the following Notices of Motion by:-
• Councillor Shaun J Redmond
“Following the recent announcement to move to a policy of Welsh first language working environment with its associated financial burden and inbuilt discrimination, I move, as the Council has no mandate or sought the consensus of the electorate to change the policy from the Bilingual policy, members resolve to:
(a) Retain the Bilingual working environment and policy until a mandate and consensus are realised by a referendum of the electorate.
(b) Accept the policy of employing the best qualified candidates for all positions within the Council irrespective of their chosen first or preferred language of Welsh or English.
(c) Accept the policy of employing young persons and other Anglesey residents whose chosen first or preferred language is Welsh or English.”
· Councillor Aled Morris Jones
“I request that the County Council fly the flag of the United Kingdom outside the County Council offices in Llangefni on a daily basis, not just on certain days alongside the Ddraig Goch and the Council flag.”
· Councillor Bryan Owen
“In view of the devastating impact on individuals following the recent floods on the Island, would the Council agree to establishing an emergency support fund to assist those affected and prioritising improvement to flood defences as part of the 2018/19 budget.”
Minutes:
Submitted – the following Notices of Motion by :-
· Councillor Shaun Redmond
“Following the recent announcement to move to a policy of Welsh first language working environment with its associated financial burden and inbuilt discrimination, I move, as the Council has no mandate or sought the consensus of the electorate to change the policy from the Bilingual policy, members resolved to :
(a) Retain the Bilingual working environment and policy until a mandate and consensus are realised by a referendum of the electorate;
(b) Accept the policy of employing the best qualified candidates for all positions within the Council irrespective of their chosen first or preferred language of Welsh or English;
(c) Accept the policy of employing young persons and other Anglesey residents whose chosen first or preferred language is Welsh or English:
Councillor Peter S Rogers seconded the motion.
Councillor Redmond said that as an Elected Member he has been approached by the electorate with comments querying need for such a policy of Welsh first language as the working environment of the Council. This announcement to move to this policy has raised many questions and anxiousness within communities of Anglesey and that is why Council policies need to be open and publicly debated. He stressed that his notice of motion is not an attack on the Welsh language but since we do live in a diverse society with two prime languages, which he doubted that will ever change if Anglesey wishes to prosper. Why has a bilingual policy which has been successful in increasing the numbers who can speak Welsh or choose to use Welsh as their first language has to be replaced by a policy that demands the fluency of employees in writing and speaking Welsh to do their job? Staff who are fluent Welsh speaker carry out their duty in Welsh, which is rightly so, as it is their choice and nobody should deny them that freedom of choice. He was sure that staff have the utmost respect for those whose first language is different and it is their freedom of choice to use that language. Councillor Redmond further said that the change in policy will have a detrimental effect on the employment of staff. He said that there is already a problem in recruiting for highly qualified positions; this could complicate the recruitment process. He asked the Council to reject the policy of Welsh as the first language of administration of the Council.
The Portfolio Holder for the Welsh Language outlined the Welsh language policy adopted by the full Council in May 2016 and thereafter the Welsh Language Standards. He referred that in adopting the Welsh Language Policy the Council also resolved to adopt the following amendment at paragraph 3.2.4 of the policy which states ‘… That the Council’s aim is to ensure that Welsh will be the Council’s main language for both oral and written internal communication.’ In order to achieve this, the Council monitors progress annually by the issuing of a report to Scrutiny at the same time as the annual report on the operation of the Welsh Language policy. The annual report was adopted by the Partnership and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee held on 14th November, 2017. The Portfolio Holder expressed that it is not the aim to force staff to use the Welsh language for administration but to encourage and support them to use the language during their day to day work. He noted that in September 2016, the Housing Service was the first service to be selected to work intensively with the Language Co-Ordinator by establishing a baseline of the use of Welsh within the service. An Action Plan was agreed with the Housing Service Management Team in order to increase the use of Welsh in the workplace. The intention is to work with each department to promote the use of the Welsh language in their work environment. He noted that the Welsh Government policy is to have 1 million Welsh speakers by 2050.
The main issues raised were as follows :-
· Councillor Bryan Owen said that he fully supported the use of the Welsh language within the Authority and the bilingual policy of the Council. He supported the equal opportunities for every resident of the Island to be able to compete for job opportunities at the Council as it is apparent that very few applicants compete for employment at present;
· Councillor A M Jones said that he considered that the Welsh language should be encouraged rather than compelled;
· Councillor R Ll Jones said that he would support the establishment of a Panel to discuss the Welsh language policy;
· Councillor R Meirion Jones said that the Welsh Language Policy and Welsh Language Standards are already adhered to within the Council. The recent report to the Partnership and Regeneration Committee recently was an update report. He noted that a Language Task Group has been established within the Council for many years together with a Language Forum which endeavours to promote the use of the Welsh language across the Authority. He further stated that attitude towards the language is important and that the focus is on encouragement rather than compulsion.
Following deliberations Councillor R Ll Jones proposed an amendment to the Motion that a Panel be established with elected members to discuss the use the Welsh language within the Authority. Councillor Peter Rogers seconded the proposal.
Councillor Shaun Redmond said that he would withdraw his Notice of Motion so as to allow the proposal as noted above. He wished to reiterate that his Notice of Motion was not an attack on the Welsh language. He had concerns for people who are unable to speak Welsh, even though they may have tried to learn the language, to be deprived of being able to compete for employment within the Council. Members of the Council accepted the withdrawal of the Notice of Motion.
In accordance with paragraph 4.1.18.4 of the Constitution the required number of members requested that a recorded vote be taken on the establishment of the Pnael.
The recorded vote was as follows :-
· To establish a Panel to discuss to use of the Welsh language within the Council :-
Councillors Aled M Jones, Eric W Jones, R Ll Jones, Peter S Rogers, Bryan Owen, Shaun Redmond. TOTAL 6
· Not to establish a Panel to discuss the use of the Welsh language within the Council :-
Councillors Richard A Dew, John Griffith, Richard Griffiths, Glyn Haynes, K P Hughes, T Ll Hughes, Llinos M Huws, Carwyn Jones, Gwilym O Jones, R Meirion Jones, Margaret M Roberts, Vaughan Hughes, Alun Mummery, Bob Parry OBE, Dylan Rees, Alun Roberts, Dafydd Roberts, J Arwel Roberts, Nicola Roberts, Dafydd R Thomas, Ieuan Williams, Robin Williams. TOTAL 22
The motion was not carried.
· Councillor Aled Morris Jones
“I request that the County Council fly the flag of the United Kingdom outside the County Council Offices in Llangefni on a daily basis not just on certain days alongside the Ddraig Coch and the Council flag.”
Councillor Bryan Owen seconded the Motion.
Councillor Aled M Jones said that a number of civic buildings throughout North Wales and Wales fly the flag of the United Kingdom on a daily basis. He said that flying the flag of the United Kingdom is important to a number of people on the Island.
Councillor Bryan Owen said that flying the flag of the United Kingdom is a poignant reminder of the sacrifices of young people from Anglesey and Wales during the Great Wars. He supported the Notice of Motion as a mark of respect to those who had fallen during the Great Wars.
The Leader of the Council said that the County Council has adopted a Flag Policy on the 10th September, 2001 which notes the specific dates when the Union flag will fly. The Leader proposed that the Council adhere to the Flag Policy.
In accordance with paragraph 4.1.18.4 of the Constitution the required number of members requested that a recorded vote be taken on the proposed motion.
The recorded vote was as follows :-
· To fly the flag of the United Kingdom outside the County Council Offices on a daily basis :-
Councillors Aled M Jones, Eric W Jones, R Ll Jones, Peter S Rogers, Bryan Owen, Shaun Redmond. TOTAL 6
· Not to fly the flag of the United Kingdom outside the County Council Offices on a daily basis and to adhere to the Flag Policy adopted by the County Council on 10th September, 2001 :-
Councillors Richard A Dew, John Griffith, Richard Griffiths, Glyn Haynes, K P Hughes, T Ll Hughes, Llinos M Huws, Carwyn Jones, Gwilym O Jones, R Meirion Jones, Margaret M Roberts, Vaughan Hughes, Alun Mummery, Bob Parry OBE, Dylan Rees, Alun Roberts, Dafydd Roberts, J Arwel Roberts, Nicola Roberts, Dafydd R Thomas, Ieuan Williams, Robin Williams. TOTAL 22
The motion was not carried.
· Councillor Bryan Owen
“In view of the devastating impact on individuals following the recent floods on the Island, would the Council agree to establish an emergency support fund to assist those affected and prioritising improvement to flood defences as part of the 2018/19 budget.”
Councillor Aled M Jones seconded the motion.
Councillor Bryan Owen wished to thank the Chief Executive and staff of the Council for their hard work during the recent flooding on the Island. He said that there has been no mention of the effects of the flooding on the Dwyran area with some houses having suffered extreme damage to their homes. Councillor Owen said that one of the reasons for the extreme flooding was the lack of cleaning and maintaining the rivers. He referred to the landslide on the A545 between Menai Bridge and Beaumaris is an important which has occurred for the second time in a short period and that Beaumaris is an important tourist destination for many visitors to the Island. Councillor Owen said whilst there are discussions taking place as regard to the third crossing over the Menai Straits, it would be much better in having an upgraded highway between Menai Bridge and Beaumaris.
Councillor Aled M Jones said that he considered that the Council could request financial assistance from the Bellwin Scheme of Emergency Financial Assistance to Local Authorities.
Councillor Shaun Redmond requested a report by Natural Resources Wales on their activities in dredging and cleaning rivers. The Portfolio Holder for Highways, Property & Waste responded that farmers in the past were paid to clear ditches on the land but now they are prohibited from doing so by Natural Resources Wales. He expressed the view that the Cefni River needs to be dredged as a matter of urgency.
Councillor T Ll Hughes MBE said that the Charitable Trust had requested the Secretary to research whether it is appropriate for the Trust to establish a fund to give assistance to residents of the Island who have experienced flooding to their homes and business recently.
Councillor Carwyn Jones also wished to thank the Council staff, DAWNUS construction and M W T Construction Ltd., during the extreme flooding which occurred recently. The Beaumaris flood defence scheme approved by the late Mr. Carl Sargeant AC., safeguarded the possible catastrophic flooding of the town of Beaumaris. The A545 road from Menai Bridge to Beaumaris has suffered landslides for the third occasion and there is a dire need for the upgrade of this highway. Councillor R Meirion Jones reiterated the statement that the highway from Menai Bridge to Beaumaris needs to be upgraded. He also asked the residents of the Island, who have experienced flooding to their properties, to forward to the Council their experiences and losses so as the Authority may contact Welsh Government for funding to make sure that such flooding does not occur again.
The Leader of the Council also wished to thank the staff of the Council for their work on the unexpected extreme flooding recently on the Island. She said that the Council needs to continue to work with Welsh Government, Natural Resources Wales and Network Rail to examine the reasons for the flooding and to put in place measure to avoid such an occurrence again.
Councillor Peter Rogers said that funding needs to be put in place in the next budget to help people who have experienced flooding and a plan needs to be put in place to make sure that such flooding does not occur again.
Councillor Bryan Owen as the proposer of the Motion said that he did not agree that the Charitable Trust should consider setting up a fund to assist residents who have experience flooding as he considered that it is a matter for the Council to deal with flooding problems and if it was the responsibility of Natural Resources Wales and Welsh Water then the Council needs to purse them to fund measures to ensure that such extreme flooding experienced recently does not happen again and that continued maintenance of the rivers shall be undertaken.
The Leader of the Council proposed an amendment to the Motion submitted by Councillor Bryan Owen to request the relevant Officers of the Council to continue to work with the Welsh Government, Natural Resources Wales and Network Rail to investigate the reasons for the extreme flooding on the Island and to put measures in place to avoid such an incident from occurring again and that a report be submit to the Executive in the New Year. The Deputy Leader seconded the proposal.
In the ensuing vote the amendment as proposed by the Leader was carried. With the consent of the meeting Councillor Bryan Owen did not pursue his original motion.