Issue - meetings

To provide assurance that the planning system takes seriously the impact of developments on vulnerable Welsh-speaking communities.

1.    To accept the report, noting the observations made during the discussion.

2.    That the Committee requests the Welsh Government to review 'Planning Policy Wales' and 'Technical Advice Note (TAN) 20: Planning and the Welsh language' to ensure that the Welsh language receives proper consideration.

3.    Ask the Housing Associations to provide data to the Council to assess knowledge of the Welsh language in planning.

4.    Recognise that no specific qualification has been developed for assessing the linguistic impact of planning developments. Recommend to the Department of Environment and the Language Unit that the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol and Bangor University be contacted to encourage them to develop suitable training. ⁠

5.    Community and Town Councils should be reminded that they are free to make representations on the potential linguistic impact local planning developments may have on the area.

6.    Consideration should be given to conducting language planning training for Councillors to enable them to assist Community and Town Councils in making representations on the language impact of planning developments.