Issue - meetings

              Alwen Williams, Chief Executive and Andy Roberts, Regional Strategic Planning Officer to present the report.

The draft Delivery Agreement was approved following consultation and was approved as the Draft Delivery Agreement inclusive of the amendments shown in the consultation report, ready for submission to the Welsh Government, subject to the resolution of the funding for the Strategic Development Plan.

It was agreed to revise the wording of the Report to highlight compliance with the Welsh Language Standards as part of the Strategic Development Plan, to ensure that the Welsh and English languages are equal.

The report was submitted by Alwen Williams, Chief Executive and Andy Roberts, Regional Strategic Planning Officer.

RESOLVED

The draft Delivery Agreement was approved following consultation and was approved as the Draft Delivery Agreement inclusive of the amendments shown in the consultation report, ready for submission to the Welsh Government, subject to the resolution of the funding for the Strategic Development Plan (SDP).

It was agreed to revise the wording of the Report to highlight compliance with the Welsh Language Standards as part of the Strategic Development Plan, to ensure that the Welsh and English languages are equal.

DISCUSSION

It was submitted that the SDP Delivery Agreement contained information on four elements: how the CJC intended to undertake the SDP; who would be included; the timetable; and how it would be funded. The CJC would report on these to the Welsh Government.

The Delivery Agreement had been considered by the Strategic Planning Sub-Committee on 27 June, and it was recommended to the CJC on 18 July for approval for consultation. It was noted that a six-week consultation period had taken place. It was explained that a follow-up consultation report included around 18 formal responses, which were of high quality. It was expressed that the responses offered useful guidance, and that they showed an intention to be involved in the process as it unfolded.

It was reminded that this was a procedural document, not a policy document. It was noted that the consultation allowed the first three of the four elements to be discussed and confirmed, but not the fourth element, which referred to the funding of the SDP. The recommendation to re-approve this as a Draft Delivery Agreement would establish the Board's position following the consultation and would allow, from a performance perspective, a claim to be made to the Welsh Government for a potential grant of £100k.

Concern was expressed about the lack of compliance with Welsh language standards, which had been highlighted by Cyngor Gwynedd in the consultation. It was noted that the issue had been included in the report but that no amendments had been made. Assurances were sought that the concerns were being considered so that the Welsh language and the English language would be treated equally. At present, it was expressed that the draft delivery agreement demonstrated that English was being treated favourably, demonstrated in such cases as having to make a request to receive documents in Welsh and having to request simultaneous translation at meetings.

Apologies were expressed and it was emphasised that the Welsh language standards were being taken seriously. It was proposed to include an amendment to demonstrate full compliance with Welsh language standards.