Agenda, decisions and minutes

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillors Olaf Cai Larsen and Menna Baines, Geraint Owen (Corporate Director) and Bet Huws (Welsh Language Learning and Development Officer).

Councillor Sasha Williams was thanked for her contribution to the Committee over the past two years. Councillor Rhys Tudur was welcomed as a new Member of the Committee.

To receive any declaration of personal interest.

A declaration of personal interest was received from Councillor Elfed Wyn ap Elwyn for Item 7 as he had collaborated with Menter Iaith Gwynedd during the last year. It was not a prejudicial interest and therefore he did not withdraw from the meeting.

To note any items that are a matter of urgency in the view of the Chairman for consideration.

No urgent items were received.

The Chairman shall propose that the minutes of the previous meeting of this committee held on 30 January 2024, be signed as a true record  (attached)

The Chair signed the minutes of the previous meeting of this committee held on 30 January 2024 as a true record.

To present information about the contribution of the Leadership Team and Legal Services to promote and further the Welsh Language.

To accept the report and note the observations received.

The report was submitted by the Chief Executive and the Head of Legal Services. ⁠Attention was drawn briefly to the following main points:

It was emphasised that the Leadership Team stood firmly on the use of the Welsh language whilst not compromising, as it set a precedent for the rest of the Council. Frustration was expressed that no sufficient Welsh facilities were used in meetings held by the Welsh Government by elaborating that discussions were frequently held in English. It was confirmed that Cyngor Gwynedd led on ensuring that sufficient facilities were used in meetings and because of this, attention was drawn to the letter that was sent to the Welsh Language Minister at the Welsh Government to declare the Leadership Team's concern regarding the present situation.

It was reported that the Leadership Team and the Council collaborated with many national and regional bodies. The members were ensured that officers encouraged those bodies to try and reflect Cyngor Gwynedd's language policy and to promote an internal use of the Welsh language. An example of this was shared namely that the Corporate Director and the Senior Language and Scrutiny Adviser were members of the Steering Group that was established by the Welsh Language Commissioner to develop policy models to increase the use of the Welsh Language within public bodies in Wales. It was explained that the Group, which included representatives from many establishments, allowed Council officers to share experiences such as language policy development, recruiting methods, the Council's internal use of the Welsh language, training and encouragement offered to staff to develop their confidence in the Welsh language. It was emphasised that there was representation from the Council on the Gwynedd and Anglesey Public Services Board by noting that the Board had been working on a project regarding recent workforce recruiting matters to attract Welsh-speaking staff. It was also mentioned that the Council collaborated with Menter Iaith Gwynedd (Language Initiative) to develop projects.

It was explained that the Statutory Director (Social Services) had specific responsibilities in terms of promoting the use of the Welsh language within the care sector. It was explained that it was expected for each local authority and Health Board in Wales, to appoint a senior leader as a 'champion' of the Welsh Language as part of the 'More Than Just Words' work programme and confirming that the Statutory Director (Social Services) undertakes that role in Gwynedd. It was confirmed that it was a requirement in accordance with the Social Services and Well-being Act (Wales) 2014 for the 'champion' to ensure pro-active use of the Welsh language for it to be available without the user having to ask for it. It was emphasised that this was customary within Cyngor Gwynedd since many years and that the Director used his role as a 'champion' and 'More Than Just Words' Chair to assist others to be pro-active in the Welsh Language.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To present information about the Department’s contribution to the Language Policy.

To accept the report and note the observations received.

The report was presented by the Head of Economy and Community Department, and attention was drawn briefly to the following main points:

Attention was drawn to the Arfor project by noting that Cyngor Gwynedd took a leading role on the project's Board. It was explained that the Board was in the process of evaluating the impact of the projects on areas and residents to receive a budget in the future.  The committee was reminded that the Arfor project was funded up to the end of the 2024-25 financial year therefore it was important to work on trying to currently receive financial commitment for the future. It was confirmed that important collaboration was happening between Arfor regional counties, namely Anglesey, Gwynedd, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire.

It was reported that the Department had succeeded to attract funding by the UK Government's Shared Prosperity Fund, by confirming that a grant fund for businesses was available from this budget in addition to the Arfor project. It was explained that the terms and conditions that were developed through the Arfor project had been included for businesses’ applications for funding through the Shared Prosperity Fund too. It was explained that this meant that companies needed to highlight the use of the Welsh language as part of their business as well as sharing how the company promoted the Welsh language, whilst they made an application for funding. ⁠As a result, it was noted that 79 businesses from Gwynedd had completed the Welsh Language Commissioner's 'Welsh Language Offer' assessment during 2023/24 and 12 of the companies had already secured the accreditation. ⁠It was acknowledged that the same encouragement would not be available when business grants were not available. However, it was emphasised that work was underway to be able to offer support for small businesses to obtain the accreditation by the Welsh Language Commissioner. It was reiterated that the hope was that the companies would take the opportunity to apply for a 'Welsh Language Offer' accreditation voluntarily in the future, but it was noted that there was no way for the Department to compel them. Disappointment was expressed that Gwynedd was the only county in the north that had set this condition on business grant applications through the Shared Prosperity Fund.

It was confirmed that the Department had launched the Gwynedd and Eryri Plan 2035 which was a Sustainable Visitor Economy Plan for the area, formed jointly with Eryri National Park Authority. It was reminded that one of the plan's clear priorities would be to promote local ownership and to develop opportunities to highlight the Welsh language, our culture and heritage. It was emphasised that work was underway to monitor the impact that the plan had on this priority at present. It was emphasised that this priority had been included as a clause and that the department had agreed to support events, to ensure  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To provide a background to Committee Members about the existing word and priorities of the Menter Iaith.

To accept the report and note the observations received.

The report was presented by Menter Iaith Gwynedd's Principal Officer. Reference was made to the following main points:

The members were reminded that the initiative had now discarded the name 'Hunaniaith' by re-branding with the name 'Menter Iaith Gwynedd' and that the initiative was registered as a not-for-profit company with Companies House under the leadership of four voluntary directors. It was elaborated that the initiative's primary purpose was to increase opportunities for people to use the Welsh language in all aspects of their lives and in all communities in Gwynedd.

It was explained that one staff member of the Enterprise had left to work with another department within Cyngor Gwynedd. ⁠It was acknowledged that this vacant job had currently not been filled to facilitate the process of externalising from the Council. It was noted that Cyngor Gwynedd assisted to employ a new officer within the Meirionnydd area for 2024/25.

It was explained that the initiative would become independent from April 2025, with the three current initiative officers continuing to be employed by the initiative, as well as the new officer in the Meirionnydd area. It was acknowledged that there had been a delay in this outsourcing transition, but it was explained that this had been due to pension commitment complexities for officers. It was emphasised that the Project Board met regularly with the Head of Finance and the Head of Legal Services to resolve the difficulties that arose.

It was reported on the campaign that was being initiated in May that focused on people who had moved to the area and learned the Welsh language, by sharing case studies stories on how individuals had succeeded to nurture a feeling of belonging to Gwynedd communities. It was elaborated that there was a second plan in the pipeline with support from 'Gareth yr Orangutang' to explain the history of the Welsh language to young people and share ideas on how to use technology in Welsh, by emphasising that what was important was making use of the language, not worrying about any mistakes made.

An update was given that the initiative had been supporting immersion centres to support families. It was explained that officers provided digital presentations to all parents of the immersion centres' attendees every term. In response to the challenges that the educators had after being in immersion centres and returning to school, it was confirmed that the initiative had commissioned an author to create a production with the children's input before performing to the parents. It was emphasised that the initiative would own the production therefore there would be a way to recreate this scheme in other areas as required. An idea was shared that the initiative could use examples of families who had fostered the Welsh language following these schemes to inspire others in the future.

There was pride that the initiative had received very positive  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.