Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

To elect Chair for 2025-2026.

To elect Councillor Menna Baines as Chair of the Committee for the year 2025-26.

RESOLVED to elect Councillor Menna Baines as Chair of the Committee for the year 2025-26.

To elect Vice-Chair for 2025-2026.

To elect Councillor Meryl Roberts as Vice-chair of the Committee for the year 2025-26.

RESOLVED to elect Councillor Meryl Roberts as Vice-Chair of the Committee for the year 2025-26.

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillors Beca Brown and Rhys Tudur.

To receive any declaration of personal interest

No declarations of personal interest were received.

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 29 April 2025 be signed as a true record  (attached)

The Chair signed the minutes of the previous meeting of this committee held on 29 April 2025 as a true record.

To consider the report.

To accept the report, noting the observations received during the meeting.

The report was presented by the Senior Executive Officer, Children and Supporting Families Department, Interim Head of Resources - Children Department, Workforce Support Team Leader, Corporate Leadership Team and the Assistant Head of Adult Services, Adults, Health and Well-being Department. She referred briefly to the following main points:

It was reported that the Children and Supporting Families Department and the Adults, Health and Well-being Department promoted the Welsh language in all aspects of their work.

Attention was drawn to the 'More than Just Words' scheme, a Strategic Framework published in 2016 for Welsh Language Services in the areas of Health, Social Services and Social Care. It was emphasised that this framework was central to the work of the Departments to ensure that an active offer of Welsh language care was implemented in practice within the services.

Pride was expressed in the development of the 'Niwro' app, an innovative resource for supporting neuro-diverse individuals through the medium of Welsh. It was noted that the use of this app raised the status of the Welsh language in an area where it had not been properly considered in the past.

Reference was made to the development of the Small Group Homes scheme for looked after children, a scheme that allowed looked after children to remain within their Welsh speaking communities and continue to feel a sense of belonging to the local language and culture.

It was noted that schemes within the Early Years service to extend play opportunities and offer activities through the medium of Welsh contributed to creating a natural environment where children could use the language effortlessly. It was further noted that plans to develop the workforce's language skills was also essential to ensure accessible and bilingual services.

An example of the cross-departmental collaborative ‘Croesi’r Bont’ project was shared. This project confirmed that there was seamless communication in Welsh between services. This allowed the user to be at the centre of the processes.

Members were reminded that the Adults, Health and Well-being Department had a strong focus on projects linked to the 'A Caring Gwynedd' project within the Cyngor Gwynedd Plan. These included the modernisation of care homes, community resources and accommodation for the residents of Gwynedd. It was emphasised that the use of technology for identifying local needs was essential to the work, confirming that there was close collaboration with the Health Service to promote adult health.

It was noted that the Adults, Health and Well-being Department was continually striving to change the culture in order to secure services for the future. It was also noted that training schemes were being held to ensure that the workforce was qualified to address the future needs of Gwynedd's residents. It was also explained that a sustainable care system was in place to promote the well-being of adults, and it was confirmed that maintaining this system was a priority for the department.

It was reported that there was ongoing work to ensure that fit-for-purpose technology was operational within the field of care, and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

To submit the draft Annual Report to the members for them to recommend that the Cabinet Member approves publishing the Report.

1.     To accept the report, noting the observations received during the meeting.

2.     To recommend to the Cabinet Member for Corporate and Legal Services and for the Welsh Language, to publish the report by 30 June 2025.

The report was presented by the Senior Language and Scrutiny Adviser, and she briefly drew attention to the following main points:

A reminder was provided that under the requirements of the Language Standards, it was mandatory for the Council to produce and publish an annual report, in accordance with Section 44 of the Welsh Language Measure (Wales) 2011. It was further explained that the annual report had to share information such as Standards 151, 152, 154, 158, 164 and 170.

It was reported that 99.1% of Council staff had some degree of Welsh language skills, with 90% of all the Council's staff reaching the language designation of their post.

During the discussion, the following observations were made:- 

In response to a request for further detail on the data regarding the workforce's language skills, the Welsh Language Learning and Development Officer confirmed that any staff members with language skills, whether it was the ability to communicate a few words or a sentence in Welsh or who reached a proficiency level in their Welsh skills were included.

In response to the enquiry regarding how language designations for posts were determined, the Welsh Language Learning and Development Officer confirmed that they were determined by the line manager. It was added that the manager would consider factors such as contact with the public, working as part of a team and the need to communicate in writing, before determining the appropriate language designation for the post. It was also noted that the line manager noted whether or not staff members reached the language designation of their post. Members were reminded that the language self-assessment also provided an opportunity for staff members to share their own views regarding their linguistic skills.

Attention was drawn to the fact that regular observations from Council Departments noted that confidence affected the staff's results in relation to the language self-assessment. In response to a question on whether officers are anxious or lacking in confidence in their ability, the Welsh Language Learning and Development Officer emphasised that staff members were lacking confidence in their skills. This was particularly true for aspects relating to formal or professional Welsh language skills. It was confirmed that arrangements were in place for the Welsh Language Learning and Development Officer to contact the relevant line manager in cases where a member of staff was close to meeting the language designation of the post, but that the self-assessment indicated that they were lacking in confidence, noting that in the majority of cases, the manager noted that the staff member met the language designation. It was stressed that support was available to anyone who needed it in order to reach the language designation of their post. It was added that the work being carried out in conjunction with the Public Services Board to dispel myths about language skills needs was helping to increase the confidence levels of Council staff.

It was pointed out that the report stated that 97% of all Gwynedd housing lettings placed within the Allocation  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.