To consider the
report
Minutes:
A verbal report and presentation was received from the Rural Gwynedd Development Scheme
Manager, providing an update on the Arfor scheme. Following a budgetary agreement between Welsh Government
and Plaid Cymru, in February 2019, the Minister for
the Economy, Ken Skates AM, confirmed that a budget of £2 million was available
to Gwynedd, Anglesey, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire Councils to trial
innovative methods of supporting the economy in the Welsh language's
strongholds. It was noted that the funding was
available up to the end of 2020/21, with £466,250 available to be invested in
Gwynedd on activities that would lead to the creation of new jobs that would
support the language in our communities.
It was reported that two cross
border projects had been established; Strategic Plan /
Evaluation and the Bwrlwm Business Scheme. It was reiterated that the Strategic Plan looked at individual
projects across the County and was in the process of setting up a business plan
for submission. It was expressed that Bwrlwm Business had designed a welcome pack to encourage
businesses to work through the medium of Welsh. It was noted that it was
intended to commission a company to look at digital material across the four
Counties to seek information and identify and share
good practice.
Reference was made to the
Gwynedd Arfor Steering Group which led the work in
Gwynedd and which had identified a package of innovative projects to trial over
the period that was in-keeping with the programme's
criteria. It was reiterated that the Language Unit had
been part of the group since the beginning. It was noted
that a number of exciting projects had been established, and a language questionnaire
had been drawn up to record the standard of project users / supporters so that
the impact of Arfor could be measured.
During the ensuing discussion, the following main
observations were noted by members:
·
That
a two year period was too short to promote and develop
business initiatives. Needed to pressurise Welsh Government to get a longer
period
·
The
funding received was insufficient
·
Needed
to consult with Menter Busnes
to avoid duplicating work
·
The
impact would need to be measured in order to secure Arfor
2
·
Needed
to target and support young people who were less likely to use Welsh in
business
·
That
there was a need to ensure that Welsh names were retained on the lands
·
Arfor
was initially an innovative idea, but the outcome was now much lower
·
No certainty
of the future of Arfor. It was
proposed that the Committee write to the Minister, asking how the Arfor Scheme worked with the Government's wider schemes
such as language schemes and the Economic strategy.
In
response to an observation regarding how the scheme would continue after two
years, it was highlighted that the intention of the
Strategic Plan that was in development was to look at how the projects worked
and measure the impact.
In response to a question
regarding guidance from Welsh Government, it was highlighted
that each scheme would be discussed with the Government.
RESOLVED that the Committee write to the Minister for
International Relations and the Welsh Language, asking for the Government's
commitment to the scheme and how the Arfor Scheme
worked with the Government's wider schemes such as language schemes and the
Economic strategy.
Councillor John Pughe Roberts proposed for the Language Officers to
consider a project relating to the work of Dr John Davies, Mallwyd.
It was noted that he was the chief editor of edition
1620 of the Welsh translation of the Bible. In order to acknowledge the
significant work of Dr John Davies, it was suggested
to consider a project to celebrate 400 years of his work.
RESOLVED to arrange that Councillor John Pughe Roberts discusses the
proposal with Hunaniaith officers.
Supporting documents: