Agenda item

To consider the report

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.