Agenda item

To present information about the Department’s contribution to the language policy.

Derbyn yr adroddiad gan nodi’r sylwadau a dderbyniwyd. 

The report was presented by the Head of Finance Department, and he referred briefly to the main following points:

-          Over the years the department had developed from being principally English in its working practices to having a high percentage of staff with Welsh language skills.

-          It was noted that the department was unique in its production of accounts through the medium of Welsh, translated into English, unlike any other Council.

-          Reference was made to front-line staff within the department who communicated with the public, and that they met the linguistic requirements.

-          Cymraeg Clir materials were used in order to simplify the vocabulary used within the department's work so that lay people could understand. The Head added that other councils were replicating this work to standardise terminology, and the department had worked with Canolfan Bedwyr to ensure that correct wording was used.

-          It was added that the department had been innovative in its use of Zoom to facilitate the use of Welsh in external meetings, for example to ensure that pension fund meetings were conducted bilingually to a high standard. He added that the Ffordd Gwynedd principles were also being implemented.

-          He noted that virtual systems had protected the bilingual arrangements and that the department had lobbied Microsoft by writing a letter to request the adoption of a system that included a simultaneous translation facility. However, in the absence of this, it had been possible to deliver this easily through Zoom.

-          The Assistant Head - Information Technology added further information about the web language systems that had been used successfully in schools in the past. 

Members were given an opportunity to ask questions and offer observations. During the discussion, the following matters were raised:-

-          Thanks were expressed for the interesting report, and a question was asked about the likelihood of translation provision in joint meetings with external organisations.

-          A member noted that he was surprised that there was no translation facility in Teams as Microsoft was a world-wide company and asked why it was not offered.

-          A question was asked about whether Gwynedd Council was in a position to insist that there was translation provision and facilities in order to increase the use of Welsh in meetings.

-          It was asked whether a response had been received to the letter sent to Microsoft.

-          The discussions with the departments were welcomed, as it was a good opportunity for them to self-evaluate the situation of the Welsh language when producing their reports. He added that the financial challenges were highlighted as they reported back to the Language Committee.

-          It was asked whether it was time to examine the Committee's priorities for the future.

In response, the Head of Finance Department noted:

-          There was very little Welsh used in meetings held with officers from across Wales. However, in public meetings there was always a translation facility available.

-          Microsoft had focused on mechanical translation and had not split its audio channel in Teams in two to enable simultaneous translation as happened with Zoom. He added that Microsoft was in the process of doing this.

-          The Language adviser noted that simultaneous translation was discussed in the Welsh Language Commissioner's assurance report that was appended to today's agenda.  He added that the Commissioner was pressurising the Authorities to ensure that provision was available. 

-          He answered that no response had been received from Microsoft, however as the provision was in the pipeline, there was no purpose in sending further correspondence.

-          The Democracy and Language Manager added that there had been significant collaboration internally and regionally to influence other authorities to increase their use.

-          In addition, it was noted that the translation services were far easier to arrange virtually, and the work of the translation team had subsequently increased.

-          He agreed that examining priorities would help to steer the direction of further meetings.

DECISION

To accept the report and note the observations received.