Agenda item

To inform members about the ‘Perthyn’ project.

Submitted - the report of the Llŷn AONB Officer reminding members of the initial conversation on the matter during the meeting of this Joint Committee held on 27 June 2024.

Reference was made to the Commission for Welsh Speaking Communities that had been established by the Welsh Government in 2022 to research the challenges the Welsh language was facing and to suggest ways of amending public policies in the interest of the language and communities. It was explained that the Commission's final report had been submitted during this year's National Eisteddfod in Rhondda Cynon Taf. It was elaborated that the report looked at the decline of the Welsh language and emphasised the importance of the Welsh heartlands, such as Penrhyn Llŷn, and it set out recommendations for supportive actions in the future. Particular attention was drawn to the recommendation of designating areas 'of higher density linguistic significance' where over 40% of the population in specific areas spoke Welsh. It was noted that further recommendations for High Density areas included:

·       Intensifying the consideration given to the Welsh language within policy frameworks.

·       Approving policy interventions and variations to place emphasis on the Welsh
language as a community language. 

·       Ensuring that policy interventions responded to the social and linguistic needs of these areas.

·       Allowing additional powers to empower communities to reverse linguistic shift. 

It was explained that the Perthyn project had been established by Cyfeillion Llŷn and Cymdeithas Pen-y-graig in response to Jeremy Miles' speech (Cabinet Member for the Economy, Energy and the Welsh Language) in 2022, when he said that the language belongs to everyone and we all had a duty to work together to secure its future. It was noted that Perthyn was in line with the Government's aim of reaching a million Welsh speakers by 2050 and supported the recommendations of the Commission on Welsh Speaking Communities. It was explained that the project also looked at several other areas associated with the language such as housing allocation policies, language statistics and Welsh placenames.

It was added that the Perthyn project promoted a Welsh Welcome, a tourist industry that emphasised and supported the Welsh language and culture. It was explained that the project had three aims, namely:

·       Safeguard and strengthen Welsh as a community language

·       Increase the number of Welsh speakers and households

·       ⁠Present a Welsh welcome and the history of our area to all

It was reported that Cyfeillion Llŷn and Cymdeithas Pen-y-graig had raised awareness of the Perthyn project with local community councils and towns. It was confirmed that Aberdaron, Botwnnog and Tudweiliog councils had designated areas of High Density linguistic significance and a number of other councils were now part of the project.

⁠It was explained that 'plans to safeguard and strengthen the Welsh language' had been added to a list of plans that would be prioritised in the Local Regeneration Plan, Cynllun Ardal Ni Pen Llŷn 2023 for the first time, following the support of the Llŷn Community Councils to designate the Area as one of High Density linguistic significance.

          DECISION

·       ⁠To welcome the report of the Commission for Welsh Speaking Communities and express support for the Welsh Government.

·       To call on the Welsh Government to implement the recommendations of the Commission for Welsh Communities as a matter of urgency to protect the language in Pen Llŷn.

·       To support in principle the Perthyn project and the three main aims.