Agenda item

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 Policy went to individuals with a link to Gwynedd. An enquiry was made regarding the definition of this allocation, but as no suitable officer was present it was not possible to address this matter.

It was noted that a number of Council training sessions were being held through the medium of English and a question was asked regarding the steps being taken with the aim of reducing these numbers in the future. In response, the Senior Language and Scrutiny Adviser explained that she was not happy that there were so many English language training sessions and that work was underway to liaise with the Departments to ascertain why English-medium training continued to be held, and what support could be offered to them in order to adapt those sessions to Welsh. It was explained that 447 Welsh-medium training sessions, 254 English-medium  sessions and 123 bilingual sessions had been held during 2024/25.

In response to an enquiry about what could be done to increase managers' awareness of the Welsh language standards, the Senior Language and Scrutiny Adviser confirmed that resources were available on the Council's internal pages as well as regular updates through management team meetings.

Attention was drawn to the Language Forum, and a question was asked on whether the Council was working with Young Farmers' Organisation in order to share information within the Young People Sub-Group. In response, the Language Adviser confirmed that the Eryri and Meirionnydd Young Farmers' Organisations received correspondence about the Sub-Group, although to date no representative had been present. However, assurance was given that they would continue to receive the latest relevant information. Members emphasised that they wished for this relationship with the organisation to continue to improve in future.

Thanks was expressed for the report.

RESOLVED

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

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