Agenda item

To submit the draft Annual Report to the members.

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

The report was presented by the Cabinet Member for Corporate and Legal Services and the Welsh Language, and the Senior Language and Scrutiny Adviser. Attention was drawn to the following main points:

Pride was expressed that there was an increase in the number of Council staff with Welsh language skills and there was also an increase in the numbers of individuals attending training to develop their language skills.

Members were reminded that the Cabinet and the Council's vision as a whole was to increase opportunities for Gwynedd residents to see and use the Welsh language in all aspects. A new section of the Annual Report was highlighted which shared examples of how each Department was doing this effectively.

It was confirmed that all Departments within the Council fully comply with Welsh language standards and contribute to the language strategy.

It was highlighted that the Welsh Language Team had been working with the Welsh Language Commissioner, ARFOR, Rhwydwaith, the Gwynedd and Anglesey Public Services Board and others in order to jointly-learn and provide a platform for the good work that was happening through the Welsh language in Gwynedd.

Reference was made to several exciting projects underway over the next year such as the Language Education Policy, the Welsh Language Programme Board and the Growth Charter: Welsh in the Workplace.

Attention was drawn to a correction in the report (Page 17 of the Annual Report) regarding data on the number of staff members reaching the Language Designations of their post and an overview of staff language levels. It was stressed that the figures included within the report were correct, but it was acknowledged that the percentages were not. The following information was confirmed for 2025/26:

·        Staff achieving their Job Language Designations – 3269 (91.6%)

·        Staff who do not meet the Language Designations of their post – 299 (8.4%)

·        Staff with Welsh language skills (of any kind) – 3271 (99.3%)

·        Staff with no Welsh language skills – 22 (0.7%)

During the discussion, the following observations were made:- 

In response to an enquiry, the Senior Language and Scrutiny Adviser confirmed that it will be possible to add data for a period of 4 years within the report on issues such as language use and the number of staff reaching the Language Designation of their posts, to highlight any patterns or trends.

In response to an enquiry, the Senior Language and Scrutiny Adviser emphasised that the fact that 8.4% of Council staff achieved their post's Language Designation had no impact on front-line services. It was noted that the majority of staff members who do not meet the Language Designation were care workers or support staff in schools. The Welsh Language Learning and Development Officer added that individuals receive linguistic support soon after their appointment. It was highlighted that several individuals who do not meet the Language Designation already have Welsh language skills and are very close to reaching the expected standard, and it was confirmed that the encouragement and support was available for them to do so within their job. It was confirmed that increasing staff confidence in using the Welsh language was usually the factor that made the biggest difference.

In response to an enquiry, the Senior Language and Scrutiny Adviser explained that there was ongoing monitoring of complaints the Council receives on Welsh language issues, to see if any specific themes arise. It was stressed that no theme has emerged in the past year.

In response to an enquiry, an update was received from the Language Adviser on the focus of the Youth Forum over the next year. It was detailed that it was hoped to establish several sub-groups with a focus on business and community issues during the year. Members were reminded that the Youth Sub-Group was already operational.

Gratitude was expressed for the report.

RESOLVED

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