Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies were received from Councillors Carol Holliday and Cheryl Williams.

Members to declare any personal or prejudicial interests in any business to be conducted at this meeting.

None.

Notice of items which, in the opinion of the Chair, should be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency pursuant to Section 100B(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972.

None.

To receive the minutes of the meeting of the committee held on the 2 July 2024

.

The minutes of the Welsh Language Steering Committee held on 2 July 2024 were submitted

Members welcomed the new Welsh Language Officer, Gerallt Lyle, to the meeting and joined the Council. They were informed that he started working for the Council in August. He had a background of working in education, and for Menter Iaith Sir Ddinbych, members reiterated their welcome and were looking forward to working together moving forward.

RESOLVED that subject to the above, the minutes of the previous meeting held on 2 July 2024 be received and approved as a correct record.

To receive a report by the Welsh Language Officer detailing how the Welsh Language and Welsh Culture are mainstreamed throughout the six themes of the Corporate Plan (copy attached).

The Welsh Language Officer (WLO), alongside the Team Leader – Communications and Campaign Management, introduced the Welsh Language Mainstreaming Report in the Corporate Plan 2022-27 (previously circulated). The report informed the committee on how the council ensured that the Welsh Language and Welsh Culture were mainstreamed throughout the six themes of the Corporate Plan and to establish ways to monitor this to ensure a positive impact on the Welsh Language and Culture across the county.

The WLO gave members background on the Welsh Language and the corporate plan. With the Corporate Plan 2022 to 2027 now reduced from nine to six themes and the Welsh Language and Culture theme no longer a standalone theme, it is essential to ensure that Welsh Language and Culture are mainstreamed into the remaining six themes.

Officers proposed how the Welsh Language Steering Committee could assist in achieving the mainstreaming of the Welsh language through the six themes these were –

·       The Welsh Steering Committee takes a leading role in providing governance and oversight of Welsh language and culture-related indicators and activity in support of the Corporate Plan, with the aim that this monitoring work coincides with the Committee's work of monitoring and reporting on the County Council's Welsh Language Strategy 2023-28.

·       The Welsh Steering Committee should be satisfied that all reasonable opportunities to mainstream the Welsh language and culture into each theme of the Corporate Plan were taken.

·       The Committee should ensure that the Corporate Plan prioritises key indicators and activities. Detailed and fuller performance management frameworks are in place for the Welsh Language Strategy 2023-28 and WESP.

·       The Welsh Steering Committee could include in its terms of reference an additional purpose to act as a ‘critical friend’ supporting groups to enhance the Welsh language and cultural elements within Well-being Impact Assessments that are being developed. The boards in place to deliver the Corporate Plan themes ensure that the Welsh Language and Culture were a core part of their thinking and that they can demonstrate how opportunities to mainstream the Welsh Language are being taken.

Following the introduction by officers’ members discussed the following further –

·       Members highlighted the point regarding boards relating to the corporate plan; the committee queried how many boards were held, and officers were aware that not each corporate plan theme had a related board. However, officers and members agreed that neutral well-being assessments weren’t necessarily good. Having assessments that cause officers and members to discuss impacts on the Welsh language would naturally create discussions around the Welsh language. Members suggested having older examples of well-being assessments to see how the committee could strengthen the wording on the impact on the Welsh language and culture.

·       Members also queried whether they could have a list of the boards that were in existence and see how they could support them moving forward. Officers would investigate the matter and have the information to share if possible.

RESOLVED that the Welsh Language Steering committee discuss and agree the suggestions for mainstreaming the Welsh language across the themes of the Corporate Plan and agree on the role of the Steering Committee in governing and monitoring this work.

To receive a verbal update by the Welsh Language Officer regarding the Categorising Language Levels Among Staff.

The Welsh Language Officer (WLO) introduced the Categorising Language Levels Among Staff updates.

Members were informed that human resources (HR) had been working on categorising staff members' Welsh language levels. The WLO had met with HR since being in post to see how to best categorise the levels throughout the Council from levels 1-5. The WLO had helped HR with the levels, and work would continue with all the pre-existing jobs in the Council to reflect the abilities of the staff in those roles.

Members questioned whether there was any information about staff learning Welsh, as a high number of staff were learning Welsh. Members felt that if the information was kept, it would be beneficial to try to assist them with increasing their skills. The committee was informed that HR was monitoring staff who were learning the Welsh Language.

The Corporate Director: Governance and Business highlighted that confidence was a significant element of learning the language and felt that Denbighshire County Council was good at adopting an environment that gives people confidence in their abilities. 

RESOLVED that the Welsh Language Steering Committee note the Categorising Language Levels Among Staff update.

To receive an information report regarding the Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (WESP) (copy attached); which was discussed at the Performance Scrutiny Committee on the 26 September 2024.

Members were presented with an information report highlighting the work of the Welsh Education Strategic Plan (WESP) Development Officer, who could not attend the meeting.

The Corporate Director: Governance and Business informed the committee that the item had been discussed at a recent Performance scrutiny committee, and members supported the report.

The committee wanted to thank the WESP Development Officer and the Head of Education for their continued work on the matter.

RESOLVED that the Welsh in Education Strategic Plan be noted.

To consider the Committee’s forward work programme (copy attached).

The committee’s forward work programme was presented for consideration.

Members queried whether they could have an update on the Welsh language strategy; officers were happy to circulate an email with the latest information or organise a team meeting to discuss the matter further.

Members suggested that, following the discussion during the Welsh Language Mainstreaming item, examples of Well-being impact assessments could be discussed and reviewed at a future meeting.

RESOLVED that, subject to the above, the Committee’s Forward Work Programme be received and noted.

The meeting concluded at 10:50 am