Agenda and draft minutes
Venue: Confrence Room 1a, County Hall, Ruthin
No. | Item |
---|---|
APOLOGIES Minutes: Apologies were received by Councillor Tony Flynn. |
|
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST PDF 116 KB Members to declare any personal or prejudicial interests in any business to be conducted at this meeting. Minutes: No declarations of interest were raised. |
|
URGENT MATTERS AS AGREED BY THE CHAIR 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. Minutes: There were no urgent matters. |
|
To receive the minutes of the meeting of the committee held on the 2 July 2018 (copy enclosed). Minutes: The minutes of Welsh Language Steering Committee held on 2nd
July 2018 were submitted: Page 1 – Councillor Meirick Lloyd Davies raised that his
presence wasn’t noted. RESOLVED - that
the minutes of the previous meeting held on 2nd July 2018 be approved as a
correct record. |
|
ROLE OF THE WELSH LANGUAGE CHAMPIONS PDF 126 KB To consider a report by the Team Leader - Communications & Campaign Management to update the Committee on the work of the language champions within the authority (copy enclosed) Minutes: The Team Leader- Communications and Campaign Management
(CCM) presented the report on the Welsh
Language Champions (WLC) The CCM introduced
three Welsh Language Champions and the departments they represented - ·
Margaret
Watkins - Communities Support ·
Bethan
Parry - Facilities, Assists and Housing Service. ·
Eleri Williams -
Planning and Public Protection. The Corporate
Director: Communities (CDC) informed the committee that becoming a WLC was all
voluntary. The work they carried out was in addition to their daily work, and
praised them for going above and beyond their duties. The WLC outlined
some of the work that they’ve carried out for the Council – ·
The
normalisation of the Welsh language in the offices, by using bilingual
lanyards, badges, and posters. ·
Promotion
of the Welsh language and mapping out the abilities of the workforce.
Encouraging staff to partake Welsh courses, sharing materials which could
assist in mentoring learners. ·
The
framework ‘More than just words’ were implemented internally and with care
partners this included – Ø
Promoting
dignity and respect with the user being central. Ø
Introduction
of the ‘active offer’ principle. Ø
Assure
the quality of the care (language needs) Ø
Maintaining
professional standards – communication would be key. Ø
Meeting
the language needs of the most vulnerable users of society Following the
presentation these questions were raised - ·
The
committee praised the work that the WLC have carried out, but queried how
confident was the Council that managers could implement Welsh language
standards in the workplace. In response the WLC stated they would check their
departments to ensure the standards were carried out. ·
Requirement
of Welsh speakers was raised as a concern by the committee. ·
The
committee suggested that each Council meeting should be started in the medium
of Welsh. ·
The committee
agreed that many staff could converse in Welsh but confidence was an issue. The
CCM responded stating that a questionnaire would be circulated soon to get a
better idea of the abilities of the staff within the Council. The CCM reassured
the Committee when a clearer image would be known then the issue of confidence
could be dealt with appropriately. ·
The
large discrepancy between the amount of WLC’s and Staff in the Council was
raised, and whether more WLC’s would be needed to the large amount of staff. In
response the committee was reassured that there were many members of staff who
assisted with the Welsh Language standard who weren’t WLC’s. The chair praised
all of the hard work that has currently been carried out by the WLC. RESOLVED – That
the committee agree the recommendation and approve the proposed programme for
2019. |
|
YOUTH SERVICES AND THE URDD PDF 261 KB To consider a report by the Lead Officer - Community Wellbeing to explain the work that is going on with young people to promote the Welsh language in the County (copy enclosed). Minutes: The Lead Officer: Community Wellbeing (RE) and the
Denbighshire Development Officer, Urdd (LE) presented the report on the Joint
Working between Denbighshire Youth Service and the Urdd. Both officers showed the committee a presentation which highlighted several areas which the Council and the Urdd have worked together in the 8 year partnership: · Joint Welsh Language Youth Worker · Annual Self-Assessment · Annual Service Level Agreement · Regular monitoring and planning meetings between Youth Service and the Regional Director for the Urdd. Within the presentation several key areas were also raised, the highlights for young people between the ages of 11-25: · Co-ordinated Provision · 4247 Young People engaged · 1970 in direct contact with Clubs · 45 Young People volunteering · 45 registered on Urdd Youth Forum LE raised activities which were held: · Volunteering was a success with encouraging young people to volunteer which could lead to employment. · Competitions were highlighted which gave Young people the opportunity to develop skills and confidence through competing at the Eisteddfod and through competitive sports. RE outlined some services which has provisions in the medium of Welsh within the Council: · Family Information Service – information service for parents which was fully bilingual. · Sports Leaders accreditation offered through the medium of Welsh – joint delivery by DCC and Urdd staff Following the introduction to Youth Services and the Urdd the following queries were raised by members: · The Urdd was praised with its work with young people especially with sports, it was raised that the Urdd work closely with students in Universities especially in South Wales. It was queried whether the Universities in North Wales work closely with the Urdd. In response LE informed members that the Urdd do work closely with the Universities and colleges in North Wales and encourage young people to volunteer. · Another members raised that the Council work closely with the Colleges and Universities in the North, and attend Career Days, but advised the Council needs to do more to attract young people who have left the area back, especially with Youth Services. All members praised the report and the presentations. RESOLVED – Members note the content of the report. |
|
YSGOL GLAN CLWYD LANGUAGE CENTRE To receive a presentation by the Team Leader - Communications & Campaign Management on the role of the new language Centre at Ysgol Glan Clwyd. Minutes: The Lead Member for
Education, Children and Young People (HHR) presented a presentation in regards
with the Ysgol Glan Clwyd
Language Centre. The committee was made aware that Denbighshire had applied for a grant to
develop a language centre, the Council’s grant was the most successful in
Wales. The amount of £1.8 million would be granted to create the centre. The
Committee were also informed that an additional £500k would be available. The centre would be available to for all Denbighshire residents from the
age of 3 and above Following the brief introduction the following items were raised during
the discussion: ·
Due to the site being in St. Asaph, members from
the North and South of the County queried whether the site would be beneficial for
the areas they represented. It was raised that the Council had a good public
transport system and people would be able to attend, also transport links could
be discussed at a later date. ·
Members queried whether the site was connected with
Glan Clwyd School, HHR responded by stating that the
Welsh Language Centre shared a site with the school. Both sites would run
separately. The chair informed the committee that the officer who was meant to
report on the item couldn’t attend the meeting. The item was agreed to be
reported on fully in the next meeting. RESOLVED
– The committee note the content of the
report, and agree for a full report to be brought to the next meeting. |
|
FORWARD WORK PROGRAMME PDF 454 KB To consider the Committee’s forward work programme (copy attached). Minutes: The chair queried with the committee whether they wanted to add anything to the Forward work programme. It was raised why the naming of streets wasn’t discussed during the meeting, the chair informed the member that the item was on the forward work programme and would be brought to a future meeting. In response it was raised that the item could be taken to Scrutiny rather than the Welsh Language Steering Committee, it was agreed that the item on Street naming be taken to Scrutiny Chairs and vice chairs. The chair suggested that the business section of the Welsh Language Standards be discussed in the next meeting. The Welsh language officer suggested that Menter Iaith could be invited to the next meeting to discuss the work they carry out in the County. The Committee
agreed to include the discussion on the Business section on the Forward Work
Programme, and also the possibility of inviting Menter
Iaith. RESOLVED
– That subject to the above, the forward work
programme be approved. |