Agenda item

To discuss and agree the contents of the annual Welsh Language Monitoring report for 2020/21. (copy attached)

The Team Leader – Communications introduced the Annual Welsh Language Monitoring Report (previously circulated)

In accordance with the Welsh Language Standards introduced under the Welsh Language Measure (Wales) 2011 the Council was required to publish an annual report by 30 June outlining the work undertaken to comply with the requirements of the Standards between 1 April and 31 March. This report focuses on the 6th year of the implementation of the Welsh Language Standards, the past two years having been very different from the norm. Denbighshire County Council was fully committed to responding positively to the Welsh Language Standards as was reflected in its Welsh Language Strategy 2017-2022 and remains fully committed to playing its part towards the national effort to increase the number of Welsh speakers to a million by 2050.

The Council's main focus in 2021-22 was on continuing to implement the Welsh Language Standards within the authority to ensure compliance with the 167 Standards under the headings Service Planning, Policy Making, Promoting and Record Keeping. To achieve this it was essential to work closely with the Welsh Language Champions across the Authority as monitoring staff compliance at a time when the majority of the workforce was still working from home was challenging. We continue to support the workforce more than ever with the implementation of the standards and our target was to double the day to day use of Welsh. We will do this by promoting Welsh language courses for staff to embark on their language journey or confidence building courses and in-house activities to help staff develop and foster their Welsh language skills.

The Council was an active partner of the Welsh Language Partnership led by Menter Iaith Sir Ddinbych. This Forum was made up of a number of organisations, both local and national, working towards the strategic promotion and development of the Welsh language in Denbighshire.

Denbighshire’s Welsh in Education Strategic Plan to 2032 contains information about the proposed merger of the Welsh in Education Strategic Group with the County’s Language Forum to oversee the implementation and evaluation of the plan.

Over the past year we have undertaken a great deal of key work in promoting and facilitating the use of Welsh internally and externally to ensure that the Language Standards are implemented.

The Council held its fourth Eisteddfod between 18 February and 1 March as part of the St David’s Day celebrations. The event was part of the Council’s efforts to raise the profile and ensure better understanding of the Welsh language and also to celebrate Welsh culture. It was held during a period of considerable focus on the Welsh language with the imminent return of the Urdd Eisteddfod to the County in May 2022. Once again this year, because of Covid-19, the Staff Eisteddfod was held digitally.

‘Mae gen i hawl’ (I have a right) campaign - This was a national campaign to celebrate the Welsh services offered by Local Authorities and people’s rights to use Welsh in their dealings with them. It was an opportunity to promote Welsh language services in Denbighshire and to try and increase the numbers choosing to use them. The marketing campaign talks about some of the rights the public as well Council staff have.

The committee discussed the following further –

·         Councillor Emrys Wynne thanked the Corporate Director: Communities, the Welsh Language Officer and Councillor Huw Hilditch-Roberts the previous lead member for the Welsh language for their work carried out within the report. He agreed with the impact that remote working has had on socialising and communications. One of Councillor Wynne’s ambitions as lead member was ensure that people can use the Welsh Language and there would be no detrimental impact of doing so.

·         The budget associated with the Welsh Language was raised, members were informed that any costs associated with the Welsh language was to be absorbed by the service budget.

·         The opening of committee meetings was raised as some members thought each meeting required to open in the Welsh, however, not all meetings were. The Welsh Language officer would share the information with members to encourage committee chairs to open public meetings in Welsh.

RESOLVED the Welsh Language Steering Committee note and approve the report.