The Group Manager – Transformation and Customer Services presented a report which informed Cabinet Committee Equalities of the content and approach taken with the Council’s seventh Welsh Language Standards Annual Report for 2021/2022.

The Group Manager – Transformation and Customer Services explained that the Welsh Language Standards gave Welsh speakers improved, enforceable rights in relation to the Welsh language. The Council received its final compliance notice on 30 September 2015, which outlined 171 standards requiring compliance. Standards 158, 164 and 170 require the Council to produce and publish an annual report, in Welsh, by 30 June each year and does not require approval by the Council or the Welsh Language Commissioner prior to publication.

He advised that the Council’s Welsh Language Standards Annual Report 2021/2022 covered the period 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022 and was published, as required, by 30 June 2022. The report was attached as Appendix one (Welsh) and Appendix two (English). Further details on this were at 4.3 of the report. The Group Manager – Transformation and Customer Services highlighted key areas that the annual report covered.

The Chairperson stated that he recently emailed all Members on work that had been ongoing with the Democratic Services Team to ensure that Members had the same access and opportunities to learn Welsh as staff at BCBC. He added that he was starting a course shortly to further develop his abilities in the medium of Welsh and encouraged all Members who had spare time to take the opportunity to do so.

The Leader asked if it were possible to explore any available funding for the purpose of Welsh language centres for adults as this would further support the aims of BCBC in ensuring access to the wider public. The Group Manager – Transformation and Customer Services explained that we will be attending Bridgend College’s Welsh Language coffee mornings to raise the profile of the Council and have discussions with the attendees there. He added that the team were looking to further build relationships with AWEN and Mentor Bro Ogwr and other companies in the borough.

RESOLVED: That Cabinet Committee Equalities received and noted the content of this report and the Welsh Language Standards Annual Report 2021/2022.