The Equality Officer reported on a update on the implementation of the Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 and the Welsh Language

Standards. 

He informed the Committee that the Authority had received its final compliance notice on 30 September 2015 and had since been working to determine the issues and challenges involved in implementing the 171 standards assigned to the Council.  The Council had continued to work towards compliance with the standards and he summarised the progress which had been made.  He stated that a decision was awaited from the Welsh Language Commissioner on the ten standards appealed in March 2016 and the eight standards appealed in September 2016. 

The Committee in supporting the Welsh Language was concerned about the recurrent budget pressure and costs of implementing the Welsh Language Standards and that a common sense approach needed to be adopted. 

The Committee questioned whether candidates for positions with the authority were asked to express their language of preference for interview.  The Equality Officer informed the Committee that the authority would not know the language of preference new job applicants, but is developing a Customer Relationship Management System (CRM) data base in order to collect information on language preference of citizens.  He also informed the Committee that the Minister for Lifelong Learning was producing a White Paper revisiting the Standards as the general consensus is that the Standards were not doing what they were intended to do.  The Committee questioned whether there had been an increase in the number of people speaking Welsh since the introduction of the Standards.  The Equality Officer explained that this would not be known until the results of the 2021 Census were known.  He stated that the Welsh Government’s Welsh Language Strategy included a target to increase the number of Welsh speakers to 1 million by 2050. 

A member of the Committee stated that she had recently heard some innovative ideas for the teaching of Welsh from teachers.  The Equality Officer informed the Committee that there was a need for a piece of work to be done as there is evidence of parents taking their children out of Welsh medium education by the time they go to secondary school education.  One possible reason could be that parents may not feel confident that their Welsh language skills put them in in a position to support their child with homework at secondary level but are able to do so at primary school level.  The Committee also considered there may not be resources to provide SEN for pupils with ALN through Welsh medium education.  The Equality Officer informed the Committee that a bilingual leaflet promoting Welsh medium education was being produced by the Welsh in Education Strategic Plan working group and would be ready for distribution at the Urdd Eisteddfod.  The Committee considered there was anecdotal evidence of pupils leaving Welsh medium education and whether exit surveys were conducted to ascertain the reason why pupils had left Welsh medium education.  The Equality Officer informed the Committee that he would clarify whether exit surveys were done and advise the committee accordingly. 

The Committee asked whether comparisons were made with other local authorities on complying with the Standards.  The Equality Officer informed the Committee that it would not be possible to make comparisons with other local authorities as each authority has to adhere to a different set of standards.  

The Committee considered that the Council was in compliance with standard 67 in that it displayed a sign in Civic reception stating that persons are welcome to use the Welsh language in reception.  The Equality Officer informed the Committee that this standard applied to all reception areas the Council has.  The Council was attempting to have in place as many Welsh speakers as it could on reception points.   

The Committee questioned whether the Council’s website would give users a choice of language.  The Equality Officer informed the Committee that the Council is reviewing its Web Site and that some councils have in place a ‘splash’ page as the first page on its website which gives users a language preference.        

The Committee questioned the financial implications on the authority if it was unsuccessful in its appeals on the Standards and the complaints received.  The Equality Officer informed the Committee that 7 complaints had been received, 2 complaints were received directly by the authority and were copied to the Commissioner.  Some of the complaints related to areas which were not the responsibility of the authority while the Commissioner decided not to investigate 2 complaints.  He stated that the cost for each breach of the Standards is £5,000 per breach.  A fine levied by the Commissioner would be the final stage in the process, but the Commissioner could direct that the authority develop an action plan.  He confirmed the authority had not received any fines yet.        

RESOLVED:           That the Cabinet Equalities Committee noted and considered the report.