The Communications, Marketing and Engagement Manager presented a report, that updated the Committee on the implementation of the Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 and the Welsh Language Standards.

She advised that since the last meeting of Committee, an audit of the remaining 11 standards had taken place in order for the Authority to propose new compliance dates to the Welsh Language Commissioner’s office.

Since this had been completed in February, the Communications, Marketing and Engagement Manager reported that the Commissioner’s office had now been advised that two further standards had been complied with in respect of training. A meeting had also subsequently taken place with the Corporate Director – Operational and Partnership Services earlier this month, to discuss the Council’s position on the 9 remaining standards. A further meeting in respect of these would be arranged with the Commissioner she added.

The Communications, Marketing and Engagement Manager had taken place on 5 December last, to discuss the Council’s performance against the standards, successful practices, risks and challenges, as part of their ongoing review process of local authorities across Wales.

As part of this, they also carried out a mystery shopper exercise between April 2016 and March 2017, which also included standards that we were not required to comply with at the time. This section of the report also contained certain observations from the standards that the Authority were complying with at the time. These were in the form of feedback in respect of telephone calls, the Council’s website and a few ‘Other’ issues.

On more general issues, the Communications, Marketing and Engagement Manager advised that staff continued to receive regular updates and reminders via email as well as being able to access a suite of Welsh language training.

All welsh local authorities had also been contacted by the Commissioner’s office with regard to the receipt of their compliance notices, relating to their draft Code of Practice which accompanies the Welsh Language Standards, in order that the interpretation of the Code was consistent for both the Commissioner’s office and each local authority. This would allow for local authorities to be clear on each standard in terms of what the Commissioner expected of them in the successful delivery of these. All Council’s across Wales she added, would be held to account with regard to the differing standards each had to comply with.

The Communications, Marketing and Engagement Manager continued by stating that no formal complaints had been received since the update report in July 2017. She added that work was still ongoing in relation to the investigation into availability of swimming lessons through the medium of welsh.

She concluded her submission, by advising that generally BCBC matched the interpretation of the Commissioner’s office on the standards, though there was more work required by us on Compliance level 4 that relating to certain standards.

When the consultation was fully completed, the Communications, Marketing and Engagement Manager confirmed that these would be shared in the first instance with the Chairperson of the Cabinet Committee Equalities and the Leader.

A Member felt that it was encouraging to see that existing staff of the Council were looking to be trained in the use of the welsh language, particularly those whose position within the Authority involved dealing with members of the public.

The Communications, Marketing and Engagement Manager advised that this was work ongoing, and that some employees had completed Level 1 of the Welsh Language Standard, and were looking to progress to Level 2. 400 staff had been trained since 2016, but further staff who dealt with customer services did need to undertake some training.

The Leader advised that apprentices and trainees should be encouraged to take up training in the medium of welsh.

RESOLVED:                 That the report be noted.