Agenda and draft minutes

The Chair welcomed attendees to the meeting of the Welsh Language Cabinet Sub-Committee and apologies for absence were received from the Corporate Services, Youth Participation and Climate Change and the Cabinet Member for Prosperity and Development.

To receive disclosures of personal interest from Members in accordance with the Code of Conduct.

Note:

1.    Members are requested to identify the item number and subject matter that their interest relates to and signify the nature of the personal interest.

2.    Where Members withdraw from a meeting as a consequence of the disclosure of a prejudicial interest they must notify the Chairman when they leave.

In accordance with the Code of Conduct, there were no declarations made pertaining to the agenda.

To receive the minutes of the Welsh Language Cabinet Sub-Committee meeting which was held on 7^th May 2024.

It was RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 7^th May 2024 as an accurate record.

To receive the report of the Service Director of Democratic Services and Communication, which details the list of matters requiring consideration by the Welsh Language Cabinet Sub-Committee during the 2024-25 Municipal Year.

The Senior Executive and Regulatory Business Officer provided Members with the list of matters requiring consideration by the Sub-Committee during the 2024-2025 Municipal Year.

Members were informed that, during the year, the Sub-Committee would continue to monitor the Council’s Welsh Language 5 Year Strategy and Action Plan, which was the next item of business. Furthermore, to monitor the promotion of the Welsh Language across Council services, the Sub-Committee would receive information updates from various service areas in order to gain an insight into the positive impact on the provision of services in Welsh for residents in Rhondda Cynon Taf.

It was noted that the programme of work would be flexible and would be subject to change dependent on business needs.

The Chair thanked the officer for the report and emphasised the importance of monitoring the action plan and the work of the authority in terms of the promotion of the Welsh Language.

The Sub-Committee RESOLVED:

1.    To note the proposed business arrangements detailed at Section 5 of the report.

To receive the report of the Director of Public Health, Protection and Community Services, which provides the Welsh Language Cabinet Sub-Committee with an update on the Welsh Language Promotion Strategy 2022 – 2027 Action Plan as approved by the Committee on 5th May 2023, which supports the implementation of the Welsh Language Promotion Strategy  2022-2027, also approved by the Committee on 25 October 2022.

The Welsh Language Service Manager provided Members with an update on the Welsh Language Promotion Strategy 2022 – 2027 Action Plan, which had been approved by the Sub-Committee on 5th May 2023 and supports the implementation of the Welsh Language Promotion Strategy 2022-2027.

The officer provided the Sub-Committee with examples of the good progress made by the Council and partners to meet the ambitious actions, along with the challenges and areas for improvement. The officer spoke of maximising the opportunities afforded by the Eisteddfod as well as the need for greater monitoring and support of council partners and grant funded community groups. 

Despite the challenges, Members were assured that the Council remained in a positive position to meet its targets.

The Chair took the opportunity to thank officers for producing a broad report, which highlighted the breadth of work undertaken within the Local Authority and communities to promote the Welsh Language.

The Chair referred the Sub-Committee to section 5.4 of the report, which detailed the key areas of progress made and emphasised that the delivery of services was a Council wide approach. The Chair spoke of the Council’s significant investment in to Welsh Medium schools and referred to the consultation on building a new Welsh Medium primary school in Llanillid and the delivery of the Llyn y Forwyn Welsh Medium primary school in Ferndale.

The Chair spoke of the Council’s Guaranteed Interview Scheme, which was launched in August 2024 and felt that RCT had led the way across Local Authorities in Wales in terms of the first of its kind, progressive offer.

The Chair felt that the report had provided a range of information, which would allow the Sub-Committee to monitor and ensure that the Council continues to fulfil its duties. In relation to the recent National Eisteddfod hosted by RCT, the Chair praised the successful event and hoped that its legacy would increase interest in the Welsh Language and the arts; increase learners; and in some cases, influence parents/guardians to send their children to Welsh Medium schools and childcare settings within the Local Authority.

The Deputy Leader acknowledged that the goals of the Local Authority were ambitious and emphasised the importance of the Council doing everything it can to promote the Welsh Language and increase interest within the community. The Deputy Leader also emphasised the officer’s comments in relation to the importance of partnership work.

The Deputy Leader was particularly pleased to note that 31% of the year’s intake of Council’s apprentices were Welsh speakers and that there were 172 children attending Welsh language swimming lessons within the Council’s leisure centres.

Furthermore, the Deputy Leader took the opportunity to speak of the brand-new Welsh Medium school within her ward and was extremely pleased to see the number of children attending, which would add to the number of Welsh speakers within the County Borough.

Prior to concluding, the Deputy Leader requested if Members would be minded to agree an additional recommendation to refer the Promotion Strategy and Action Plan Progress  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.