Agenda item

The Language Policy Officer explained that the purpose of the report was to present the Ceredigion Welsh Language Strategy 2024-29 to the Committee before it was presented to the Cabinet for approval on 3 December 2024. A public consultation on the Strategy was held  between 26 July and 31 August 2024. Consideration had been given to all 72 responses and where appropriate, minor amendments to reflect the suggestions outlined in pages 2-7 of the report had been incorporated into the Strategy. Some of the changes would improve the process of monitoring and measuring the progress of each action within the Strategy.

The Ceredigion Bilingual Future Forum will continue, supported by four newly formed strategic groups that will focus on specific areas of work (Learn, Live, Belong & Succeed).

The Language Policy Officer extended her thanks to the Policy and Performance Team for analysing the responses and for producing the Consultation Feedback report. From the public consultation, 53% of respondents agreed with the overall vision of the Strategy, whilst 44% identified as Welsh and 28% as British. It was acknowledged that the public consultation had not been held in the most effective manner given the timing as it coincided with the summer holidays and as there were limited opportunities for face-to-face sessions. Lessons learnt from the exercise would be key when consulting on the next Welsh Language Strategy.

As it was concerning that 56% of respondents did not feel there was a role for them or their organisation in trying to achieve the Strategy’s vision, reviewing the membership of Ceredigion’s  Bilingual Future Forum was vital. Members supported greater inclusivity within Ceredigion’s Bilingual Future Forum.

Councillor Gwyn Wigley Evans referred to an e-mail sent by Dr Jeff Smith on behalf of Cymdeithas yr Iaith to the Committee Members. The e-mail raised concerns with the local authority’s lack of ambition and target of increasing the number of Welsh speakers by 1.5% by 2029 and that there should be a 5% target increase similar to Powys County Council.

The Language Policy Officer explained that detailed work had gone on in the background to ensure the figure was robust, and whether any new evidence suggested that the figure needed to be revised further. She clarified that there was strong and statistical evidence to retain the target of 1.5% increase of Welsh speakers by 2029 (612 speakers off the 2021 baseline). There was no clear evidence to support a target of 5% as recommended by Cymdeithas yr Iaith, therefore she suggested that any evidence was shared with the local authority’s Policy and Performance Service and herself. From discussions with Powys County Council’s Welsh Language Officer, their new Welsh Language Strategy was yet to be published but they had no specific target in place and rather intended to maintain the 16.2% of Welsh Language speakers recorded in the 2021 Census.

The Chair thanked the Language Policy Officer for the explanation and stated that it was vital that all Committee Members agreed with the target of 1.5% increase of Welsh speakers by 2029. She agreed to respond to Dr Jeff Smith’s e-mail.

All Committee Members present confirmed that they were satisfied with the target of 1.5% increase of Welsh speakers by 2029.

It was AGREED:

i.        To note the responses received during the Public Consultation.

ii.       To approve the Ceredigion Language Strategy subject to the changes highlighted in the strategy (see appendix 2) and present to the Cabinet.

iii.     To note the content of the Integrated Impact Assessment (appendix 3).