Gaelic Language Plan Progress Report
Argyll and Bute Council · 25 August 2022
Back to Community Services Committee — 25 August 2022 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE CUSTOMER SUPPORT SERVICES 25 AUGUST 2022 GAELIC LANGUAGE PLAN PROGRESS REPORT 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.1 The purpose of this report is to update the Community Services Committee on progress in delivering the actions in the approved Argyll and Bute Council Gaelic Language Plan. 1.2 RECOMMENDATIONS It is recommended that the Community Services Committee: Notes the progress being made in delivering the Council’s Gaelic Language Plan.
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE CUSTOMER SUPPORT SERVICES 25 AUGUST 2022 GAELIC LANGUAGE PLAN PROGRESS REPORT 2.0 INTRODUCTION 2.1 The purpose of this report is to update the Community Services Committee on progress in delivering the actions in the approved Argyll and Bute Council Gaelic Language Plan. 3.0 RECOMMENDATIONS It is recommended that the Community Services Committee: 3.1 Notes the progress being made in delivering the Council’s Gaelic Language Plan 4.0 DETAIL 4.1. Argyll and Bute Council has a duty under the Statutory Notice by Bòrd na Gaidhlig to produce a Gaelic Language Plan. The Council approved its Gaelic Language Plan in 2018. 4.2 The Gaelic Language Plan is aligned with the National Gaelic Plan and focuses on the same themes. These are: Promoting a Positive Image of Gaelic Increasing the Learning of Gaelic Increasing the Use of Gaelic 4.3 The Council’s Plan contains a number of actions with success measures that have been develop and agreed as our approach to delivering on the Plan. Attached to this report in Appendix 1 is a progress report showing each of the actions that have been agreed and their status. 4.4 Each of the actions has an identified lead officer. Regular meetings are programmed with the Policy Lead to provide updates on progress against the agreed actions. These meetings have representation from services that are involved in delivering different aspects of the Gaelic Language Plan. 4.5 As the plan progresses, the actions will be completed or reviewed to ensure that they remain appropriate.
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4.6 Progress with the plan continues to be good with the majority of actions on track or complete. This is to be welcomed, particularly during the challenges of the last two years of the Covid Pandemic, given the ambitious nature of the plan. 4.7 Bòrd na Gaidhlig have been in correspondence with the Council regarding reference in the plan to the Gaelic School in Oban. BnG recommended an amendment to the Plan to stating that the Council should include a commitment to putting a 3-18 Gaelic School in place. Several meetings have taken place with Bòrd na Gaidhlig officials regarding this issue, culminating in a paper to Council on 30th June this year. 4.8 Members will recall that in December 2018 the Committee considered options and their relative impacts for a Gaelic School. The preferred option B proposed to change the management arrangements at Rockfield School, to create a Deputy Head with specific management responsibilities for the Gaelic Medium Unit. The Committee agreed that Option B is the recommended option based on an evaluation of impact, deliverability, affordability and risk and further agreed that in the event there was a material change in circumstances Officers would give further consideration to the other options that have been identified in the report. The Committee decided not to build a stand-alone Primary School in Oban and Lorn. On that basis, the Plan was amended to say that unless there was a material change, the Council would not commit to a new Gaelic School. 4.9 The Council paper reiterated the position of the Council on this matter of Education policy and Council budget, making it clear that they consider this proposed amendment to be outwith the legal remit of Bòrd na Gaidhlig and entirely the decision of the Council. 4.10 As per the established process for a disagreement on Plan content, the matter has now been referred to Scottish Ministers and we await their response. This will be communicated to members in due course. 5.0 CONCLUSION 5.1 Good progress is being made by the Council on delivery of the Gaelic Language Plan. The dispute with Bòrd na Gaidhlig is now being considered by Scottish Ministers. 6.0 IMPLICATIONS 6.1 Policy This proposal is compliant with the Council’s policies and procedures. 6.2 Financial There are no financial implications from this report. 6.3 Legal The Council has a duty under a statutory notice to produce a Gaelic Language Plan 6.4 HR None 6.5 Fairer Scotland None
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6.6 Duty Climate Change None 6.7 Risk None 6.8 Customer Service None Executive Director with responsibility for Customer Support Services – Kirsty Flanagan Head of Customer Support Services – Jane Fowler Policy lead – Councillor Robin Currie For further information contact: Jane Fowler, Head of Customer Support Services Date: August 2022 APPENDICES Appendix 1 – Gaelic Language Progress Action Plan