Following recent communication from the Welsh Language Commissioner (WLC), Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has taken the opportunity to further invest in its services in order to embed considerations affecting the Welsh language into its decision-making processes.
The Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 makes provision for specification of standards of conduct in relation to the Welsh Language. The Measure authorises the WLC to serve a compliance notice requiring compliance with specified standards as laid down Regulations, and the Council has been found to have failed to comply with certain Standards (88, 89 and 90) related to a decision it took in July 2019 in respect of school reorganisation proposals in the Greater Pontypridd Area.
You may view the WLC’s report in its entirety by clicking here.
Prior to the WLC’s findings and publication of his report, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council had already taken the opportunity to invest in its services in order to further embed considerations affecting the Welsh language into its decision-making processes.
This included the introduction of a strengthened process that ensures all key strategic proposals undergo a revised Welsh Language Impact Assessment before proposals are presented to the Council’s Cabinet or Full Council.
This new process has been disseminated to staff via briefings with senior managers. The accompanying new guidance available for staff is based on good practice examples included in the WLC’s document, Policy Making Standards: Creating opportunities for persons to use the Welsh language and treating the Welsh language no less favourably than the English language, which was published in September 2020.
Council Committee reports now also include a section specifically to address implications for the Welsh language. Additionally, a new review process is being introduced at an operational level to consider key policy decisions. A review panel made up of key council officers involved in Welsh, Equalities, Consultation, Legal and Democratic functions of the Council will review the impact of the Council’s key strategic policy proposals on the Welsh language and, where required, suggest recommendations and amendments before proposals are presented to elected members for consideration.
The Welsh Language Cabinet Steering Group also continues to oversee strategic developments, consider reports from relevant departments on Welsh language issues and make recommendations to the Council’s Cabinet. The Council’s Overview & Scrutiny Committee continues to monitor the implementation of Council-wide Welsh language policy and developments.
The Council believes this approach, coupled with improved consultation and engagement, fully demonstrates its ambitions for and commitment to the Welsh language, and will effectively contribute to Welsh Government’s Cymraeg 2050 vision of a million Welsh speakers.
Consequently, the Council is disappointed with the WLC’s recent findings, especially in light of the Court of Appeal’s finding that the Council’s decision in July 2019 in respect of the Greater Pontypridd 21st Century Schools Reorganisation Programme was taken lawfully, a case in which the WLC acted as an intervenor. The Court also found that the Council did have regard to the aspects of the relevant School reorganisation legislation and associated code of practice which related to the assessment of the impact of the proposals on the Welsh language.
Posted on 25/06/2021