Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the Gaelic Implementation Group will take place in the Council Chamber, Lochaber House, High Street, Fort William on Thursday 29 May 2014 at 10.30 am.

Webcast Notice: This meeting will be filmed and broadcast over the Internet on the Highland Council website and will be archived and available for viewing for 12 months thereafter.

You are invited to attend the meeting and a note of the business to be considered is attached.

Yours faithfully

Michelle Morris
Depute Chief Executive/
Director of Corporate Development

Please note that this meeting will be conducted in Gaelic with simultaneous translation to English.

Business

1. Apologies for Absence

2. Declarations of Interest

Members are asked to consider whether they have an interest to declare in relation to any item on the agenda for this meeting. Any Member making a declaration of interest should indicate whether it is a financial or non-financial interest and include some information on the nature of the interest. Advice may be sought from Officers prior to the meeting taking place.

3. Good News

4. Gaelic Language Plan 2012-16, Theme 2 “What we will do for Gaelic in Education” – Implementation Report

There is circulated separately Report No GIG-08-14 (78kb pdf) dated 21 May 2014 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport providing Members with an update on the implementation of Gaelic Language Plan (GLP) 2012-16 Theme 2 “What we will do for Gaelic in Education” and information on a wide range of local and national level initiatives.   The Report also provides information on continuing engagement with the Scottish Government, Bòrd na Gàidhlig and Education Scotland, on progress with developments in the pre-school, Primary and Secondary sectors and on plans to secure a commitment to increase teacher training and Continuing Professional Development opportunities in Inverness, in addition to those already being delivered at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig and outwith Highland.

The Group is invited to:-

i. comment on progress in Implementing the Education Theme in the Gaelic
    Language Plan;
ii. agree to continue the successful engagement with Bòrd na Gàidhlig in the
     birth to three sector and to seek to formulate a funding support package
    going forward;
iii. agree to ensure that Gaelic requirements are fed into the Scottish   
    Government’s 600 hours Pre-school consultations in Highland;
iv. agree to an evaluation of the Fèisgoil Pilots in Lochaber and Caithness and
    Sutherland;
v. agree to support the continued inclusion of Gaelic in initiatives that could
    impact positively on Gaelic learning in Primary and Secondary Schools;
    including GLPS, the provision for Gaelic Learners in Secondary schools and
    the Scottish Government’s 1+2 Language Learning policy; and
vi. agree to progress discussions with Bòrd na Gàidhlig, the University of the
    Highlands and Islands/ Sabhal Mòr Ostaig in respect of Gaelic Teacher
    Qualification and Training in Inverness.

5. Potential Shared Services with Argyll and Bute Council

There is circulated Report No GIG-9-14 (162kb pdf) dated 19 May 2014 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport providing information on discussions with Argyll and Bute Council on the possibility of sharing a Gaelic Education Officer resource between the Authorities.  

The Group is invited to:-

i. comment on the proposals regarding a shared service; and
ii. agree to Inter-Authority discussions being progressed expeditiously,
    regarding mutually agreeable solutions.

6. Bòrd na Gàidhlig Presentation  

There is circulated Report No GIG-10-14 (28kb pdf) dated 19 May 2014 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport introducing John Angus Mackay OBE, Chief Executive and Ms Mairi Macmillan, Head of Education and Learning at Bòrd na Gàidhlig.  Ms Macmillan will outline continuing progress and challenges associated with Gaelic Education; the importance of our partnership and the need to further develop a nationally collegiate approach to growth and support mechanisms in Gaelic Education.

The Group is invited to:-

i. comment on Ms Macmillan’s presentation; and
ii. agree to further develop close working relationships at local and national
    levels.

7. An Comunn Gàidhealach Presentation   

There is circulated Report No  GIG-11-14 (38kb pdf) dated 19 May 2014 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport introducing Mr John Morrison, Chief Executive of An Comunn Gàidhealach.  Mr Morrison will provide an update for Members on progress towards the successful delivery of the Royal National Mod and associated Mod Fringe Programme in Inverness from 10-17 October 2014.in Inverness in October 2014.  

The Group is invited to:-

i. comment on Mr Morrison’s presentation; and
ii. agree to continue and develop the excellent working relationships to deliver
    the best possible Royal National Mod in Inverness in 2014 and the
    surrounding area.

8. National and International Gaelic Related Arts, Media and Cultural Events Taking Place in Highland in 2014/15

There is circulated Report No GIG-12-14 (38kb pdf) dated 19 May 2014 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport providing an update on the implementation of Gaelic Language Plan 2012-16 Theme 3 “What we will do for Gaelic in the Arts, Media and Heritage”.   The Report informs Members of forthcoming national and international Gaelic–related events, which will take place in the Highlands between the beginning of September 2014 and the mid April 2015.  Gaelic language and culture will be central to activities in each of these events.

The Group is invited to:-

i. comment on the range of events supported and hosted by Highland Council
    in the coming year;
ii. agree that a Cross Service Council Officials Group is established, which will
    provide a co-ordinated approach to support and advise Members, the
    Executive Leadership Team and the organisers of the events detailed in
    the report;
iii. agree to continue support for high profile partnership marketing and
    promotional activity and engagement for these national and international
    events; and
iv. agree that the Council works with partners to continue to attract high
    profile Gaelic-related arts, media and cultural events in Highland to provide
    economic benefits within the Council area.

9. Gaelic Language Act Implementation Fund – Annual Reports for 2013/14 and Project Bids for 2014/15

There is circulated Report No GIG-13-14 (114kb pdf) dated 19 May 2014 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport providing the latest Progress Reports on Gaelic Language Act Implementation Fund (GLAIF) Projects for 2013/14 and the Project Bids submitted by the Council for the 2014/15 funding round.

The Group is invited to:-

i. comment on the 2013/14 Project Reports;
ii. comment on the 2014/15 Project Bids submitted by the Council; and
iii. agree to the Council opening discussions with Bòrd na Gàidhlig and the
    Scottish Government on ongoing funding opportunities and on GLAIF’s
    aims, aspirations and targeting, going forward.