Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the Gaelic Implementation Group will take place in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Tuesday 25 August 2015 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. Recess Powers

The Group is asked to note that the Recess Powers granted by the Council at its meeting on 25 June 2015 have not been exercised in relation to the business of the Gaelic Implementation Group.

4. Good News

5. The Highland Council Gaelic Language Plan 2012-16 – Review and Renewal

There is circulated Report No GIG/7/15 dated 16 July 2015 by the Head of Policy and Reform providing information on factors that could influence the preparation of, and consultation on, the Council’s third generation Gaelic Language Plan (GLP3) from 2016 onwards.  Members are asked to agree to formally propose extending our current GLP 2012-16 to 2017 in order to align the next Plan with ongoing legislative developments and other forthcoming national initiatives as outlined in the report.

The Group is invited to agree:-

i.   that the Council approaches Bòrd na Gàidhlig to formally seek a one year extension to Gaelic Language Plan 2012-16 to 2017 in order to ensure that GLP3 is properly prepared and aligned with forthcoming legislation and the National Gaelic Language Plan 2017; and
ii.  that Bòrd na Gàidhlig is asked to formally agree a draft of the expectations of high-level aims relating to GLP 3 with the Council, prior to their submission to the Minister for agreement in principle.

6. Gaelic Language Plan 2012-16, Theme 1 “What we will do for Gaelic in the Home and in Communities" - Implementation Report

There is circulated Report No GIG/8/15 dated 21 July 2015 by the Director of Care and Learning providing further information on the implementation of Gaelic Language Plan 2012-16 Theme 1 “What we will do for Gaelic in the Home and in Communities”.  This updates the Council’s 2014-15 Annual Implementation Report and outlines further action since 31 January 2015.

The Group is invited to:-

i.   comment on progress in implementing the Home and Communities Theme in GLP 12-16;
ii.  agree to welcome Officers’ collaboration with Newbattle Abbey College on a National Adult Achievement Award Scheme;
iii. agree to welcome the development of a new resource, the Adult Literacy Course for Fluent Gaelic Speakers, in conjunction with Sabhal Mòr Ostaig;
iv.  agree to work with Bòrd na Gàidhlig and other partners to finalise a National Gaelic Adult Learning Strategy; and;
v.   agree continued cross-agency working, including through the Community Planning Partnership, to encourage and facilitate Gaelic learning and usage opportunities in workplaces, homes, schools and communities.

7. Fèisean nan Gàidheal

Mr Arthur Cormack, Chief Executive of Fèisean nan Gàidheal (FnG), will undertake a presentation outlining FnG’s work alongside the Council.

The Group is invited to comment on the presentation.

8. Gaelic Language Act Implementation Fund 2015

There is circulated Report No GIG/9/15 dated 15 July 2015 by the Head of Policy and Reform providing an overview of the successful applications submitted by the Council’s Gaelic Team to the Gaelic Language Act Implementation Fund (GLAIF) for 2015-16.

The Group is invited to:-

i.   comment on the three successful GLAIF projects for 2015-16 as part of the Council’s ongoing Gaelic Language Plan commitments;
ii.  agree that Council Officials engage with Bòrd na Gàidhlig to progress all the successful projects in GLAIF 15-16; and
iii. agree to submit a final Report on GLAIF project implementation in 2016.

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

There is circulated Report No GIG/10/15 dated 20 July 2015 by the Director of Care and Learning providing 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 national and local level initiatives. 

The Group is invited to:-

i.   comment on the progress in implementing the Education Theme in the GLP;
ii.  agree to a formal high level Council event to mark the opening of Bun-Sgoil Ghaidhlig Loch Abar, including the Scottish Government;
iii. agree to replace the Gaelic Education Officer as soon as possible;
iv.  agree the action being taken to seek to resolve the difficulties around GM provision in the Bettyhill/Tongue area;
v.   agree to continue to press for Local Authority participation in the Gaelic Probationer Allocation Process; and
vi.  agree to the updating and publication of all the Gaelic Education statistical data; and the Online Gaelic Education Map.