Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the Gaelic Implementation Group will take place in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Thursday 12 November 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. Good News

4. “Ar Stòras Gàidhlig”:  Gaelic as an Economic and Social Asset.  Presentation providing an overview of the Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) Research Report and Ongoing Partnership Engagement, by Neil Ross, Head of Community Growth Team, HIE.

Mr Neil Ross will undertake a presentation on the ground-breaking Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) Research Report, co-funded by the Council; and the ongoing Partnership Engagement on Gaelic as an Economic and Social Asset.  The Group is invited to comment on the presentation.

5. Gaelic Language Plan 2012-16, Theme 5 “What we will do for Gaelic in Economic Development" - Implementation Report

There is circulated Report No GIG/11/15 dated 30 October 2015 by the Head of Policy and Reform, providing an update on the implementation of Gaelic Language Plan (GLP) 2012-16 Theme 5 “What we will do for Gaelic in Economic Development”.

The Group is invited to:-

i. comment on the implementation of the GLP Economic Development Theme.
ii. welcome the economic success of major events being held in Inverness;
iii. agree to further explore how to attract Gaelic-related high profile economically and culturally beneficial events, which might be hosted in Highland;
iv. agree to continued activity and action with SDS and the Scottish Government relating to Gaelic inclusion in the Labour Market Intelligence Network;
v. agree to encourage the marketing of Gaelic Careers and Job Opportunities with the Scottish Government, Bòrd na Gàidhlig, SDS and others; and
vi. agree to foster and develop the economic potential of partnerships including Blas Festival, Fèisean nan Gàidheal, Fèis Rois and An Comunn Gàidhealach.

6. Gaelic Language Plan 2012-16, Theme 4 “What we will do for Gaelic in the Workplace" - Implementation Report

There is circulated Report No GIG/12/15 dated 2 November 2015 by the Head of Policy and Reform, providing an update on the implementation of Gaelic Language Plan (GLP) 2012-16 Theme 4 “What we will do for Gaelic in the Workplace”.  The Group is invited to comment on the Report.

7. MG Alba and the UK Government Public Consultation on the BBC Royal Charter Review: Scottish Gaelic Broadcasting.  Presentation by Iseabail Mactaggart, MG Alba Board Member.

Ms Iseabail Mactaggart, MG Alba Board Member, will undertake a presentation on the MG Alba situation relating to the Charter Review.  The Group is invited to comment on the presentation.

8. Homologation Of The Highland Council Response to the UK Government’s Consultation on the BBC Royal Charter Review

There is circulated Report No GIG/13/15 dated 2 November 2015 by the Head of Policy and Reform relating to the Scottish Gaelic Broadcasting elements of the UK Government’s Consultation on the BBC Royal Charter Review.  The Group is invited to homologate the Council’s Response submitted by the Chair of the Gaelic Implementation Group.

9. Gaelic Language Act Implementation Fund (GLAIF) Projects - Final Reports 2014-15

There is circulated Report No GIG/14/15 dated 2 November 2015 by the Director of Care & Learning, providing the final Reports on externally funded projects through the Gaelic Language Act Implementation Fund (GLAIF).

The Group is invited to comment on the Report.

10. Education (Scotland) Bill.  Presentation providing an overview of the impact of this legislation on Gaelic Medium Education by Mr Bruce Robertson, Acting Head of Education and Learning, Bòrd na Gàidhlig

Mr Bruce Robertson will undertake a presentation relating to the Gaelic elements of the Education (Scotland) Bill; its potential impact on Bòrd na Gàidhlig and Local Authorities; and the national engagement Bòrd na Gàidhlig is undertaking.  The Group is invited to comment on the presentation.

11. Forward Planner for Gaelic Implementation Group Meetings in 2016 Themes and Presentation

There is circulated Report No GIG/15/15 dated 30 October 2015 by the Director of Care and Learning and the Head of Policy and Reform.  The report proposes the Gaelic Language Themes to be reported on at each of the 2016 Gaelic Implementation Group meetings plus a schedule of partner organisation presentations to complement debate and discussion on the implementation of the Plan.

The Group is invited to agree the 2016 Gaelic Implementation Group programme of business agendas and presentations, as outlined in the report.