Committees

A meeting of the Gaelic Implementation Group will take place in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Thursday 22 August 2013 at 2.15 pm.

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
Assistant Chief Executive

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 27 June 2013 have not been exercised in relation to the business of the Gaelic Implementation Group.

4.  Good News

5.  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-12-13 (47kb pdf) dated 31 July 2013 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport providing Members with information on the implementation of Gaelic Language Plan (GLP) 2012-16 Theme 1 “What we will do for Gaelic in the Home and in Communities.”

The Group is invited to:-

i. note progress in implementing the Home and Communities Theme in GLP
   2012-16;
ii. agree to publicise the extent of the Council’s delivery on Gaelic in the Home
   and in Communities;
iii. note the review of Gaelic Adult Learning needs in Highland;
iv. agree continued cross-agency working to encourage Gaelic learning and
   usage opportunities in homes, schools and communities; and
v. agree that the Council work with Bòrd na Gàidhlig and other partners to
   create a range of Gaelic Adult Learning resources, including online and other
   materials to support parents of Gaelic Medium pupils.

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

There is circulated Report No GIG-13-13 (61kb pdf) dated 31 July 2013 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.”  It also provides information on progress with developments in the pre-school, Primary and Secondary sectors, including a new Gaelic Medium Primary School Department in Thurso, and the launching, at the Gaelic Implementation Group, of the Council’s new online Gaelic Education web-map.

The Group is invited to:-

i.  note progress in implementing the Education Theme in GLP 2012-16;
ii. agree to publicise the extent of the Council’s delivery on Gaelic Education;
iii. agree to welcome the partnership working resulting in significant progress
   in the early years, primary and Secondary Sectors; and
iv. agree the publication of the Council Gaelic Education web map.

7.  Council Funded Partnership Projects with Comunn na Gàidhlig

There is circulated Report No GIG-14-13 (29kb pdf) dated 31 July 2013 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport updating Members on partnership working with Comunn na Gàidhlig (CnaG) on initiatives supported and part-funded by Highland Council and introducing a presentation by Mr Calum Iain Macleod, Development Director of CnaG.

The Group is invited to:-

i.  note the presentation;
ii. agree to the continuation of the partnership to deliver within the three
   relevant Themes in the Gaelic Language Plan 2012-16; and
iii. agree that Council officers explore how the Council might use a placement
   from the Students’ Summer Placement Scheme.

8.  Performance and Risk Management System – Gaelic Language Plan

The Gaelic Development Manager will undertake a presentation providing an overview of progress in monitoring and implementing the Gaelic Language Plan (GLP) 2012-16, using the Performance and Risk Management System (PRMS).

The Group is invited to note the presentation.

9.  Gaelic Language Act Implementation Fund Projects 2013-14

There is circulated Report No GIG-15-13 (38kb pdf) dated 31 July 2013 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport  providing Members with an overview of the successful Gaelic Language Act Implementation Fund (GLAIF) projects for 2013-14.

The Group is invited to:-

i.  note the three successful GLAIF projects for 2013-14;
ii. agree that officers engage with Bòrd na Gàidhlig to identify all the
   successful projects in GLAIF 2013-14 and the chances of Gaisgich
   coimhearsnachd being re-evaluated; and
iii. agree to receive a final report on GLAIF project implementation in 2014.

10.  Comann an Luchd-Ionnsachaidh Gàidhlig (CLÌ Gàidhlig)

There is circulated Report No GIG-16-13 (24kb pdf) dated 31 July 2013 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport  introducing Mr D J MacIntyre, Director of CLÌ Gàidhlig who will give a presentation on the role, remit and work in which CLÌ is currently involved in respect of Gaelic in the Home and in Communities.

The Group is invited to:-

i. comment on the presentation; and
ii. discuss how Clì and the Council might work together to implement Gaelic
   Language Theme 1 “Home and Communities” and Theme 4 “Gaelic in the
   Workplace”.

11.  Royal National Mod - Inverness 2014

There is circulated Report No GIG-17-13 (22kb pdf) dated 31 July 2013 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport updating Members on progress and development to date regarding the Royal National Mod which will take place in the City of Inverness in October 2014.

The Group is invited to:-

i. note the update and comment on developments to date in the lead up to
   the 2014 Homecoming Mod; and
ii. agree to maintain close contact with An Comunn Gàidhealach locally and
   nationally.

12. November Gaelic Implementation Group - Presentation by Director of Planning and Development

The Committee is asked to note that Stuart Black, Director of Planning and Development, will provide the Gaelic Implementation Group on 14 November 2013 with a short presentation on his Service’s engagement with, and implementation of, the Gaelic Language Plan 2012 -16.