A meeting of the Gaelic Committee will take place in the Main Meeting Room, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Teangue, Isle of Skye on Thursday 5 June 2008 at 2.00 pm.
The arrangements are as follows:-
8.30 am - Transport, for those who have requested it, will depart Council Headquarters
11.00 am - Tour of Fàs, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig’s new centre for creative and cultural industries
12.30 pm - A soup and sandwiches lunch will be provided
2.00 pm - Gaelic Committee
Conclusion of Committee - Transport will return to Inverness
You are invited to attend the meeting and a note of the business to be considered is attached.
Yours faithfully
Alistair Dodds
Chief Executive
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.
Business
Prior to the commencement of business there will be a presentation on Gaelic film making involving pupils from Sleat Primary School.
1. Apologies for Absence
2. Revenue Budget Monitoring – 1 April to 30 April 2008
There is circulated Report No G-08-08 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport setting out the revenue budget monitoring position for the period 1 April to 30 April 2008 and the projected year end position.
The Committee is invited to note the position.
3. Gaelic Language Plan and Bòrd na Gàidhlig
There is circulated Report No G-09-08 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport detailing the discussions with Bòrd na Gàidhlig on the Highland Council’s Gaelic Language Plan.
The Committee is invited to note and comment on the amendments made to the Plan following formal discussions with Bòrd na Gàidhlig.
4. Highland Council Gaelic Language Plan Implementation
There is circulated Report No G-10-08 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport explaining the process by which the Highland Council Gaelic Language Plan (HCGLP) 2007-2011 will be progressed. The report advises that a detailed implementation strategy is being prepared for each year of the plan to identify the specific annual targets for each service, how activity will be funded and the Council officer with lead responsibility for delivery. It is proposed that the implementation strategies will be costed and that a three year funding plan for the remaining term of the plan will be developed. This will include a three year Gaelic Language Act Implementation Fund (GLAIF) application to Bòrd na Gàidhlig and prepared budget estimates for financial years 2009/10 and 2010/11 to be submitted to the Council’s budget review process. Implementation of the Council’s Gaelic Language Plan will contribute significantly to the Programme for Administration.
The Committee is invited to note progress with the implementation strategy for the Gaelic Language Plan.
5. Consultation on Gaelic Medium Education Provision in the Greater
Fort William Area
There is circulated Report No G-11-08 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport providing details on the current arrangements for Gaelic medium education provision for pupils living in the greater Fort William area. The report outlines possible options for the development of a dedicated Gaelic school. The Council has agreed, in its Gaelic Language Plan 2007-2011 and Programme for Administration, to progress the development of all Gaelic medium education primary schools.
The Committee is invited to:-
i. discuss the options outlined in the report and consider other possible
options; and
ii. decide whether or not to go to a statutory consultation paper regarding
the development of a stand-alone Gaelic school for the greater Fort William
area.
Should the Committee agree to go to a statutory consultation paper, the Committee is further invited to:-
i. decide on the options to be incorporated into the formal consultation paper;
and
ii. instruct officers to prepare a draft statutory consultation paper for
consideration by the Education, Culture and Sport Committee.
6. Consultation on Gaelic Medium Education Provision in Portree and
North Skye
There is circulated Report No G-12-08 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport providing details on the current arrangements for Gaelic medium education provision for pupils living in Portree and North Skye. The report outlines possible options for the development of a dedicated Gaelic school. The Council has agreed, in its Gaelic Language Plan 2007-2011 and Programme for Administration, to progress the development of all Gaelic medium education primary schools.
The Committee is invited to:-
i. discuss the options outlined in the report consider other possible options;
and
ii. decide whether or not to go to a statutory consultation paper regarding
the development of a stand-alone Gaelic school for Portree and North Skye.
Should the Committee agree to go to a statutory consultation paper, the Committee is further invited to:-
i. decide on the options to be incorporated into the formal consultation paper;
and
ii. instruct officers to prepare a draft statutory consultation paper for
consideration by the Education, Culture and Sport Committee.
7. Council Staff Gaelic Audit
There is circulated Report No G-13-08 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport providing an update on progress with the Council Staff Gaelic Language Skills Audit which is required as part of the implementation of the Highland Council’s Gaelic Language Plan (HCGLP). The report advises that it is anticipated that questionnaires will be issued to Council staff as soon as possible after the tendering process for the audit has been completed. It is proposed that the findings of the Audit will be reported to the Gaelic Committee in September 2008.
The Committee is invited to note the progress with the Council Staff Gaelic Language Skills Audit.
8. Partnership Working with Sabhal Mòr Ostaig and Fàs
There is circulated Report No G-14-08 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport advising that the Gaelic Language Plan identifies a commitment to developing improved collaboration between the Highland Council and Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, the Gaelic College in Sleat. The intention is to develop a range of initiatives to support the learning and teaching process for pupils, and to continue professional development for teaching and support staff in schools, other staff within the Education, Culture and Sport Service and staff in other Council Services who wish to learn Gaelic. The report provides information on the initial discussions which have taken place and advises that a further report will be submitted to Committee in due course.
The Committee is invited to:-
i. note the current areas that have been identified for closer collaborative
working between the Council and Sabhal Mòr Ostaig;
ii. approve the proposals in the report; and
iii. agree that further reports be submitted to the Committee in due course
when the proposals have been further discussed and developed.