Minutes of Meeting of the Gaelic Committee held in Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig Inbhir Nis, Slackbuie, Inverness on Thursday 18 September 2008 at 2.00 pm
Present:
Mr G Farlow, Mr J McGillivray, Mrs I Campbell, Dr A Sinclair, Ms M Smith, Mrs M E Paterson, Mr C Fraser, Mr H Fraser, Mr A Graham, Miss J Campbell, Mr J Finnie, Mr F Parr, Mr K MacLeod, Mr R Balfour, Mr R Pedersen, Mr D Cameron
Officials in attendance:
Mr H Fraser, Director of Education, Culture and Sport
Mr D MacNeill, Gaelic Development Manager, Education, Culture and Sport
Ms J Menabney, Principal Cultural Officer, Education, Culture and Sport
Ms M A MacLeod, Gaelic Development Officer, Chief Executive’s Office
Mr J Allison, Principal Administrator, Chief Executive’s Office
Miss M Murray, Administrative Assistant, Chief Executive’s Office
Also in attendance:
Mr I Campbell, Hecla Consulting
An asterisk in the margin denotes a recommendation to the Council. All decisions with no marking in the margin are delegated to the Committee.
Mr H Fraser in the Chair
Business
Preliminaries
Mrs J MacLeod, Head Teacher, welcomed the Committee to Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig Inbhir Nis and advised that there would be a tour of the school following the meeting. She then introduced the school choir who performed two songs.
The Chairman thanked the choir for their performance.
1. Apologies for Absence
Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Mr G M Smith, Mr A M Millar, Mr E Hunter, Mr J MacDonald, Mr J Holden and Ms J Douglas.
2. Revenue Budget Monitoring
There was circulated Report No G-21-08 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport setting out the revenue budget monitoring position for the period 1 April to 31 July 2008 and the projected year end position. At present there were no projected variances, however, it was likely that there would be savings arising from the delay in recruitment to posts within the Gaelic Development Team.
The Director highlighted that there was significant Gaelic Language Act Implementation Fund (GLAIF) funding still available and that discussions would take place with Bòrd na Gàidhlig regarding how the underspend might be managed, possibly by a carry forward to the next financial year or a virement from one budget heading to another to make the best use of available funds.
The Committee NOTED:-
i. the report and monitoring statements which showed the revenue budget
monitoring position for the period 1 April to 31 July 2008; and
ii. that discussions would take place with Bòrd na Gàidhlig regarding
underspent GLAIF funding, including the possibility of a carry forward to the
next financial year or a virement from one budget heading to another to
make the best use of available funds.
3. Gaelic Labour Market Survey
There was circulated Report No G-22-08 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport outlining the context, methodology and projected outcomes of a survey into the Gaelic Labour Market currently being carried out by Hecla Consulting.
The Chairman welcomed Mr I Campbell, Hecla Consulting, who gave a presentation in amplification of the report. Mr Campbell advised that the Gaelic labour market was the market for which knowledge of the Gaelic language was a condition of employment. The objectives of the survey, which had been commissioned by Bòrd na Gàidhlig, Highland and Islands Enterprise and Skills Development Scotland, were to define and quantify the present Gaelic labour market, identify the extent of use of Gaelic skills in the workplace and assess the current drivers for growth. Questionnaires had been issued to 220 organisations, including the Highland Council, who were known to have existing Gaelic-essential posts or who were expected to have a demand for such posts in the future. A 40% response rate had been achieved. Mr Campbell highlighted a number of statistics from official data sources and some of the early conclusions of the survey, emphasising that the survey report was currently in draft form. The final report was expected to be completed by the end of the October 2008 and would be reported to the Committee when the conclusions had been published by the survey sponsors.
Following a question and answer session, the Committee NOTED the report and the accompanying presentation.
4. Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between The Highland
Council and the Province of Nova Scotia
There was circulated Report No G-23-08 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport setting out the background to the Council’s links with Nova Scotia and listing recent activities and proposed projects.
In discussion, the following comments were made:-
- the Ùlpan method of teaching Gaelic had been successful in Highland and could be used to promote Gaelic in Nova Scotia;
- children benefited from taking part in the youth projects supported by the MOU and consideration should be given to increasing the number
- of projects;
information was sought on whether there were any economic benefits
- resulting from the Council’s links with Nova Scotia;
- Homecoming Scotland 2009 should be included in the MOU;
- Shinty was a good means of promoting Gaelic and consideration should be given to establishing summer schools combining playing the sport with learning the Gaelic language;
- the possibility of the technical terms used in Shinty being in Gaelic as a matter of course, in the same way that Japanese terms were used in Judo, should be investigated;
- the Canadian game of “Shinny”, which appeared to be the same as Shinty, should be researched.
- The Gaelic Development Manager advised that a meeting with Nova Scotia officials to progress the MOU would take place in October 2008 and Members comments would be raised.
The Committee:-
i. NOTED how the Memorandum of Understanding could be broadened to
include a wider range of partners;
ii. AGREED that all signature events be more widely publicised; and
iii. AGREED that Members comments be raised at the meeting with Nova
Scotia officials to take place in October 2008.
5. Staff Survey Update
There was circulated Report No G-24-08 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport outlining key statistics and early conclusions from the survey carried out during the month of August into Gaelic skills and abilities among Council staff. The full analysis was still being carried out and the final report was due to be submitted to the Council by the contractors on 19 September 2008. Overall, a 34-35% response rate had been achieved which was a positive outcome given the time of year the survey had been undertaken and when compared to the Council’s full staff survey.
The Committee NOTED the report.
6. Gaelic Development Manager’s Update
Declaration of Interest
Mr A Graham declared a financial interest in this item as Finance and Administration Manager for Bòrd na Gàidhlig and left the room.
There was circulated Report No G-25-08 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport providing an update on various issues of interest to the Gaelic Committee, in particular, the outcomes of the Council’s bids for financial support under the Gaelic Language Act Implementation Fund (GLAIF).
In discussion, Members referred to “Muzzy”, a DVD and CD based language course which parents bought to teach children a language from a very early age. The course was available in several languages and appeared to have been very successful. It was suggested that consideration be given to providing a similar course in Gaelic.
Members welcomed the introduction of a Good Practice Guide on signage and stressed the importance of the Council’s policy on bi-lingual signage being implemented throughout Highland.
The Committee:-
i. NOTED the report;
ii. AGREED that officials examine “Muzzy”, a DVD and CD based language
course for young children, with a view to providing a similar course in Gaelic;
and
iii. AGREED that the Chief Executive and Senior Management Team be
reminded of the requirement to implement the Council’s policy on bi-lingual
signage throughout Highland.
The Chairman thanked Mrs MacLeod and her staff for their hospitality.
The meeting concluded at 3.25 pm.