Minutes of Meeting of the Gaelic Committee held in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Thursday 12 March 2009 at 2.00 pm
Present:
Mr H Fraser, Mrs I Campbell, Mr G Farlow, Mr G M Smith, Mr J McGillivray, Dr A Sinclair, Ms M Smith, Mr A M Millar, Mr E Hunter, Miss J Campbell, Mr J Finnie, Mr F Parr, Mr K MacLeod, Mr R Balfour, Mr A S Park, Mr J Holden, Mr R Pedersen, Ms J Douglas, Mr D Cameron, Dr M E M Foxley
Non-Members also present:
Mr J Rosie, Mr R Coghill, Mrs D Mackay, Mr M Rattray, Mr R Durham, Dr D Alston, Mrs I McCallum, Mrs P Munro, Mr D Henderson, Mr D Fallows
Officials in attendance:
Mr H Fraser, Director of Education, Culture and Sport
Mr R MacKenzie, Head of Support Services, Education, Culture and Sport
Mr D MacNeill, Gaelic Development Manager, Education, Culture and Sport
Mr G Watson, Community Development Manager, Education, Culture and Sport
Ms J Menabney, Principal Cultural Officer, Education, Culture and Sport
Mr J Macdonald. Senior Community Learning and Leisure Officer, Education, Culture and Sport
Mr C Phillips, Lifelong Learning Manager, Education, Culture and Sport
Ms J MacDonald, Senior Translator, Education, Culture and Sport
Ms Mary Morrison, Gaelic Childcare and Family Resources 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
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
The Chairman, on behalf of the Committee, welcomed newly appointed Senior Translator, Ms J MacDonald, and Gaelic Childcare and Family Resources Officer, Ms Mary Morrison.
1. Apologies for Absence
Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Mr C Fraser and Mr A Graham.
2. Revenue Budget Monitoring – 1 April 2008 to 31 January 2009
There was circulated Report No G-05-09 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport setting out the revenue budget monitoring position for the period 1 April 2008 to 31 January 2009 and the projected year end position.
The Committee NOTED the report and monitoring statements which showed the revenue budget monitoring position for the period 1 April 2008 to 31 January 2009.
3. Highland Council Response to Consultation on Scottish
Government’s Draft Gaelic Language Plan
There was circulated Report No G-06-09 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport providing information on the publication of the Scottish Government’s Draft Gaelic Language Plan which was the subject of a consultation exercise with the deadline for responses being 29 April 2009. The Council’s draft response to the consultation exercise was also appended.
In discussion, the following comments were made:-
- the approach in the draft response to the difficulties being experienced in recruiting Gaelic medium teachers was commended;
- the benefits of bilingualism in the education of young people and the economic market should be emphasised;
- the development of a template Gaelic Language Plan would simplify the process for other public bodies;
- resources for Gaelic medium education were inadequate;
- it should be emphasised that improved promotion of careers in Gaelic by Careers Scotland was necessary;
- the response was not representative of the whole of the Highlands as there were some areas where the use of Gaelic was limited;
- the expansion of the programme of bilingual signage by Transport Scotland was welcomed and it was suggested that specific reference be made to the A9, A82 and A96 trunk roads, with a request that bilingual signs be introduced on those significant roads as a matter of urgency;
- tourist “thistle” signs should be included in the programme of bilingual signage;
- it should be highlighted that road signs in Wales and Eire had been bilingual for many years and there was no evidence that they had had a negative impact on road safety; and
- the Gaelic Committee had a responsibility to promote Gaelic language and culture.
In response to concerns that there had been a lack of community consultation, it was highlighted that any individual or organisation could also submit a response to the Scottish Government.
Thereafter, the Committee APPROVED the draft response to the consultation on the Scottish Government’s Draft Gaelic Language Plan, subject to inclusion of the comments from Members which had been made at the meeting.
4. Gaelic Language Act Implementation Fund (GLAIF) Projects
2008/09: Projects Update
There was circulated Report No G-07-09 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport advising that the Council had received funding support from Bòrd na Gàidhlig in the current financial year under the Gaelic Language Act Implementation Fund (GLAIF). A formal report would be required at the end of the financial year but it was a condition of funding that a “progress note” be provided to Bòrd na Gàidhlig on the GLAIF projects. A copy of the progress note was appended to the report and Members were invited to note the position and the overall progress being made across a range of projects.
The Committee NOTED the progress being made on the GLAIF projects in 2008/09 as detailed.
5. A New Approach to Gaelic Fellowships and Residencies
There was circulated Report No G-08-09 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport outlining a new approach to how the Council might use its funding for Gaelic Fellowships in a more flexible way to assist implementation of the Gaelic Language Plan.
During discussion, Members welcomed the proposals which it was felt would benefit a wider range of artists and projects.
Thereafter, the Committee APPROVED the proposal to:-
i. establish a Creative Residencies Scheme using the funding in the Gaelic
budget hitherto devoted to the Màiri Mhòr Fellowship, with the potential to
attract match funding; and
ii. undertake a full review of the effectiveness of the Scheme after an initial
three year period.
6. Tasglann agus Ionad-Clàraidh na Gàidhealtachd (Highland Archive
Centre)
There was circulated Report No G-09-09 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport outlining progress in implementing the Highland Archive Strategy and describing arrangements for Gaelic provision in Tasglann agus Ionad-Clàraidh na Gàidhealtachd.
During discussion, Members suggested that consideration should be given to linking the opening of the Archive Centre, with its Family History Search Room, to the Year of Homecoming.
Also, whilst the proposed use of Gaelic headings in publicity material and leaflets for the Archive Centre was welcomed, it was suggested that Gaelic be given greater prominence in the Gaelic section of the archives through the provision of bilingual leaflets, particularly given the potential attraction to Gaelic scholars.
Thereafter, the Committee:-
i. NOTED progress in implementing the Highland Archive Strategy and the
arrangements for Gaelic provision in Tasglann agus Ionad-Clàraidh na
Gàidhealtachd;
ii. AGREED that opportunities to link the opening of the Highland Archive
Centre with the Year of Homecoming be investigated; and
iii. AGREED that the Gaelic language be given greater prominence in the
Gaelic section of the archives through the provision of bilingual leaflets.
7. Highland Folk Museum Development
Declaration of Interest:
Mr R Pedersen declared a non-financial interest in the following item in relation to his previous involvement in a consultancy capacity in the preparation of a report on the Highland Folk Museum but, having applied the test outlined in Paragraph 5.18 of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct, concluded that his interest did not preclude his involvement in the discussion.
There was circulated Report No G-10-09 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport presenting a draft outline of a 20 year development plan for the Highland Folk Museum, created to develop the museum as a national centre for Gaelic culture, with Gaelic language and culture at the heart of the visitor experience.
During discussion, Members welcomed the proposals and commended those involved in developing the plan which would give direction and an element of security to the future of the Museum and bring many benefits to the area.
It was also suggested that arrangements should be made for the Gaelic Committee to visit the Highland Folk Museum in 2009.
Thereafter, the Committee:-
i. APPROVED the draft outline of the 20 year plan for the development of
Pairc na Gàidhealtachd;
ii. AGREED that consideration in relation to implementation of the plan should
now be undertaken by the Education, Culture and Sport Committee; and
iii. AGREED that arrangements be made for the Gaelic Committee to visit the
Highland Folk Museum in 2009.
8. Responses Received to Recent Communications: Transport Scotland
and BBC Trust
There was circulated Report No G-11-09 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport advising that, following recommendations made at recent meetings of the Gaelic Committee, the Chairman of the Gaelic Committee had written to the Chairman of the BBC Trust with reference to the wider availability of the MG/BBC Alba Gaelic channel on freeview and also to the Transport and Gaelic Ministers with reference to the Government’s policy on bilingual signage on trunk roads. The letters, and the responses received, were appended to the report.
During discussion, Members expressed disappointment at the response from the Chairman of the BBC Trust and commented that BBC Alba should be made available to as wide an audience as possible prior to any review of the extent to which the channel was fulfilling its stated aims. It was therefore suggested that a further letter be sent to the BBC Trust requesting that freeview transmission of BBC Alba commence as soon as possible with a review after a period of 12 months.
With regard to the response from the Minister for Transport, Members reiterated that there was no evidence that bilingual signs had a negative impact on road safety and it was suggested that this should be emphasised in a further letter to the Minister.
During the course of debate, some Members questioned the effectiveness of bilingual signs in the promotion of Gaelic while others considered that they raised the profile of Gaelic by making the language visible to many more people.
Following further discussion, the Committee:-
i. NOTED the responses from Transport Scotland and the BBC Trust;
ii. AGREED that the Chairman should send a further letter to the BBC Trust
confirming the Council’s position and requesting that freeview transmission
of BBC Alba should commence as soon as possible with a review after a
period of 12 months; and
iii. AGREED that the Chairman send a further letter to the Minister for
Transport confirming the Council’s position that the programme of bilingual
signage should be extended and emphasising that bilingual signs did not
have a negative impact on road safety as evidenced in Wales, Eire and
other countries in Europe where signs had been bilingual for many years.
9. Gaelic Development Manager’s Update
There was circulated Report No G-12-09 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport providing an update on various issues of interest to the Gaelic Committee, including:-
- recruitment;
- appointments to the Scottish Government and Bòrd na Gàidhlig;
the Celtic Film Festival;
- mygaelic.com - a new Gaelic social networking website; and
- a new Continuous Professional Development (CPD) course for Gaelic medium drama teachers in Highland
During discussion, Members commented that the Scottish Government and Bòrd na Gàidhlig had commissioned researchers to undertake a review of Gaelic medium pre-school education and the importance of submitting a response was emphasised. There were a range of issues to be considered, including staffing, accommodation and resources, and it was suggested that the Council’s response should be circulated to Members of the Gaelic Committee for information and comment.
The Chairman also advised that he wished to invite Bòrd na Gàidhlig representatives to the next meeting of the Committee to discuss the implementation of the National Plan for Gaelic.
Thereafter, the Committee:-
i. NOTED the report;
ii. AGREED that a formal response to the Scottish Government’s Review of
Gaelic Pre-School Education should be provided and that it be circulated to
Members of the Gaelic Committee for information and comment; and
iii. AGREED that the Chairman should invite Bòrd na Gàidhlig representatives
to the next meeting of the Committee to discuss the implementation of
the National Plan for Gaelic.
The meeting concluded at 4.00 pm.