Minutes of Meeting of the Gaelic Committee held in Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Thursday, 6 October 2011 at 10.30 am.
Present:
Mr H Fraser, Mrs I Campbell, Mr W Fernie, Mr G M Smith, Mr W MacKay, Mr J McGillivray, Dr A Sinclair, Mrs M E Paterson, Mr C Fraser, Mr A M Millar, Mr E Hunter
Miss J Campbell, Mr F Parr, Mr K MacLeod, Mr R Pedersen, Mr B Gormley
Non-Members also present:
Mr J Rosie, Mr B Clark
Officials in attendance:-
Mr H Fraser, Director of Education, Culture and Sport
Mr R MacKenzie, Head of Support Services, Education, Culture and Sport
Mr K Murray, Gaelic Development Manager, Education, Culture and Sport
Ms N Young, Acting Senior Education Officer, Education Culture and Sport Service
Ms M A MacLeod, Gaelic Development Officer, Chief Executive’s Office
Miss J Maclennan, Principal Administrator, Chief Executive’s Office
Mrs F MacBain, Senior Administrative Assistant, Chief Executive’s Office
Also in attendance:-
Dr J Dempster, Senior Librarian, Systems Support, High Life Highland
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
1. Apologies for Absence
Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Mr A Graham (OCB), Mr T Prag, Mr G Farlow, Ms J Douglas (OCB), Dr M E M Foxley, Mr J Finnie, Mr A S Park and Mr B Murphy.
2. Declarations of Interest
The Committee NOTED the following declarations of interest:
Item 3 – Mr D Millar (Non Financial)
3. Presentation – Highland Library Service Support for Gaelic
Declaration of Interest:
Mr A M Millar declared a non financial interest in this item as a Director of High Life Highland but, having applied the test outlined in Paragraphs 5.2 and 5.3 of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct, concluded that his interest did not preclude his involvement in the discussion.
Dr Dempster undertook a presentation on recent innovations in the Highland Library Service and its commitment to Gaelic, including the provision of resources to support Gaelic learning, stocking of resources in Gaelic and about Gaelic language and culture and the Am Baile Web Site, all in adherence to the Council’s Gaelic Language Plan. An explanation was also provided on how technology was being used in libraries to help with the organisation of non-fiction resources, specifically the use of QR (Quick Response) codes which could be read by certain ‘smart’ mobile phones and which gave instant and comprehensive information on a book or subject matter. This project had been developed in partnership with the Scottish Library and Information Council and would be piloted in Portree Library in the coming weeks and it was anticipated that it would encourage an awareness of the extent of Gaelic resources and culture, enable young Gaelic speakers to see the relevance of Gaelic in a contemporary context and help to integrate Gaelic into everyday life.
Members thanked Dr Dempster for the presentation and Inverness Library for housing the resources of the Gaelic Society’s library, pointing out that the transactions of the Society, which had been in existence since 1871, were available in the reference section. In response to a question from Members about Highland Library Services to the housebound and the elderly, particularly those who did not have access to modern technology, it was explained that the Service appreciated the work that was being done in Inverness by a charitable organisation called The Visiting Service of the North of Scotland, with their work being considered as a future model for library services to the housebound in other parts of Highland. Further, it was emphasised that the Library Service had an ongoing commitment to all sections of the community.
The Committee NOTED the presentation.
4. Revenue Monitoring – Report to 31 August 2011
There had been circulated Report No G-22-11 (274kb pdf) dated 28 September 2011 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which set out the revenue budget monitoring position for the period 1 April to 31 August 2011.
In summary, the only significant area of uncertainty in relation to the projected year-end balance related to School Transport, in particular the transition to the new school transport contract from January 2012. The outcome of this tendering exercise would be reported to the next meeting together with full details of the current and revised annual budget figures for school transport. Other than this budget heading, there were no other known risks at this stage and a balanced budget was anticipated.
The Committee NOTED the projected outturn for financial year 2011/12 based on estimates at the end of August 2011.
5. Provision of Adult Gaelic Learning Opportunities including Ùlpan Classes
There had been circulated Report No G-23-11 (75kb pdf) dated 26 September 2011 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which provided an update on the provision of Adult Gaelic Learning opportunities, including Ùlpan classes, across the Highlands.
In summary of the report, it was explained that Ùlpan was part of a Scotland-wide initiative and was a teaching method which focused on learning Gaelic through a progressive methodology. The Council was organising Ùlpan classes for around 145 students in conjunction with partners or through the support of Learning Centres. While it was considered vital that the Council continued to support Ùlpan classes, it was also important that other less formal learning opportunities, such as conversational classes, were provided and details of other learning opportunities were listed in the report.
In response to a query as to whether ILAs (Individual Learning Accounts) could be used for Ùlpan classes provided by the Council, it was confirmed that the Council was not a registered organisation for ILA funds but further investigation would be undertaken and reported back to Members. Information was also sought on the publicity undertaken for Gaelic-language classes across Highland, although specifically for Ùlpan classes in Dingwall.
In relation to the cost of Ùlpan classes, having been informed that there were discounts of up to 50% for Council Members, staff and parents of GME pupils, concern was expressed by Members about the affordability of Gaelic classes for the unemployed and those on low incomes. It was explained that everything possible was being done to keep the cost of classes down but a balance had to be found between expanding the provision of classes and the reduction of costs to improve the affordability of classes. While extensive links had been established with the UHI network, attention was also being given to the provision of classes in communities without college facilities. In response to a call for a meeting between Council officials, Members and officers from Bòrd na Gàidhlig, it was explained that regular meetings already took place.
The Committee:-
i. NOTED the progress made in relation to the development of the Ùlpan Gaelic
classes;
ii. AGREED the need for a range of Adult Learning provision for Gaelic learners;
iii. AGREED to encourage participation and continue support for GM parents,
Members and staff;
iv. AGREED a continued partnership approach with Bòrd na Gàidhlig;
v. AGREED to inform Mrs M Paterson where Ùlpan Gaelic classes were advertised
in the Dingwall area; and
vi. AGREED to inform Members of how those who were unemployed and/or were
on low incomes might be encouraged to participate in Gaelic Language classes
and to clarify the situation in relation to the use of Individual Learning Accounts
to pay towards the costs of Ùlpan Gaelic classes.
6. Enrolment of Pupils to Gaelic Medium Primary Education
There had been circulated Report No G-24-11 (202kb pdf) dated 28 September 2011 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which provided an update on the promotion of Gaelic Medium Education (GME) and pupil numbers who had enrolled to Gaelic Medium primary education during school session 2010/11 and 2011/12.
It was explained that there had been an overall increase in the number of pupils enrolled in GME for 2011/12 compared to 2010/11, following proactive promotion of GME in February 2011. Some areas, notably Nairn and Dingwall, had experienced a decrease in numbers and targeted promotion of GME from October 2011 aimed to reverse this trend for 2012/13 and to continue to increase overall numbers of pupils enrolling in GME. A further report to the Committee was planned for November 2012 to demonstrate whether the publicity measures had been successful.
In considering the reasons for the decrease in GME pupil numbers in Dingwall and Nairn, it was pointed out that both towns had more than one primary school but only one school with a GME Department. Members suggested that families tended to have an affinity with a particular school, often related to the distance of the school from their home, and therefore it would be ideal if all primary schools could have a GME Department. However a major obstacle in the provision of GME in all schools was the difficulty in recruiting teachers. Other suggestions to increase the uptake of GME included the continued promotion of the benefits of bilingualism and the importance of targeting the 0-3 age-group as parents tended to make decisions relating to their child’s education prior to them starting nursery. It was explained to Members that a report was being prepared for March 2012 on the ongoing work that was being done across Highland, in partnership with Bòrd na Gàidhlig, to promote GME in the 0-3 age group.
In relation to the success of Sleat and Gairloch primary schools in attracting an increased numbers of GME pupils in 2011/12 compared to 2010/11, it was thought that the presence of Sabhal Mòr Ostaig in the catchment area of Sleat had been beneficial, given the number of Gaelic-speaking staff employed by the college. Difficulties in sourcing supply GME teachers in Gairloch primary school in 2010/11 had reduced the number of pupils attending GME but numbers had increased in 2011/12 as the teacher shortage had been resolved.
The Committee thereafter:-
i. NOTED the report;
ii. NOTED that a progress on the on-going work to promote Gaelic in the 0-3 age group would be submitted to a future meeting of the Committee; and
iii. AGREED that a further report on the enrolment of pupils to Gaelic Medium Primary Education would be submitted to the Gaelic Committee on 8 November 2012.
7. Gaelic Language Plan 2012-16 – Consultative Draft
There had been circulated Report No G-25-11 (527kb pdf) dated 8 August 2011 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which provided information on progress in preparing the second generation Gaelic Language Plan, scheduled to be approved around May 2012.
It was explained that the Draft Plan built on the significant achievements and implementation of the first Plan (2007-11) and set out the Council’s actions for Gaelic over the next few years. Members had been given further opportunities to discuss and provide feedback on the Consultative Draft at a Workshop on 26 September. Taking this feedback into account, the report sought approval of the Consultative Draft of the Gaelic Language Plan 2012-16 which would be followed by a public consultation exercise including a series of 8 public meetings. The timetable leading to final approval of the Plan had been detailed in the report.
In response to a question from Members about the involvement of other Council Services in the preparation of the Plan, it was explained that there had been informal cross-Service meetings to discuss Gaelic matters and that, following approval of the draft Plan, it would be discussed further at Senior Management level. Discussions had also taken place with the Chief Executive’s office to establish that the Gaelic Language Plan would be subject to the same implementation, monitoring and audit process as the rest of the Council’s suite of Corporate documents.
Members voiced support for the Plan and commented that, in addition to establishing the profile of Gaelic in general economic development initiatives and in tourism, reference should also be made to raising awareness of the diversity of heritage and culture across Highland. The commitment of Head Teachers to the Plan was essential and steps needed to be taken to ensure all schools complied fully with the provisions of the Plan, whilst taking into account the additional budget pressures facing schools and the ongoing difficulties in recruiting Gaelic Medium teachers in the Highlands.
In relation to pre-school staff who might have obtained nursery or childcare qualifications via the SVQ system, the Council would give additional support in language skills for those working in a GME pre-school Department. Further information about this, together with the other ongoing work on GME provision in the 0-3 age group, would be presented to a future meeting of the Committee.
After discussion, the Committee:-
i. NOTED progress to date;
ii. NOTED the revised timetable;
iii. APPROVED the Draft Consultative Plan; and
iv. AGREED to discuss the progress of the Public Consultation at the Gaelic Committee on 1 December 2011.
8. Gaelic Family Learning Week on Skye
There had been circulated Report No G-26-11 (60kb pdf) dated 26 September 2011 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which informed Members of the development and current position regarding the Gaelic Family Learning Week (GFLW).
It was explained that the GFLW came under the auspices of the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding with Sabhal Mòr Ostaig and was an opportunity to support parents of children who attend GME, to strengthen the place of Gaelic in the home and the community, to provide social and recreational events through the medium of Gaelic and to strengthen the learning and language usage among young people. Following positive evaluation of the event, it was hoped that continued funding would be forthcoming to ensure both the sustainability and the growth of the event in future years.
Having voiced support for the event, the Committee AGREED to:-
i. continue to provide support to the Gaelic Family Learning Week through the
Community Learning and Development Officer (North) within the Gaelic Team
under the auspices of the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding with
Sabhal Mòr Ostaig; and
ii. seek further support from the Community Learning and Development Review
Group for Gaelic and Bòrd na Gàidhlig to enable the sustainability and the growth
of the Gaelic Family Learning Week as it provides the opportunity for GM families
to increase their language acquisition skills.
The meeting concluded at 11.55 am.