Agenda
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A meeting of the Gaelic Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Wednesday, 3 June 2026 at 2pm.
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
Stewart Fraser
Chief Officer – Legal and Corporate Governance
Business
1. Calling of the Roll and Apologies for Absence
2. Declarations of Interest/Transparency Statement
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 provide some information on the nature of the interest and leave the meeting at the appropriate time. Advice may be sought from officers prior to the meeting taking place.
3. Good News
The Committee is asked to note the good news as presented.
4. Inverness City Centre Wayfinding Project
There will be a presentation by Lizbeth Collie, Project Officer (Active Travel).
The Committee is invited to note the presentation.
5. Fèis-sgoil Gaelic Learners North Area Project
There will be a presentation by Ms Eilidh Mackenzie, Fèisgoil Manager, Fèisean nan Gàidheal and Ms Dee Roberts, Principal Teacher, Tongue Primary School.
The Committee is invited to note the presentation.
6. Siuthad! Annual Gaelic Careers Event
There is circulated Report No. G/6/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive – People and there will be a presentation by Mr Derek MacKenzie, Skills Development Scotland.
The Committee is invited to:-
i. note the contents of this Siuthad update report;
ii. agree to continue to support the participation of secondary pupils in Siuthad; and
iii. agree to continue to work with Skills Development Scotland to organise Siuthad.
7. Charitable Trusts Update
There is circulated Report No. G/7/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive – People.
The Committee is invited to note the:-
i. existing contribution of Educational Trust Funds to Gaelic education and activity;
ii. wider landscape of affiliated Gaelic trusts and bursary schemes; and
iii. ongoing work to align funding approaches and information sharing across Gaelic-related funding streams.
8. Scottish Languages Act - Areas of Linguistic Significance Progress Report
There is circulated Report No. G/8/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive – People.
The Committee is invited to:-
i. note the provisions of the Scottish Languages Act 2025 relating to Areas of Linguistic Significance;
ii. note that Corporate Management Team has approved a whole authority ALS approach;
iii. agree that a whole-authority designation, supported by a place based delivery framework, provides the most proportionate and effective way to implement ALS in Highland;
iv. agree to recommend to full Council that the Gaelic Committee’s Scheme of Delegation is amended to allocate responsibility for oversight of Gaelic Areas of Linguistic Significance designation processes; and
v. note that further reports will be brought to the Committee on delivery phasing, governance and consultation.
9. Gaelic Language Plan Progress Report
There is circulated Report No. G/9/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive – People.
The Committee is invited to note the:-
i. contents of this PRMS progress report;
ii. submission and positive assessment of the Council’s Bòrd na Gàidhlig annual return for May 2024 to May 2025; and
iii. Council’s response to the BBC Royal Charter consultation, as included in the appendices.
10. Gaelic Education Update
There is circulated Report No. G/10/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive – People.
The Committee is invited to:-
i. agree to welcome the continued expansion of Gaelic Education in the North Area;
ii. agree to recognise the growth across sectors for Gaelic pupil numbers; and
iii. note Seachdain na Gàidhlig activities and commitment from schools to contribute and participate in the annual initiative.