Agenda item

Council received the Report of the Head of Transformation in relation to the Welsh in Education Strategic Plan for 2017-20 (WESP).  It was noted that the report had been commended to Council by the Education, Skills and Culture Cabinet Board with one addition in relation to “further explore the benefits of starter classes” in the longer term.

Following the presentation of the Report, Members raised the following:-

·                                  Members referred to the fact that the report had initially been referred back to the Authority by Welsh Government for not being robust enough to achieve the 1million Welsh speakers in Wales by 2050.  This had been the case for the majority of Plans prepared by Local Authorities across Wales.  Some Members continued to feel that the report was not robust enough, particularly in primary school provision, however it was acknowledged that the report had improved. The County Borough had a wide-range of Welsh speakers, with parts of the area having the highest proportion of Welsh speakers in Wales and other parts the lowest.  Although the development of the Bro Dur site was welcomed there continued to be a lack of primary school provision across the County Borough area. 

·                                  Members asked that there be wider provision for nursery age pupils and that the current home to school transport be revised as it only provided transport one way and was chargeable. The Director agreed that this was not adequate and that it would need to be looked at going forward.  In relation to an increase in the number of Welsh primary schools, the Director advised that this would be driven by the demand for the provision and that there was a need for a strong statistical foundation for the additional provision.

·                                  Members asked that the Plan include targets by which to measure the Authority’s success.

·                                  Members noted that the Plan was a 3 years Plan and that this would be the second year of that term.  In addition it was noted that moving to increase Welsh provision was a long term plan.

RESOLVED:   That, having given due regard to the responses to the consultation and the impact assessments in relation to equality, risk, Welsh Language, legal and workforce, the Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (2017 – 2020) be approved and submitted to the Welsh Government with a formal implementation date of the 1 April 2018.