Agenda item

Cabinet Member Angela Sandles and Pennie Walker introduced the report. Nia Roberts answered the members’ questions with Pennie Walker:

• What is the latest situation regarding the 3 options for more cost-effective delivery models?

The most desirable option currently is to join with Torfaen for translation services. This is due to the similarities in the types of documents translated, which would make the process more efficient and consistent. The collaboration with Torfaen is still being finalised to ensure smooth operations.

• What is a ‘non-opinion review’ under internal audit?

A non-opinion review is an internal audit that helps identify areas of compliance and non-compliance with Welsh language standards. It is not an official audit but provides valuable insights for developing an action plan to address areas needing improvement.

• Is there a target for compliance with Welsh language standards?

The aim is always 100% compliance, although it may not always be achievable. The non-opinion review helps identify areas for improvement, and regular monitoring is conducted to resolve issues as they arise.

• In the list of standards, some are missing e.g. 23, 69, 85, 94-8 – are they not relevant?

The report is guided by the Welsh language Commissioner's guidelines, which determine the included standards. Officers can provide updates on any standards not covered in the report.

• Of the 53 staff who completed courses in 24/25, at what level were these courses?

36 staff members completed the beginner level (Mynediad) and 12 completed the foundation level (Sylfaen).

• How will you ensure that the Welsh and English versions of the website and apps remain aligned in content and functionality?

There are challenges in maintaining consistency between Welsh and English versions of digital platforms. Regular monitoring, training, and communication with the website officer help to maintain consistency and ensure alignment.

• If someone wanted to speak in Welsh to someone at a senior level, to whom could they speak?

It would be difficult to find a senior-level person who can speak Welsh fluently. Learning Welsh is a significant commitment, and officers are working on improving resources to help senior leadership integrate more Welsh into their work.

• The member noted a recent fire incident in Abergavenny for which the council couldn't provide a Welsh speaker to speak to S4C. He emphasised the importance of having someone who can speak Welsh to the media.

• How successful have initiatives such as lanyards to identify learners, the Cymraeg Teams channel etc. been? Are there any further plans to promote them?

Lanyards have been effective in identifying Welsh speakers and learners, making it easier to recognise and engage with them. Welsh language course participation is increasing annually, indicating growing interest and impact. Welsh tips in the staff newsletter receive positive engagement, often prompting follow-up questions from staff. Feedback from course participants shows they enjoy the sessions but want more opportunities to use Welsh at work, and therefore future plans include exploring new initiatives to create more opportunities for staff to use Welsh. Welsh language celebration days like Shwmae Day are recognised, though planning can be challenging due to limited resources.

• Are there opportunities to work within Monmouthshire with other public authorities like police, Fire and Rescue, NHS to share practices and improve Welsh language services?

Monmouthshire is part of the Welsh language officer group in Southeast Wales, where they share good practices. They also collaborate on the "More than just words" social care plan to ensure the active offer is given.

• A member expressed a desire to work with officers outside the meeting on how to push out learning to the wider community, given the strong appetite in the general public to learn, to which the officers agreed.

• The report mentions 176 Welsh standards – there’s nothing that displays how much this work costs residents, given that the vast majority of them aren’t Welsh speakers. Is there a reason why we don’t collate what this work costs?

The main cost associated with Welsh language compliance is translation, which has consistently gone over budget. The council is exploring joining the Torfaen service to help reduce these costs. Other costs include the present officers’ salaries, but most compliance work is integrated into the day-to-day responsibilities of all council officers, so it isn’t tracked separately. That’s why a full cost breakdown isn’t collated. The total cost for last year was £226,940.95.

• With the development of AI, is there a possibility of using it for translation purposes? Does it offer new opportunities to bring costs down after an initial investment?

AI does present opportunities to lower translation costs, but it can't fully replace human translators due to the need for proofreading to ensure accuracy. Currently, translations are outsourced and charged per word, which limits the ability to integrate AI directly into the process. However, other councils like Torfaen use tools such as translation memory systems that recall previously translated content, which helps reduce effort and cost. Exploring similar systems could offer future savings, especially as the council looks to stay within budget.

Chair’s Summary:

Thank you to the Cabinet Member and officers. The report was moved.