Spotlight Powys

Language Proposal 2023 (As Amended)

Motion or resolution considered by Powys County Council

This motion was heard on 02/03/2023. It was proposed by Elwyn Vaughan and seconded by Bryn Davies .

  Compare this vote to another vote »

Motion as voted upon

The results of the recent Census have revealed the desperate need to act immediately and comprehensively in relation to the Welsh language in Powys. We have heard much about environmental sustainability and the need for action, well the same is true of our Welsh communities.

Between 2011 and 2021 Powys lost over 2,600 Welsh speakers, and the percentage is now down to 16%. This also includes a fall of 1,864 in the number of children 3-15 years of age who can speak Welsh.

Powys is the only County during recent years, where a lower percentage had access to Welsh education than the percentage of Welsh speakers in the community. It’s no surprise therefore that we are seeing figures decline every decade.

Of course there are a number of reasons for the decline: economic weakness; a change in the agricultural pattern with less people working on the land, which is traditionally is the sector with a high percentage of Welsh speakers; young people moving from the area, and older people moving in; overdevelopment of houses in some communities which do not truly reflect those communities; but also the historical lack of action by Powys county council in favour of the Welsh language, and the lack of status afforded the language and Welsh education. That is why we need to promote the economic foundation and have a development body similar to the old Development Board for Rural Wales.

If sustainability is to mean anything, and if we want to change the situation by the next Census, then we must act now. Don’t think that Powys is alone in this situation; traditional communities or other historically linguistic communities across Europe have faced similar challenges, and there are lessons to be learned, especially from the Basque country in respect of the language and the economy. We must do this with a package of actions which include –

Therefore the Council would like to -

[*] Accept the principle that the Welsh language belongs to every part of Powys

[*] Support the call for a rural economic development agency

[*] Call on the Welsh Government to extend the ARFOR scheme (a linguistic economic scheme worth £11m in West Wales) to [Amendment: Whole of Powys] to promote the Welsh language and the economy

[*] Learn lessons and transfer knowledge of best practice of what has happened in ANDOAIN in the Basque country by intertwining economic activity and language. Focus will be on how Powys can learn and benefit sustainable Welsh speaking communities.

[*] Support the development of a cultural tourism plan making the most of the wealth of history in the county such as Sycharth, Brynglas, Cilmeri, Canolfan Glynd?r etc, ensuring that Powys is as much part of the future as the past. This to be done by identifying suitable grant sources for it’s delivery.

[*] Ensure sustainability for the Welsh language to be an integral part of the new Local Development Plan.

[*] [Amendment: TBC]

[*] Set an aim of increasing the percentage of fluent Welsh speakers in the Council’s workplaces to 16% to represent society.

[*] A language awareness workshop for all members of the Council as well as the workforce.

[*] Move 12 primary schools along the language continuum or create new Welsh provision/Welsh schools where that option does not exist as a matter or urgency.

[*] Establish 3 new Welsh medium high schools as soon as possible.

[*] Increase the IMMERSION provision in order to facilitate bilingualism.

[Amendment: [*] Note the growing evidence that bilingual people benefit from a number of advantages that help their health, learning skills and lifestyles, including improved concentration, better performance in IQ tests and examinations, slowing the onset of dementia and the ability to learn further languages, and ask Council to promote the benefits of bilingualism through Welsh medium education to people’s health, learning skills and lifestyles within the resources already available for Welsh Medium Education.]

For - 49
(94.2%)
Abstained - 3
(5.8%)

Result: Passed
Vote Type: normal

  Voting Summary

Below is a summary of the votes for, against, abstain or did not vote for the motion. Councillors are displayed by their party colours - please hover over the block to view the councillor.

For: 49
Against: 0
Abstain: 3
Did Not Vote: 0
  Voting Record

Below is the individual voting record for all councillors on this motion/resolution.

Name Group Vote
Baynham, Beverley
Presteigne
 Powys Independents For
Bebb, Danny
Churchstoke
 Welsh Liberal Democrat Group For
Beecham, Matt
Crickhowell with Cwmdu and Tretower
 Resigned For
Beecham, Sarah-Jane
Crickhowell with Cwmdu and Tretower
 Resigned For
Berriman, Jake
Llandrindod North
 Welsh Liberal Democrat Group For
Breeze, Ben
Kerry
 Welsh Conservatives Group For
Brighouse, Little
Disserth and Trecoed with Newbridge
 Non-Affiliated For
Brignell-Thorp, Jeremy
Forden and Montgomery
 Non-Affiliated For
Cartwright, Anita
Talybont-on-Usk
 Resigned For
Charlton, Jackie
Llangattock and Llangynidr
 Welsh Liberal Democrat Group For
Church, Richard
Welshpool Castle
 Welsh Liberal Democrat Group For
Colbert, Tom
Bronllys and Felin-fach
 Non-Affiliated For
Cox, Sian
Llangors with Bwlch
 Welsh Liberal Democrat Group For
Davies, Aled
Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant and Llansilin
 Welsh Conservatives Group For
Davies, Angela
Rhayader
 Welsh Liberal Democrat Group For
Davies, Bryan
Llanafanfawr with Garth
 Powys Independents For
Davies, Bryn
Banwy, Llanfihangel and Llanwddyn
 Plaid Cymru Group For
Davies, Sandra
Cwm-twrch
 Welsh Labour Group For
Dorrance, Matthew
Brecon West
 Welsh Labour Group For
Ewing, Josie
Llandrindod South
 Welsh Liberal Democrat Group For
Healy, Kelly
Newtown Central and South
 Welsh Liberal Democrat Group For
James, Peter
Llanwrtyd Wells
 Powys Independents For
Johnson-Wood, Claire
Llanyre with Nantmel
 Powys Independents For
Jones, Adrian
Berriew and Castle Caereinion
 Welsh Conservatives Group For
Jones, Ed
Old Radnor
 Powys Independents For
Jones, Gareth E
Llanelwedd
 Powys Independents For
Kennerley, Adam
Newtown North
 Welsh Liberal Democrat Group For
Kenyon-Wade, Corinna
Knighton with Beguildy
 Welsh Liberal Democrat Group For
Lewington, Pete
Newtown West
 Welsh Conservatives Group Abstained
Lewis, Karl
Llandinam with Dolfor
 Welsh Conservatives Group For
Lloyd, William
Gwernyfed
 Welsh Liberal Democrat Group For
McIntosh, Iain
Yscir with Honddu Isaf and Llanddew
 Welsh Conservatives Group Abstained
McNicholas, Susan
Ynyscedwyn
 Welsh Labour Group For
Meredith, David
Brecon West
 Welsh Labour Group For
Mitchell, Gary
Llanbrynmair
 Plaid Cymru Group For
Morgan, Gareth
Llanidloes
 Welsh Liberal Democrat Group For
Morgan, Geoff
Ithon Valley
 Powys Independents For
Powell, William
Talgarth
 Welsh Liberal Democrat Group For
Preston, Glyn
Llanidloes
 Welsh Liberal Democrat Group For
Pugh, Gareth
Dolforwyn
 Welsh Conservatives Group Abstained
Ratcliffe, Gareth
Hay
 Welsh Liberal Democrat Group For
Rijnenberg, Liz
Brecon East
 Welsh Labour Group For
Robinson, Carol
Welshpool Gungrog
 Welsh Liberal Democrat Group For
Roderick, Edwin
Maescar and Llywel
 Powys Independents For
Selby, David
Newtown Central and South
 Welsh Liberal Democrat Group For
Thomas, David
Tawe Uchaf
 Welsh Labour Group For
Vaughan, Elwyn
Glantwymyn
 Plaid Cymru Group For
Walsh, Chris
Brecon East
 Welsh Labour Group For
Williams, Ange
Knighton with Beguildy
 Powys Independents For
Williams, Huw
Aber-craf and Ystradgynlais
 Welsh Labour Group For
Williams, Michael
Machynlleth
 Died For
Williams, Sarah
Aber-craf and Ystradgynlais
 Welsh Labour Group For

Source: Voting Record