Caerphilly Council's strategy to boost Welsh language backed

Welsh flag — Caerphilly Town Council are to discuss a motion on Welsh independence

Senior councillors have backed plans to increase the number of Welsh speakers and promote the language across Caerphilly County Borough.

The council’s cabinet approved the five-year Welsh Language Strategy for 2022-27 on Wednesday, March 9.

What is Caerphilly County Borough Council’s cabinet?

A council’s cabinet is made up of councillors in charge of different policy areas – such as education, environment, local economy, etc – and a leader.

It is separate to the council’s corporate management structure, which is headed up by its chief executive and various directors. Cabinet is made up of councillors, who are elected and have the ultimate say.

Typically, cabinet members are councillors from the party with the most elected council members.

Caerphilly County Borough Council’s cabinet is made up of:

Cllr Sean Morgan (Nelson) – Leader
Cllr Jamie Pritchard (Morgan Jones) – Deputy Leader; Prosperity, Regeneration and Climate Change
Cllr Nigel George (Risca East) – Corporate Services and Property
Cllr Eluned Stenner (New Tredegar) – Finance and Performance
Cllr Carol Andrews (Gilfach) – Education and Communities
Cllr Shayne Cook (Morgan Jones) – Housing
Cllr Elaine Forehead (Van) – Social Care
Cllr Philippa Leonard (Risca East) – Planning and Public Protection
Cllr Chris Morgan (Machen and Rudry) – Waste, Leisure and Green Spaces

Corporate management is made up of unelected employees of the council and has responsibility for day-to-day management of services, such as making sure the bins are collected. Corporate directors work with cabinet members to come up with policy which is then agreed upon by the cabinet.

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The strategy is a requirement for all 22 local authorities in Wales.

Organisations such as Menter Iaith Caerffili, Coleg y Cymoedd, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, Cymraeg i Blant, Gwent Police and many more will work with the council to reach the goals of the strategy.

The key aims for the next five years are:

To encourage families to speak more Welsh at home.
For children and young people to see its value by using it outside of education.
For community groups and businesses to support the use of the language.
To promote and improve the availability of services through the Welsh language.
To increase opportunities for people to use the Welsh language in work.
For organisations to integrate the language into policies and activities.

At the meeting, Cllr Philippa Marsden, leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council, said all cabinet members were in support of the strategy.

This strategy will work in conjunction with the council’s Welsh in Education Plan, which was approved by the cabinet in December 2021.

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Andrew Hazard

Strategy to boost Welsh language backed by senior councillors

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