Caerphilly Observer
Member Sign in Manage Membership
Become a Member - no ads
Menu
  • News
    • Senedd
    • Business
    • Newport
    • Opinion
  • Sport
    • Rugby union
    • Football
  • Membership & Subscriptions
  • Notices
  • Obituaries
  • About
    • Advertise
  • Sponsored Content
Menu

Lowest number of council staff taking up Welsh lessons since records began

News | Rhiannon James - Local Democracy Reporting Service | Published: 15:37, Wednesday June 15th, 2022.
Last updated: 15:37, Wednesday June 15th, 2022

Support quality, independent, local journalism…that matters

From just £1 a month you can help fund our work – and use our website without adverts. Become a member today

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

Caerphilly County Borough Council has seen the lowest number of staff taking up Welsh lessons since records began in 2001.

The Welsh Language Standards report for 2021/22 found that only 35 out of more than 8,000 members of council staff had signed up to learn Welsh during the past financial year.

Cllr Carol Andrews, cabinet member for education and communities, told the cabinet on Wednesday, June 15 that the covid pandemic and staff adjusting to working from home could be explanations for the drop in uptake.

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.

Last updated October 13, 2023

The cost of supporting staff to attend Welsh in the workplace courses for this year was £2,209.

But the report also highlighted that the number of Welsh speaking council staff increased by 2%, compared to the previous financial year.

The council’s deputy leader, Cllr Jamie Pritchard, said: “We have made some progress, but obviously more to go.”

He added that Ffiliffest, held on Saturday, June 11, had been a “fantastic” celebration of the language and Welsh culture.


Sign-up to our daily newsletter


Support quality, independent, local journalism…that matters

From just £1 a month you can help fund our work – and use our website without adverts.

Become a member today

Andrew Hazard

Latest News

  • An artist’s impression of what the new McDonald’s could look like
    ‘It will be horrendous’: Why villagers are uniting to stop a new McDonald’sThursday, November 20, 2025
  • New 20mph speed limits are coming into force across Wales this year
    Council proposes changing 20 roads back to 30mphThursday, November 20, 2025
  • Council step closer to appointing new operator for Cwmcarn Forest DriveThursday, November 20, 2025
  • Plaid Cymru Senedd Members Delyth Jewell, Cefin Campbell, Heledd Fychan, and Llŷr Gruffydd
    Senedd debate on ‘omnishambles’ UK budget ends in deadlockThursday, November 20, 2025
  • Labour MS Julie Morgan
    Only fair or a silly idea?: Senedd split on calls for 2% wealth taxThursday, November 20, 2025
  • Tributes have been paid to Lainie Williams
    Headteacher’s tribute to ‘lovely, warm, and caring pupil’Thursday, November 20, 2025

Find out how the communities of Caerphilly County Borough get their names

Caerphilly

Legal & Public Notices

  • Caerphilly County Borough Council public noticesThursday, November 13, 2025
  • Caerphilly County Borough Council public noticesThursday, October 30, 2025
  • Notice of application for a premises licence: Ffos CaerffiliThursday, October 23, 2025
  • Notice of application for a variation of a premises licence: Pontygwindy Industrial EstateWednesday, October 22, 2025
© 2009-2024 Caerphilly Media Ltd, Caerphilly Miners Centre for the Community Watford Road Caerphilly, CF83 1BJ. Incorporated in Wales No. 07604006.