Welsh Language Standards Annual Report 2025-26

Policy Making Standards

Consultation and engagement

• The Council has a responsibility, when formulating a new policy or reviewing/revising an existing policy, to consider the effect that a policy decision has on the opportunities for persons to use the Welsh language.
• Residents continue to be able to respond to public consultations in English or Welsh via a branded Microsoft Forms survey pre-populated with Welsh language questions for consistency. Supporting information about the consultation is available on the Councils Have Your Say web pages in English and Welsh.
• A Consultation Protocol was produced (January 2025) to provide practical advice to plan, prepare and run an effective consultation exercise which includes guidance on the Welsh language standards requirements. During 2026-27, the Consultation Protocol will be reviewed and updated to further strengthen guidance and resources to support complaince with the policy making standards.

 

Integrated Impact Assessment (IIA)

• The Councils Integrated Impact Assessment process was reviewed during 2024, and the new guidance and template has been in use since March 2025. The Welsh language section of the IIA will be reviewed in 2026-27 to support staff with policy making standards compliance.
• We will continue to monitor IIAs to determine if the template and guidance is having a positive impact on decision making. An Engagement and Consultation User Group was established in 2025/26 which will support with this.

 

My Account Notification Emails

• The My Account online customer account continues to be used to promote consultations via the corporate email notification system Notify available in English and Welsh. Other communication to promote consultations is undertaken including press releases, internal promotion and distribution to Town and Community Councillors, in Welsh and English language versions.