Gaelic Select 18 Sept 2003

	BUSINESS

1	APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Mr R Saxon, Mrs A Magee, Mr A Anderson, Mrs M E Paterson and Mr A M Millar.

2	PRESENTATION: GAELIC BROADCASTING AND SCOTTISH SCREEN INDUSTRIES AUDIT At the Gaelic Select Committee meeting on 7 August 2003 it had been agreed to invite a representative of the industry to address a future meeting on the implications for Gaelic Broadcasting and the recent Communications Act. Mr Allan MacDonald, Scottish Chairman of Producers Alliance for Cinema and Television (PACT), the UK trade association of screen based media companies, attended the meeting and made a presentation on the Communications Act and the recently completed audit of the screen industries in Scotland. Mr MacDonald explained that the Communications Bill had received Royal Assent on 17 July 2003 after extensive pre-legislative scrutiny by a Parliamentary Committee chaired by Lord Puttnam. The Bill contained a section for the creation of a new Gaelic TV committee with increased powers and a more representative membership. It was hoped that the new Gaelic Media Service (Seirbheis nan Meadhanan Gaidhlig) would commence in April 2004. It was explained that at present no mechanism for allocating funding to Gaelic Broadcasting had been put place. It was recommended that the funding and business potential be investigated as the area had much to offer in terms of broadcasting. After a short video presentation, Mr MacDonald issued copies of the Audit of the Screen Industries in Scotland and informed Members that a Conference was being held in Glasgow on 3 November 2003 to look at the future of broadcasting in Scotland. During discussion members felt that some Gaelic programmes were rather gloomy and the programmes needed to be more uplifting. It was also felt that the time slots needed to be improved as the best programmes had very late time slots. In short, it was felt that the volume of programmes should be reduced and efforts be made to improve programme quality, content and broadcasting funds. The Chairman thanked Mr MacDonald for attending the meeting and for his informative presentation. The Committee NOTED the presentation and AGREED to:- (i) discuss the results of the audit of Screen Facilities with the Planning and Development Service with a view to assessing the potential to develop the sector in the Highlands; and (ii)make representations at the appropriate time to resolve the anomalies with regard to funding for Gaelic broadcasting.

3	COMMUNITY RADIO STATIONS: GRANTS FOR GAELIC PROGRAMMING There was circulated Report No GSC10/03 by giving details of the set-up of a grants scheme to encourage community radio stations to develop Gaelic programmes. The report explained that for a number of years the Council had operated a partnership with the Comataidh Craolaidh Gaidhlig (CCG) to support Community Radio Stations in Scotland. These arrangements had focussed on the employment of a part-time officer whose remit was to follow up the recommendations of a Consultants report into the support required by Community Radio Stations and a small grants scheme either to produce programme ideas or obtain equipment. The sum made available annually by the CCG was £25,000. Following discussions with the CCG and consultation with Community Radio Stations, it was proposed to use the annual funding for an improved grants scheme. Under the proposed scheme Community Radio Stations would be invited to apply for funding to make Gaelic programmes. The maximum grant available within the scheme would be £2,000. The Committee noted the report.

4	BILINGUAL ROAD SIGNS There was circulated Report No GSC11/03 by the Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services giving information on the number of road signs which had been replaced in the Highland area with bilingual road signs over the last two years. The report also updated Members on the Scottish Executive's intentions regarding bilingual road signs. The report indicated that over the past five years Bilingual Place Names and Direction Signs had been erected in the Lochaber and Skye and Lochalsh Areas. Those on Council roads had been erected with the help of European Objective 1 funding. No bilingual signs had been replaced or erected in the past year and two were erected the year prior on Skye and ten more in Lochaber, six of which were street name plates, three place name signs and one direction sign. The report further explained that the Scottish Executive had announced that existing road signs would be replaced with new bilingual signs on a number of trunk roads that passed through communities where Gaelic was spoken and which led to west coast ferry ports. The new trunk road signs were in addition to the existing Gaelic signs on the A87 on Skye and the western section of the A830 Mallaig road. They would be erected on the following routes as part of a five year programme with costs being met from existing Scottish Executive trunk road budgets:- A87 Skye Bridge to Uig A87 Invergarry to Skye Bridge A887 Invermoriston to A87 A830 Fort William to Mallaig A835 Ullapool to Dingwall/Tore A828 Ballachulish to Connel Bridge A85 Tyndrum to Oban A83 Tarbet to Kennacraig/Campbeltown A82 Tarbet to Inverness With the exclusion of the A9 from this list bilingual signing on the A835 to Ullapool was not connected to that on the north end of the A82. The Council was presently assisting BEAR Scotland with the spelling of the place names on signs for the A830, A887 and the A87. Following discussion, concern was expressed regarding the slow progress of the conversion of road signs to bilingual signs it was AGREED to:- (i) reinforce the Council policy in that:- (a) signs were changed to bilingual signage at the time of replacement and not on an as when necessary basis; (b)where English and Gaelic differences were only marginal Gaelic only signs were to be used; (c)more effort be made to get the correct translation for place names being signposted; (d)the bilingual signing programme in Lochaber be completed; (ii) continue to make representations to the Scottish Executive in order that they comply with their schedule to erect bilingual signs on trunk roads; and (iii) enter into discussions with Visit Scotland regarding converting Thistle signs to bilingual signs.

5	GAELIC NAMES LIAISON COMMITTEE There was circulated Report No GSC12/03 by the Lochaber Area Manager advising Members of the current issues being considered by the Gaelic Names Liaison Committee. The report explained that the Gaelic Names Liaison Committee had originally been set up following an approach from Ordnance Survey to obtain some co-ordination and assistance in approving the accuracy of place names on their maps. The Committee had been in operation for approximately three years and was chaired on behalf of the Council by the Lochaber Area Manager. During discussion, it was suggested that contact be made with groups that used Scottish place names in other countries such Australia and Canada; the Group be referred to the field surveys and maps held in Inverness Library; and Local Enterprise companies might help by examining their policy on the use of Gaelic for businesses receiving financial support. The Committee NOTED the report and AGREED to liaise with:- (i) overseas groups in Australia, Canada etc with Gaelic place names; and (ii) the local Enterprise Companies to discuss their policy for businesses receiving financial support in relation to Gaelic.

6	THE IMPORTANCE OF GAELIC IN THE INVERNESS AND NAIRN AREA There was circulated Report No GSC13/03 by the Gaelic Development Officer outlining the progress to date with the HECLA Consultants report on the importance of Gaelic in the Inverness and Nairn Area. The report indicated that an exploratory meeting had been organised by the Gaelic Development Officer to discuss the findings of the HECLA report, "The Importance of Gaelic in the Inverness and Nairn Area". A list of seven 'quick hit' actions were devised and approved as a means of addressing the recommendations of the HECLA report. The Committee noted:- (i) the report; (ii) that INE had agreed to fund a Community Cultural Learning Plan for the Inverness Area; and (iii) that discussions were being held with Badenoch and Strathspey Enterprise for a similar initiative to be carried out the area.

7	UPDATE OF THE WORK IN PROGRESS There was circulated Report No GSC14/03 by the Gaelic Development Officer giving an update of the progress on current issues of interest to the Select Committee. This included reference to the Broadcasting/Communications Bill, Gaelic Place Names for Directional Traffic Signs, Bord na Gaidhlig (Alba) - Gaelic Language Board (Scotland), Scottish Executive Cross Party Working Group, Institute for the Languages of Scotland and the Royal National Mod (100^th) - Oban. The Chairman advised the Committee that he had written to the Scottish Executive Cross Party Working Group to invite them to hold a future meeting in Inverness and, if agreed, to invite secondary school pupils to attend this meeting. Concern was expressed regarding the 2007 Highland Year of Culture on the involvement of Gaelic at this event. It was felt that Gaelic had an integral role in this event and it was requested that a presentation be held to ensure Gaelic was not overlooked. The Director of Education, Culture and Sport confirmed that once the information had been received on the date of the announcement of the Gaelic Bill it was intended that there be a large representation of Council Members and officials at the event. The Gaelic Development Officer further explained that investigations were being made into the Council hosting an event at the Mod in Oban and that a draft of the Gaelic Development Plan would be circulated at the next meeting of the Committee. The Committee noted:- (i) the report; and (ii) that the Chairman had written to the Cross Party Working Group inviting them to hold a future meeting of the Group in Inverness and also that pupils from secondary schools would be invited to this meeting; and (iii) that the draft Gaelic Language Plan would be circulated at the next Gaelic Select Committee meeting. The Committee also AGREED that there be a presentation on 2007 Highland Year of Culture on the involvement of Gaelic to ensure that the language and culture were not overlooked.

	The meeting closed at 4.00 pm.