29 March 2001 GD Sub

COMHAIRLE NAN EILEAN SIAR

GAELIC DEVELOPMENT SUB-COMMITTEE

Minute of Meeting held in the Council Offices, Stornoway, on Thursday 29 March at 4.0pm.

PRESENT

Mr Malcolm J Macleod (in the Chair)

Mr Donald J Macsween

Mrs Mary Bremner

Mr Norman L Macdonald

APOLOGIES

Mr Donald M Mackay (Chairman)

Mr Alexander A MacDonald

Mr Roderick J Murray

Chairman

In the absence of the Chairman, the Principal Administrator Chaired the meeting and called for nominations for Chairman for the meeting.

It was agreed to appoint Mr Malcolm J Macleod as Chairman of the Meeting.

Tribute: Mr Donald M Mackay

The Chairman, indicated that Mr Donald M Mackay had recently undergone surgery and was improving and, on behalf of the Sub-Committee, wished Mr Mackay well and hoped that he would make a full recovery and be back in the Comhairle soon.

MINUTES

Gaelic Development Sub-Committee

8

The Minute of Meeting of February 2001 was approved with an amendment to read that Mrs Mary Bremner had submitted apologies for that Meeting.

Gaelic Development Joint Liaison Committee

9

The Minute of Meeting of the Gaelic Development Joint Liaison Committee of 24 January 2001 was submitted.

It was agreed to recommend approval of the recommendations in the minute.

GAELIC DEVELOPMENT

Gaelic Immersion Courses - Uig and Harris

10

The Chief Executive submitted a Report concerning a request for funding towards the costs of Gaelic Immersion Courses in Uig, Lewis and Harris, which would be delivered by Lews Castle College. The Report indicated that courses had previously been run in these areas and that demand in the two communities had grown to the extent that it required a more formal structured course, which would lead to certification. The Report detailed the background to the request including the course rational, duration, structure and funding, indicating that the total funding for the project was £20,700 and seeking funding of £8,000 from Comhairle nan Eilean Siar.

It was agreed to recommend that:

(1) the Chief Executive be authorised to award funding of £8,000 to Lews Castle College to deliver Gaelic Immersion Courses in Uig and Harris to be met from the Gaelic Development Budget 2001/2002; and

(2) the Lews Castle College be requested to bring forward a comprehensive report on completion of the courses.

Euroscola

11

The Chief Executive submitted a Report concerning a request for funding from Laxdale and Back schools which would enable pupils from these schools to attend Euroscola 2001 in Italy from 2 - 6 May 2001. The Report indicated the background to the request indicating that a previous Euroscola which had been held in the Western Isles had been very successful and enjoyed by all pupils. The Report highlighted that the Western Isles would be represented at Euroscola in Italy by 12 pupils from the Gaelic Medium Units in Laxdale and Back schools.

The Report recommended that Members agree to authorise the contribution from the Gaelic Development Budget of 2001/02 towards the cost of Western Isles participants in Eurosgoil 2001.

It was agreed to recommend that the Chief Executive be authorised to award a sum of £3,000 from the Gaelic Development Budget 2001/02 on a one off basis towards the costs of Western Isles participants attending Euroscola 2001.

Seminar on Broadcasting, Language and Culture, Inverness 9 February 2001

12

The Chief Executive submitted a Report concerning the Seminar on Broadcasting, Language and Culture which was held in the Nettly Centre, Inverness on 9 February 2001. The Report detailed the issues highlighted at the Seminar, particularly discussions in relation to the White Paper on Broadcasting and future submissions to the Government in relation to Gaelic Broadcasting.

It was agreed to note the Report.

ADDITIONAL ITEM

The Chairman ruled that, in accordance with the provisions of Section 50B(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, as detailed in terms of Standing Order 8(a), that the following item be considered as a matter of urgency in order to allow the Committee to take a view on the matter prior to the next meeting of the Committee.

Urrachadh Uibhist: Cultural Tourism Events Project 2001

13

The Chief Executive submitted a Report concerning an application from Urrachadh Uibhist to provide funding to develop the cultural tourism events programme for 2001. The Report detailed the background to the event, indicating that a number of live interpretative events were organised such as food demonstrations, peat cutting, seaweed cutting, creel making, spinning/sock knitting and luadh or tweed waulking. The Report detailed the programme of events for 2001 and indicated that a similar project would be undertaken for the 2001 season and sought a grant of £1,425 from the Gaelic Development Budget to enable Urrachadh Uibhist to run a programme of cultural tourism events in Uist in 2001.

It was agreed to recommend that the Chief Executive be authorised to award a grant of £1,425 from the Gaelic Development Budget 2001/02 to enable Urrachadh Uibhist to run a programme of cultural tourism events in Uist in 2001.

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PRESENT	Mr Malcolm J Macleod (in the Chair)
	Mr Donald J Macsween	Mrs Mary Bremner
	Mr Norman L Macdonald

APOLOGIES	Mr Donald M Mackay (Chairman)	Mr Alexander A MacDonald
	Mr Roderick J Murray

Chairman		In the absence of the Chairman, the Principal Administrator Chaired the meeting and called for nominations for Chairman for the meeting. It was agreed to appoint Mr Malcolm J Macleod as Chairman of the Meeting.
Tribute: Mr Donald M Mackay		The Chairman, indicated that Mr Donald M Mackay had recently undergone surgery and was improving and, on behalf of the Sub-Committee, wished Mr Mackay well and hoped that he would make a full recovery and be back in the Comhairle soon.
		MINUTES
Gaelic Development Sub-Committee	8	The Minute of Meeting of February 2001 was approved with an amendment to read that Mrs Mary Bremner had submitted apologies for that Meeting.
Gaelic Development Joint Liaison Committee	9	The Minute of Meeting of the Gaelic Development Joint Liaison Committee of 24 January 2001 was submitted. It was agreed to recommend approval of the recommendations in the minute.
		GAELIC DEVELOPMENT
Gaelic Immersion Courses - Uig and Harris	10	The Chief Executive submitted a Report concerning a request for funding towards the costs of Gaelic Immersion Courses in Uig, Lewis and Harris, which would be delivered by Lews Castle College. The Report indicated that courses had previously been run in these areas and that demand in the two communities had grown to the extent that it required a more formal structured course, which would lead to certification. The Report detailed the background to the request including the course rational, duration, structure and funding, indicating that the total funding for the project was £20,700 and seeking funding of £8,000 from Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. It was agreed to recommend that: (1) the Chief Executive be authorised to award funding of £8,000 to Lews Castle College to deliver Gaelic Immersion Courses in Uig and Harris to be met from the Gaelic Development Budget 2001/2002; and (2) the Lews Castle College be requested to bring forward a comprehensive report on completion of the courses.
Euroscola	11	The Chief Executive submitted a Report concerning a request for funding from Laxdale and Back schools which would enable pupils from these schools to attend Euroscola 2001 in Italy from 2 - 6 May 2001. The Report indicated the background to the request indicating that a previous Euroscola which had been held in the Western Isles had been very successful and enjoyed by all pupils. The Report highlighted that the Western Isles would be represented at Euroscola in Italy by 12 pupils from the Gaelic Medium Units in Laxdale and Back schools.
		The Report recommended that Members agree to authorise the contribution from the Gaelic Development Budget of 2001/02 towards the cost of Western Isles participants in Eurosgoil 2001. It was agreed to recommend that the Chief Executive be authorised to award a sum of £3,000 from the Gaelic Development Budget 2001/02 on a one off basis towards the costs of Western Isles participants attending Euroscola 2001.
Seminar on Broadcasting, Language and Culture, Inverness 9 February 2001	12	The Chief Executive submitted a Report concerning the Seminar on Broadcasting, Language and Culture which was held in the Nettly Centre, Inverness on 9 February 2001. The Report detailed the issues highlighted at the Seminar, particularly discussions in relation to the White Paper on Broadcasting and future submissions to the Government in relation to Gaelic Broadcasting. It was agreed to note the Report.
		ADDITIONAL ITEM
		The Chairman ruled that, in accordance with the provisions of Section 50B(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, as detailed in terms of Standing Order 8(a), that the following item be considered as a matter of urgency in order to allow the Committee to take a view on the matter prior to the next meeting of the Committee.
Urrachadh Uibhist: Cultural Tourism Events Project 2001	13	The Chief Executive submitted a Report concerning an application from Urrachadh Uibhist to provide funding to develop the cultural tourism events programme for 2001. The Report detailed the background to the event, indicating that a number of live interpretative events were organised such as food demonstrations, peat cutting, seaweed cutting, creel making, spinning/sock knitting and luadh or tweed waulking. The Report detailed the programme of events for 2001 and indicated that a similar project would be undertaken for the 2001 season and sought a grant of £1,425 from the Gaelic Development Budget to enable Urrachadh Uibhist to run a programme of cultural tourism events in Uist in 2001. It was agreed to recommend that the Chief Executive be authorised to award a grant of £1,425 from the Gaelic Development Budget 2001/02 to enable Urrachadh Uibhist to run a programme of cultural tourism events in Uist in 2001.
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