Carmarthenshire County Council has come under fire for stopping the public from going to meetings of a panel discussing far-reaching changes aimed at strengthening the Welsh language in the area.

 

As the council's strategic panel met Cymdeithas yr Iaith held a picket outside County Hall to show its dissatisfaction that the meetings are not open to the public. Following the release of Census results over two years ago, councillors from all parties passed a new policy language, that recommends the council moves to work internally in Welsh and ensure that all schools teach at least partly in Welsh.

 

Although the minutes of meetings of the Advisory Panel are now public, meetings are still held behind closed doors as there is no requirement for this type of committee to be open to the public. Cymdeithas yr Iaith believes the practice will prevent the number of well-known local people they have appointed as 'eagle eyes' ('barcudiaid') from scrutinising the council's work, as well as accountability to other residents of the county.

 

Over 50 'barcudiaid' have agreed to keep track of meeting minutes, on council publications, follow the developments of the language strategy, to go to council meetings and note any issues that arise.

 

Amy Jones, Vice Chair of Cymdeithas yr Iaith in Carmarthen said:

 

"We recognise it's a positive development that minutes of the meeting are available for people to see, but how can we keep an eye and make sure that the Welsh language is given the priority and fairness that the Council has promised, if the meetings are not open to the public?

 

"Carmarthenshire saw the largest drop in the number of Welsh speakers according to the 2011 Census, but Carmarthenshire Council has reacted positively through the creation of a Welsh language Working Group and the creation of a language strategy. We have worked with the council over the past few months and have heard that things are moving forward, but to ensure this continues we're keen that these meetings are open to the public, so we can keep an eagle eye on the council's work. We have asked panel members to change the system so that the meetings can be held openly and have had promising responses and hope to see changes.”