Language initiative ‘should cut formal ties with council’

THE well-known head of a Welsh language initiative has urged councillors to allow them to break from “unsustainable” Gwynedd Council control and forge their own path.

Tuesday saw Gwynedd Council’s Cabinet unanimously back the setting up of a task force to consider the future of Hunaniaith - Gwynedd’s “menter iaith” - and how it can best reach its potential over the coming years.

The chair of its strategic group was unequivocal in his belief that cutting all formal ties is needed.

Dafydd Iwan, a former Gwynedd councillor and well-known Welsh language campaigner and folk singer, told cabinet members that the current situation was “not sustainable in its present form”.

He added: “I feel that an arm’s length company would fall between two stools and would instead favour an independent company limited by guarantee. I understand that there would be implications in terms of staffing and funding and these times aren’t the best, but on behalf of the group I strongly recommend we proceed. This is wholly needed if we are to reach out to communities and strengthen the language throughout the county, I don’t think we have another choice.”

Mr Iwan added the need to build on the work of already established groups such as ‘papurau bro’ (Welsh language community newspapers) and other community initiatives to help push the county’s linguistic boundaries.

Cllr Craig ab Iago acknowledged that “90% of Gwynedd residents had never heard of Hunaniaith,” but backed Mr Iwan’s calls with hopes any changes would only build on the work achieved so far.

Cllr Gareth Thomas pointed out that a revamped Hunaniaith, outside of the authority’s sphere, would likely be in a better position to secure outside funding avenues.

Hunaniaith is presently a service within Gwynedd Council’s structures but is the only menter iaith in the country managed in such a way - mainly funded by Welsh Government and the authority.

With the report unanimously approved by Gwynedd’s cabinet, the task force will now consider the pros and cons of the options.