Partnership meeting.

Date: 15 July 2008, 2.00pm Venue: Grenville Room, New County Hall,

AGENDA

1. Apologies

2. Declarations of interest

3. Minutes

4. Matters Arisingn Form

7. Future Planning 7.1 Draft Business Plan 7.2 Future Structure 7.3 Project Report and Evaluation Study

siness

10. Date of next meeting

The Development Project is part funded by the European Union, the Department for Communities and Local Government and County Council.

Minutes of the Cornish Language Partnership meeting held on 15th July 2008 from 2-4.30pm in the Grenville Room, New County Hall

Present: Jori Ansell, Gorseth Kernow Bert Biscoe, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Economic Forum Eric Brooke, Cornwall County Council Ray Chubb, Agan Tavas Mike George, Caradon District Council Bill Glanville, Federation of Old Cornwall Societies Roger Holmes, Cornwall Association of Local Councils Loveday Jenkin, Kerrier District Council Chris Marks, Cussel an Tavaz Kernuak Polin Prys, Kesva an Taves Kernewek Laurence Rule, Kowethas an Yeth Kernewek

Attending: Jenefer Lowe, Development Manager Tony Steele, Government Office South West Elizabeth Stewart, Administrator

Action 1. Apologies Bernard Deacon, Institute of Cornish Studies Mina Dresser, Cussel an Tavaz Kernuak Maureen Pierce, Kesva an Taves Kernewek Morley Thomas, Penwith District Council

2. Declarations of Interest

3. Minutes of the Partnership meeting 9th May 2008 p.2 The Kowethas representative requested that the reference to the Kowethas be struck out and replaced by “the Kowethas made a statement” and that a full statement be considered under AOB.

p.3 EB to have a list of everyone involved

EB to be given a copy of the specification.

The minutes were then agreed as a true and accurate record of the meeting.

4. Matters Arising None.

5. Financial Report

1 5.1 Current Situation The project was currently under-spent due to the fact that a three year project ha been telescoped into two years. The Management Group had identified a number of smaller projects and interventions which could be completed within the time-frame.

50% of the projected underspend was match funding and would remain with the project. The final figure had yet to be calculated. All invoices were due by the end of July.

Agreed: a full financial report would be available at the next Partnership meeting. The figures to the end of June would be available shortly and would be circulated.

5.2 Funding Cornwall County Council funding was assured for the 2008/9 financial year and that plus the under-spend would take the project forward in the immediate future. The independent evaluation and the business plan would form the basis on which decisions on government funding would be made. In addition, staff were researching other sources of funding that might be available.

It was agreed that: • the Partnership was minded to continue • subject to obtaining appropriate advice the Management Group be delegated to extend the Mgt current staff contracts by three months. Gp

5.3 Recommendation The report was noted.

6. Standard Written Form 6.1 Progress The Development Manager reported that the specification had been finalised and published both on the website and in hard copy. Two training days had been held, led by Albert Bock and Ben Bruch, in which the thinking behind the SWF was explained, detailed guidance for users of different forms was given and discussion around potential future projects was included. The presentation was filmed on the second day, so that a DVD could be made available to those who were unable to attend.

The translation service now offered the SWF and it is clear that not only had the majority of those requesting translation opted for the SWF, but the level of translation request had increased sharply since its introduction.

There were some issues which were unclear and the

2 Management Group agreed to compile a list of these by the end of July, for discussion in August. Any particular concerns should be sent to the office by the end of July.

Press coverage for the SWF had been extremely good, with articles in the major national papers and international coverage as far afield as Russia and Poland. Radio was particularly receptive.

6.2 Policies It was noted that the SWF specification was a linguistic document and as such it did not stipulate the way in which the SWF would be applied. Policies on translation through MAGA, signage and education needed to be developed. The first of these, a policy on translation through the MAGA service, had been agreed by the Management group for recommendation to the Partnership and was tabled at the meeting. Others would follow after further discussion.

One amendment was agreed: the wording of item 3. of the translation policy was altered to “then all forms within the JL SWF may be used.”

It was added that the translation group were currently checking each others’ translations as it was felt that extra rigour was needed until everyone in the translation group was more at ease with the SWF.

6.3 Dictionary Commission The discussion in the ad-hoc group had been clear that both a dictionary ‘commission’ or group and a structure to focus future research would be needed. A proposal fro this would be brought to the next meeting.

A point was raised about grammar. It was reiterated that all approaches to grammar would be acceptable under the SWF but that it should be made clear which variant they apply to.

It was agreed to look into ways of altering existing texts JL where desirable – particularly word books for use in schools.

6.4 Recommendation The report was noted and the translation policy was agreed subject to the aforementioned amendment.

7. Future Planning 7.1 Draft Business Plan An summary of the main points in the draft business plan was tabled, which will also be used for the consultation. The final business plan will be completed once the results and recommendations of the evaluation are known.

3 It was clarified that over and above the core funding it will be necessary to seek additional funding for projects and research. It was suggested that the Partnership should focus on raising awareness of the existence, development and objectives of the Cornish Language Partnership amongst funding bodies.

The Chair noted that both Jenefer Lowe and Elizabeth Stewart have done the work of double the number of staff and thanked them for their efforts.

A vote of thanks was also made to the Chair for his hard work in securing funding from the Council.

It was also suggested that in looking at future staffing, the need for the Manager to able to devote more time to strategic work than has been possible during this phase should be considered.

7.2 Future Structure A discussion paper on future structure was tabled. It was suggested that this paper be sent to the language groups for comment and form part of the consultation to be held shortly through meetings and the internet.

7.3 Project Report and Evaluation Study It was reported that a full Manager’s report on the project was being compiled, together with a summary version for use in consultation.

The evaluation consultants had visited for a few days, had spoken to a number of Partnership members and others involved and had looked at all aspects of the project. They would be visiting again from the 22–25 and attending consultative meetings which had been set up for the evenings of 22, 23 and 24 July. Their report would inform the final version of the business plan and the final reporting to Government Office. In the interests of ensuring that everyone can become involved in the consultation around the future, the questions and papers from the consultation meetings were to be posted on the website, so that those unable to attend a meeting would be able to respond if they so wish.

The facilitated meetings would consist of a report on the project and the way in which it has met the targets and actions in the strategy and an outline of the planning for the future. The consultants have provided a number of questions around which to focus discussion, which will subsequently be the basis of the web and paper based consultation.

7.4 Recommendation The report was noted and it was agreed for the structure JL paper to be passed to the language groups for comment.

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8. Update on activity 8.1 Research It was reported that the research projects are virtually complete. The final report on the education project had been received and the final report on the commercial survey was awaited. The archive project had progressed well with over 46 interviews completed. The user survey report was due by the end of the week. It was envisaged that a seminar at which the research findings could be presented would be held in the early Autumn.

8.2 Marketing and Promotion Several events had been attended, including successful days at the Golowan festival and at Show and less successful ones at Launceston Rocks and Heritage, where the weather created immense difficulties.

Royal Cornwall Show had been a success and the stand had been well received. There was a lot of interest in particular from early years teachers and playgroup leaders. It was suggested for next year that the stand in the Council pavilion should be maintained if possible and a second space should be considered for the groups with the ability to sell goods.

Volunteers from the groups had helped man the stands, but most events had still needed at least one person from the office, which had eaten into staff time. On current staffing levels the situation needed to be re-thought and the value of each event against the time investment needed to be carefully assessed.

In addition, sessions with children had been run for the Wildlife Trust and sessions with volunteers for the Dehwlens festival in had been undertaken, both carried out by staff. These had been very valuable in different ways, one enthusing children about Cornish and one targeting interest groups including tourism businesses and the more commercial sector.

8.3 Projects 8.3.1 Porth The Porth books had been successfully launched in June. The INSET training sessions had attracted over 70 attendees, representing over 40 schools. Subsequent use of materials would be evaluated in due course. A set of books was being distributed to each school and the distribution of books to Year 3 children had been set for September. Books were also to be given to Councillors the following week to raise awareness of the project and its achievements.

A further session had been given at the Teachers’ Day for

5 Cornish language teachers and additional schools had been targeted through participation in a day at Ladock.

Consideration was being given to creating a web page for Porth and games etc. based on the characters.

8.3.2 Young Proud and Cornish The final report had been received on this project and given out at the last Partnership meeting. Further to the recommendations, the activity award mentioned was to be completed and some of the recommendations incorporated into the business plan for the next three years.

8.4 Translation Service The translation service had just completed 500 pieces of work. A graph was tabled showing the way in which the response had grown. A recent translation for One Cornwall had sparked media interest in the service.

8.5 Media The DVD of Cornish films was complete and would be available shortly.

8.6 NPLD The Partnership had formally joined the Network for the Promotion of Linguistic Diversity as an associate member. The launch and first general meeting had been held recently. Officers were unable to go but Jori Ansell had attended on behalf of the Partnership. His report was tabled.

A vote of thanks was made to Jori Ansell for attending the launch on behalf of the Partnership.

8.7 Conference It was agreed that the 2008 conference would take place slightly later in the year, so that the evaluation and final business plan could be discussed.

9. Any Other Business 9.1 At the last meeting a request was made for a policy on the Partnership’s use of Cornish to be tabled. This will be taken to the next meeting, given that the use of translation equipment has still to be confirmed.

It was agreed for a list of simple phrases to be sent round to JL/ES members of the Partnership for use at meetings.

9.2 The Partnership was asked to receive a statement from the Kowethas. It was agreed.

9.3 It was noted that the new Cornwall County Council newspaper would be carrying a regular item giving Cornish phrases and

6 would be highlighting Porth in the next issue.

9.4 It was noted that as from 31st August Eric Brooke would be stepping down from the CCC Executive and therefore also from his role as Chair of the Partnership.

A vote of thanks was made for EB’s invaluable contribution as the Chair of the Partnership during this historic time for the Cornish language.

10. Date of next meeting TBC – early September

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