W ELSH L ANGUAGE B OARD Q UINQUENNIAL R EVIEW Draft Final Report Prepared for T HE N ATIONAL A SSEMBLY FOR Ty Meandros W ALES 54a Heol Bute Caerdydd CF10 5AF by Meandros House 54a Bute Street Cardiff CF10 5AF Tel 029 2046 3064 Fax 029 2046 3067 [email protected] June 2001 Quinquennial Review of the Welsh Language Board Draft Final Report June 2001 / Contents Page 1 CONTENTS 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY..........................................................1 1.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 1 1.2 Strategic Planning, Priorities and Targets....................................................................................... 2 1.3 The WLB’s internal organisation and operations........................................................................... 4 1.4 Corporate Governance ...................................................................................................................... 7 1.5 Overall conclusion ................................................................................................................................ 8 2 INTRODUCTION ................................................................ 10 2.1 Background..........................................................................................................................................10 2.2 Terms of reference.............................................................................................................................10 2.3 Methodology.......................................................................................................................................11 2.4 Structure of the report.......................................................................................................................12 2.5 Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................................13 3 STRATEGIC AND CORPORATE PLANNING FUNCTIONS ............ 14 3.1 Statutory framework .........................................................................................................................14 3.2 Organisation and structure...............................................................................................................14 3.3 Functions and activities......................................................................................................................15 3.4 Strategy and policy framework......................................................................................................16 3.5 Planning processes.............................................................................................................................21 3.5.1 Inclusiveness of the planning process 22 3.5.2 Relationship of strategies to implementation activities 24 3.5.3 Actions and effects 26 3.5.4 Responsiveness of WLB strategies to those of the National Assembly 27 3.5.5 Contribution of research and evaluation to strategy 27 3.5.6 A holistic approach 29 3.6 Summary of conclusions.....................................................................................................................31 4 INTERNAL ORGANISATION AND OPERATIONS ...................... 32 4.1 Organisational framework...............................................................................................................32 4.2 Policy and Planning ...........................................................................................................................35 4.3 Marketing and Communications ......................................................................................................36 4.4 Public and Voluntary Sector Department......................................................................................37 4.4.1 Resources 39 4.4.2 How important is this work? 40 Quinquennial Review of the Welsh Language Board Draft Final Report June 2001 / Contents Page 2 4.4.3 Other demands on the department 42 4.5 Education and Training Department...............................................................................................43 4.5.1 Strategic overview of Welsh language education 43 4.5.2 Language schemes in the education sector 45 4.5.3 Increasing numbers 46 4.5.4 Continuity in provision of bilingual education 47 4.5.5 Higher Education 48 4.5.6 Welsh for adults 48 4.5.7 Grants for the promotion of Welsh language education 49 4.5.8 Other initiatives 50 4.6 Grants Department............................................................................................................................50 4.6.1 Large grants 51 4.6.2 Other grants for facilitating the use of Welsh 53 4.6.3 Small grants 54 4.6.4 Mentrau Iaith 55 4.7 Other issues .........................................................................................................................................57 4.7.1 Regional presence 58 4.7.2 WLB and the economy 58 4.7.3 The National Lottery 59 4.8 Summary of conclusions.....................................................................................................................59 5 CORPORATE GOVERNANCE ................................................ 62 5.1 The framework....................................................................................................................................62 5.2 Assessment of compliance.................................................................................................................63 5.3 Implementation of the Management Statement...........................................................................63 5.3.1 Annual reporting and audit 63 5.3.2 Relationship with the National Assembly 64 5.3.3 Internal financial management control and audit 66 5.3.4 Compliance with standards of conduct 71 5.3.5 Openness 71 5.3.5 Efficiency and value for money considerations 72 5.4 Summary of conclusions.....................................................................................................................73 APPENDIX 1 : SUMMARY OF STAGE 1 REPORT ........................... 74 APPENDIX 2 : TERMS OF REFERENCE......................................... 77 APPENDIX 3 : CONSULTATIONS AND SUBMISSIONS .................... 80 Public Sector.......................................................................................................................................................80 Voluntary / Third Sector..................................................................................................................................81 Quinquennial Review of the Welsh Language Board Draft Final Report June 2001 / Contents Page 3 Private Sector ....................................................................................................................................................81 Education Sector................................................................................................................................................81 Legal Sector .......................................................................................................................................................81 Others..................................................................................................................................................................81 Individuals...........................................................................................................................................................82 APPENDIX 4 : BIBLIOGRAPHY AND DOCUMENTS CONSULTED ....... 83 Welsh Language Board Documents ..............................................................................................................83 Other documents ...............................................................................................................................................84 Quinquennial Review of the Welsh Language Board Draft Final Report June 2001 / Page 1 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.1 Introduction This Quinquennial Review of the Welsh Language Board (WLB) has been conducted in two stages. The first examined whether there is a continuing need for the functions of the body. The first stage draft report was presented to the National Assembly’s Culture Committee on 28 March 2001. It concluded that there was a continuing need for the body and its functions. The executive summary of the first stage review is at Appendix 1 of this report. This second stage of the Review considers what improvements might be made to its strategic effectiveness and accountability. The review has concentrated on three key aspects of the WLB’s work: • Its strategic planning and the setting of priorities and targets • Its internal organisation and operations • Its corporate governance In each case, the report sets out the context, provides an analysis and gives conclusions and recommendations based on the analysis. This summary gives a synopsis of the conclusions and details the recommendations. The review identifies areas where there is scope for improving the WLB’s effectiveness but does so in a context which recognises the achievements of the WLB to date. As we said in the first stage report, the Board can justifiably claim credit for its contribution to the positive changes in attitude to the Welsh language during the past few years and for undertaking its mission in a strategic and professional way. The recommendations cover issues raised in the course of the review, both by the review team and those who were consulted as part