The Planning Inspectorate- Wales

Welsh language scheme

5 Operating the Scheme

5.1 Staffing

The Inspectorate in Wales will maintain a close liaison with the National Assembly for Wales to ensure that a sufficient number of administrative staff are available to fulfil our commitment to this scheme. For this scheme to be successful, the Inspectorate must have enough appropriately skilled staff able to speak Welsh. It is the responsibility of the Head of Branch to identify those posts, and formulate team and job descriptions accordingly, where a Welsh speaker is essential or beneficial in order to provide services in line with this scheme. The progress of the implementation of the scheme will be monitored and action will be taken if the Welsh speaking staff resource begins to decrease.

The Head of Branch must decide how best to achieve this: by training, or by the transfer or recruitment of staff. When appropriate, the ability to speak Welsh will be considered as one of several abilities in filling vacancies which arise, in accordance with the Inspectorate's Equal Opportunities Policy. (Current practice)

5.2 Recruitment

We welcome applications from Welsh speakers (just as we do from anyone else) for any advertised job vacancies. Although there will be limited opportunities in the short term for the recruitment of additional staff, all recruitment to the Inspectorate is carried out in accordance with the Civil Service rules on fair and open competition. This means that the best person is chosen for the vacancy in question. In appropriate cases the ability to speak Welsh will be a requirement or a desirable attribute and appropriate regard will be had to candidates' linguistic abilities.

We will encourage Welsh speakers to apply for posts and:

We will bear in mind the advantage of having a number of Welsh speakers when recruiting Planning Inspectors, and this will be indicated in the advertisement. (Current practice)

We will place additional job recruitment advertising in Welsh language newspapers, even when the job is not one where the ability to speak Welsh is essential. (Target date: at next recruitment exercise)

Where linguistic ability is considered to be essential or is desirable for any post, this will be specified when recruiting to that post. (Current practice)

When a non-Welsh speaker is appointed to a post where the Inspectorate considers a Welsh speaker is essential, a condition of employment will be to learn the language to the required level within a reasonable agreed period, with the full support of the Inspectorate. (Current practice)

The Head of Branch together with the Personnel will identify those posts where the ability to speak Welsh is essential or desirable, and ensure that appointments are made accordingly. (Current practice)

So as to facilitate the scheme the Head of Personnel will maintain a list of all employees able to speak Welsh, and ensure that job advertisements and job descriptions in the media reflect the requirements of this scheme as appropriate. (Current practice)

5.3 Language Training

Language training will play an important part in increasing the number of staff able to work confidently in Welsh, and the Inspectorate encourages staff to attend appropriate courses. A strategy has been prepared to meet future Welsh language training needs and this is one of the Inspectorate's highest training priorities. The Inspectorate has recently been awarded Investor In People accreditation and demonstrates its commitment to training.

The following priorities for training have therefore been identified:

Improving the working Welsh of staff who are already fluent Welsh speakers to a level where they can work effectively in Welsh by encouraging further training. (Current practice).

Encouraging all staff who wish to do so to learn Welsh to enable them to handle straightforward enquiries from members of the public. (Current practice).

Assisting and supporting staff who have the necessary level of commitment to undertake language training to learn Welsh or to improve their Welsh. (Current practice).

5.4 Vocational Training

The Inspectorate has a commitment to provide staff with opportunities for vocational training. One of the Inspectorate's objectives is to develop and maintain a highly motivated, well trained and united workforce.

We will encourage staff to take up vocational training in Welsh.

We will circulate to staff all advertised opportunities for training.

We will ensure all Inspectors are proficient in the use of simultaneous translation facilities. (Current practice)

We will ensure that new computing software is compatible with our commitment to this scheme and that appropriate training is provided. (Current practice)

5.5 Services Provided on Our Behalf by Other Parties

Some of the services we provide to the public in Wales are carried out for us by other organisations such as consultants and contractors. In particular some Planning Inspectors and technical assessors are retained on a consultancy or contract basis.

We will make sure that these follow the terms of this scheme where it is relevant to the services they are providing on our behalf (Current practice)

When we put new or existing services which we provide in Wales out to contract we will include in the specification for the service or work in question the Inspectorate's requirements for the use of Welsh by the contractor. (Current practice)

We will make sure that any agreements or arrangements made with third parties, including services contracted out, which relate to the provision of services to the public in Wales are consistent with the terms of the scheme.

We will ensure that staff dealing with agents and contractors have written procedural instructions and we will monitor the procedures to see that they work efficiently and in accordance with the scheme.

We will specify the requirements for the use of the Welsh language in any tender documents and contracts and will monitor the implementation of the scheme and obtain regular performance reports from contractors and any other party involved in any agreement with the Inspectorate.

The Inspectorate in Bristol supplies Inspectors to hold inquiries into objections to unitary development plans produced by Local Planning Authorities (LPAs). Wherever possible we will appoint a Welsh speaking Inspector to hold the inquiry, and will ask the LPA to provide translation facilities at the inquiry. Arrangements will also be made, in cooperation with the LPA, to provide a Welsh version of the Inspector's report. Inspectors are also appointed to rights of way work. Here again we will endeavour to appoint a Welsh speaking Inspector and arrange with the LPA to provide translation facilities at the inquiry. (Current practice)

5.6 Translation Service

The Inspectorate has a contract with a Welsh translation service which is essential to the success of this scheme. The quality and speed of service is closely monitored, and its work is kept under regular review. (Current practice)