A Welsh language pressure group has called on Carmarthenshire County Council to follow the example of Ceredigion Council and ensure that the new Chief Executive can carry out his or her work in Welsh as well as English.

The current Chief Executive, Mark James, announced his intention to leave his post in June this year and Cymdeithas yr Iaith has called on the council, as it recruits a successor, to give the opportunity to a candidate who has shown a commitment to Carmarthenshire or a similar area and is fluent in both languages.

In a message to the leader of the Council, Emlyn Dole, Sioned Elin of Cymdeithas yr Iaith says that Carmarthenshire County Council has the opportunity to appoint a Chief Executive that understands the needs of the county and the aspirations of the people, and can lead the administration in Welsh:

Sioned said:"In the past, your predecessors have used agencies to try to recruit officers from beyond the count, ,but we ask that you to give the opportunity to a candidate who has shown a commitment to Carmarthenshire or a similar area and is fluent in both languages.

“We are pleased to have been able to use Carmarthenshire County Council as an example of good practice not only in taking the situation seriously and acting, and being open to discussion, but for setting a goal in the Welsh Language Strategy that the Welsh language will be the county's main language."

Cymdeithas refers to the way Ceredigion Council advertised the post of Chief Executive (attached), insisting on the same ability to administer in Welsh as well as in English, and an officer who had served within the Council was appointed.

Miss Elin added: "Even recently, when advertising senior officer posts, including for directors, the requirement was to be able to communicate in English at level 5 and in Welsh level 2.

“This is an unfortunate sign that serious matters are dealt with in English whilst symbolic use is made of the Welsh language. Requiring communication and administration skills in Welsh at Level 5 would indicate the highest level of commitment to the local community and its culture."

Emlyn Dole has since acknowledged receiving the letter and local Cymdeithas officials say there will be a further opportunity to discuss moving towards making the Welsh language the council's language of governance at a public meeting in the county in the coming months.