FLINTSHIRE Council says it is looking to increase the number of employees who can speak Welsh.

Its cabinet members will review what progress is being made on furthering the use the of Welsh language locally when it meets on June 16.

The council has a duty to publish an annual report setting out how it has met the 171 Welsh Language Standards (WLS) set in September 2015 by the Welsh Language Commissioner.

The Welsh Language Annual Report provides an opportunity to set out what the council has done to meet the standards and showcase exemplars of good practice.

While the council says there have been some "outstanding" areas of achievement during the year, it admits there are some areas in which progress is needed to be made.

These include the fact "more employees need to complete courses available in Welsh language awareness", as well as a need to "increase the number of Welsh speaking employees and reduce the number of employees without any knowledge of the Welsh language".

The council says this will support the delivering of bilingual services and meet the needs of Welsh speaking customers.

Only two complaints relating to Welsh language were investigated by the Commissioner, with both related to "promotional material and correspondence".

Positive steps to increase the use of the Welsh language include that an increased number of shops participated in Saint David’s Day window dressing competitions and a grant to contribute to increase the number of St David’s Day events was awarded to Menter Iaith Fflint a Wrecsam, which including supporting an event in Connah’s Quay.

The council's Business Team also worked with businesses to encourage them to promote Welsh produce and participate in Welsh Language Music Day, where possible, as well as St David’s Day.

Theatr Clwyd has continued to include Welsh medium and bilingual performances in their schedule, including the successful bilingual production of 'Mold Riots', to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the riots.

Weekly Welsh classes were held for members of the cast who wanted to learn Welsh to tell the story.

Theatr Clwyd has also developed a Parkinson’s bilingual pilot project working with Parkinson’s UK, using dance, music and drama for people who live with Parkinson’s.

Cllr Billy Mullin, Flintshire Council cabinet member for corporate management, said: "Flintshire County Council is committed to working with the Welsh Language Commissioner to ensure that the new standards can be practically achieved, recognising the Council’s geography and demographic breakdown.”

The authority says "various" methods of communication are being considered to ensure managers and employees work within the standards.