THE monthly communities committee of Dumfries and Galloway Council had to be postponed last week because there were no British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters available.
Ironically, one of the main issues to be discussed on the agenda was the council’s development of its plan to support and promote British Sign Language in the region.
The meeting was scheduled to take place last Thursday morning but has since been rescheduled for this Friday.
Shortly after kickstarting the meeting, Councillor Archie Dryburgh announced that it would have to be adjourned.
Vlad Valiente, the council’s governance officer, then explained: “We’ve got an agreed protocol in regard to finding what is deemed suitable interpreters, and that is BSL level three.”
Mr Valiente said that the council had turned to agencies for sign language support, but added: “This week has been particularly problematic across Scotland. We’ve tried all interpreters through the agency, but we’ve also got another group of interpreters who from time to time we also use.
“We’ve attempted reaching those, and have also gone through a long list of Scottish BSL interpreters, as well as going through a list of English BSL interpreters to try and accommodate for this meeting.
“Unfortunately we’ve had no success and we were trying right up until the last minute.”
Some of the key issues to be discussed at this month’s communities committee include a welfare and benefits update, the possibility of opening a new regional tennis centre in Dumfries, the council’s plan to tackle nuisance seagulls, and developing a British Sign Language Plan for 2024-2030.
The BSL (Scotland) Act 2015, requires public bodies in Scotland to publish plans every six years, showing how they will promote and support BSL.
In the elections last May, Dee and Glenkens Councillor John Denerley made history by becoming the first ever deaf Conservative Party member elected in the UK and using British sign language in politics.
The Kirkcudbright man, who has run the wildlife centre in Kirkcudbright for the past 19 years, stated that he hoped to be a “positive role model for other deaf people”.
The reconvened meeting takes place at 10.30am on Friday in the council headquarters, Dumfries, although it will also be streamed online.
