by badminme | Mar 6, 2024 | Clare Rural Development Forum, Local Community Development Committee, Members News, PPN News
Notice of Election for Environmental Rep to LCDC
Clare PPN would like to give notice of an election for a Representative from a member group of Clare PPN’s Environmental College to the Local Community Development Committee (LCDC).
The Local Community Development Committee comprises Council officials, Elected Councillors, and various business and community representatives. The LCDC was set up:
- To prepare and adopt the community elements of the 6 year Local Economic and Community Plan (LECP)
- To co-ordinate, manage and oversee the implementation of local and community development programmes
- To administer various funding streams tackling poverty and social exclusion
The LCDC meets at least six times per annum and reps are required to attend a pre-meeting with Clare PPN in advance to discuss the agenda and any issues raised by our member groups.
https://www.clarecoco.ie/services/community/lcdc/
The representative must agree to the Clare PPN Representatives’ Charter 2023 which sets out the responsibilities and obligations of this voluntary role.
**Please note that due to Clare PPN’s rules, any person who has publicly declared their intention to run for local, general or EU elections can not act as a representative for Clare PPN until 6 months have passed since the date of the relevant election*
Election Rules and Process:
- Each environmental pillar member group may nominate one candidate and may cast one vote in each of these elections. (It is each group’s named contact person’s responsibility to consult with their own members regarding this)
- Only groups who were members of Clare PPN on Wednesday, 6th March 2024 are eligible to participate in this election.
- Only groups who are members of the Environmental College/Pillar can participate in this election.
- No person can represent Clare PPN on more than one external committee or body.
How to nominate a candidate:
Groups wishing to nominate a candidate must seek their consent first and then must send an email to admin@clareppn.ie with the following information on or before Friday, 22nd March at 5pm:
- Name of PPN member group.
- Position for which they are nominating a candidate.
- Name of proposed nominee.
- Contact details of proposed nominee.
- A short paragraph (up to 200 words) detailing the nominees’ suitability and experience for the role- this will be shared on social media and on our website in advance of voting.
- A photo of your nominee which we may share with our members and social media followers.
Clare PPN will confirm receipt of nominations by email. Following the close of nominations Clare PPN will circulate details of candidates to relevant member groups on Monday 25th March and they will be invited to cast their votes using our online form. Online voting will remain open until 1pm on Monday 1st April. No votes will be accepted after this time. The successful candidate will then be contacted and offered the position.
If you need any more information or wish to discuss the role further please email admin@clareppn.ie or call 087 1617375
NB: Even if you have nominated a candidate, you will still need to cast your vote to support their election.
Finally, we’d like to take this opportunity to thank Theresa O’Donohoe for her tireless work as an Environmental Rep on the LCDC.
by badminme | Mar 6, 2024 | Members News, PPN News |
Notice of Spring Plenary Meeting – Wednesday, 27th March 2024
Clare Public Participation Network warmly invites all member groups to attend our first plenary meeting of 2024 which will take place on Wednesday 27th March 2024 from 7pm to 9pm in Ennis (venue to be confirmed).
What is a Plenary Meeting?
Plenary meetings are the main decision-making forums for Clare PPN. At these meetings, all member groups are invited to attend and to put items forward for the agenda for discussion or for inclusion in the work plan of Clare PPN. At each of these meetings the staff and secretariat of Clare PPN present an update on the work, finances, and activities of the PPN and present their work plan for discussion and input from member groups. Clare PPN’s representatives who sit on 11 boards and committees in the County will also have an opportunity to present updates from their committees and to take any questions or input from member groups at this meeting.
Call for agenda items
All current member groups can propose agenda items for this meeting on or before Wednesday 20th March. Please send these using the subject line: ”Agenda Item Plenary Meeting” to admin@clareppn.ie
Submitting a motion
If you would like to bring a motion to the Plenary, please email admin@clareppn.ie by Wednesday 20th March, with the wording of the motion and outlining why you would like to see the motion passed.
FREE to attend. Refreshments will be provided.
Please RSVP by emailing admin@clareppn.ie
by badminme | Mar 4, 2024 | Members News, PPN News |
Due to enquiries that Clare PPN received over the long weekend while we were all off, we have EXTENDED THE NOMINATION CLOSING DATE to Friday 22nd March.
The Joint Policing Committee provides a forum where the Clare Local Authority and Senior Garda Officers – with the participation of elected members and community interests – can consult, discuss and make recommendations on matters affecting the policing of the County. Clare PPN’s community representative position on this committee has recently been vacated due to term limits. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Madeline McAleer for her years of dedicated commitment on behalf of community groups in Clare.
The JPC meets quarterly on average. As a PPN rep you will also be required to attend a quarterly PPN plenary meeting and a short pre-meeting before each JPC. The position is voluntary but travel expenses are paid by Clare County Council in line with public sector rates. For more information please go to: https://www.clarecoco.ie/services/community/community-participation/clare-joint-policing-committee/
Please note that due to Clare PPN’s rules, any person who has publicly declared their intention to run for local, general or EU elections can not act as a representative for Clare PPN until 6 months have passed since the date of the relevant election. Local Area Reps for a political party are also unable to be PPN representatives.
Election Rules and Process:
- Each member group may nominate one candidate and may cast one vote in each of these elections.
- Only groups who were members of Clare PPN on Monday 4th March 2024 are eligible to participate in this election.
- No person can represent Clare PPN on more than one external committee or body
How to nominate a candidate
If you or any member of your group are interested in taking up this role, we are accepting nominations until 5pm, 22nd March. Send an email to admin@clareppn.ie with the following information:
- Name of PPN member group.
- Position for which they are nominating a candidate, ‘JPC rep’
- Name of proposed nominee (after seeking consent).
- Contact details of proposed nominee.
- A short paragraph (up to 200 words) detailing the nominees’ suitability and experience for the role- this will be shared on social media and on our website in advance of voting.
- A photo of your nominee which we may share with our members and social media followers.
Clare PPN will confirm receipt of nominations by email. Following the close of nominations Clare PPN will circulate details of candidates to relevant member groups on Monday, 25th March and they will be invited to cast their votes using our online form. Online voting will remain open until 5pm on Monday 1st April. No votes will be accepted after this time. The winning candidate will be notified and offered the position.
If you need any more information or wish to discuss the role further please email admin@clareppn.ie or call 087 1617375
by badminme | Feb 20, 2024 | Members News, PPN News |
NEW MEMBERS MEETING: 26th Feb @ 6.30pm
We’re delighted to say we’ve had a flurry of new groups joining the network in the early weeks of 2024 and we’re inviting members of those groups – or indeed anyone interested in learning more about what Clare Public Participation Network is and does – to join us for a short online information meeting on Monday 26th February at 6:30pm.
You’ll get to meet and ask questions of Clare PPN’s staff and learn about how your group can benefit and contribute to Clare PPN’s activities. We’re holding the meeting online for your convenience but if that format doesn’t suit anyone we are very happy to arrange individual calls with new member groups too. Just drop us an email or call on 087 1617375 and we’ll get back to you to set a time. To register for the New Members Meeting please email your name to admin@clareppn.ie
by badminme | Feb 13, 2024 | Members News |
Election Season: Would you like to represent your community in Co Clare?
There’s a good bit of talk about elections at the moment, with Local and EU elections coming up in May and a General Election on the horizon. What you might not know though is that if you are in a community group in Clare you are eligible to put yourself forward to represent your community on various committees and bodies in Clare through the PPN, read on for more information.
If you believe in the potential of community groups in Clare to make a difference through genuine participation in policy and decision-making, then you should consider standing for election as a PPN Representative. Clare PPN will have a variety of roles becoming vacant over the coming months – this could be your opportunity to put into practice your passion for public participation. Scroll down to the end of this article to see a list of the Clare PPN Rep roles that are, or will soon be, vacant.
We plan to hold an online meeting and discussion session on Tuesday March 5th at 7pm for people who might be interested in putting themselves forwards as a PPN Rep. There is no commitment needed to attend this meeting – and it’s open to anyone who is interested. To register your interest in this meeting please email admin@clareppn.ie and we’ll make sure you get the link to join us on the night.
Elaine D’Alton, who is a Rep on Clare’s SPC for Economic Development, says: “I love being a Clare PPN Rep, because it give me a sense that the Women’s Collective can actually make a difference, because it means we’re connected to a much bigger entity.” Elaine (pictured above on the left) is involved in Women’s Collective Ireland – Clare, which is a member group of Clare PPN.
Padraic Hayes (pictured second from left), a disability rights activist who’s involved with Clare Leader Forum, says: “I really enjoy being a Clare PPN Rep as it gives me the opportunity to highlight local issues that affect people with disabilities.”
What does a PPN Rep do?
The main purpose of Clare PPN is to enable the hundreds of community and voluntary groups across the county to input into, and have their voices heard in, decision-making and policy formation at Clare County Council. Reps are elected by our member groups to sit on a range of policy committees and other forums covering various aspects of life in the county.
PPN Reps play a crucial role, facilitating communication between community groups and the Council and ensuring that those groups can influence local government policy. Reps are supported in this voluntary role by Clare PPN staff. In a typical year, a PPN Rep will attend four to six committee meetings, and is also expected to attend Clare PPN Plenary meetings.
Check out this 3-minute video which tells you more about what our Reps do:
VIDEO – What does a PPN rep do?
Who can become a Clare PPN Rep?
Anyone involved with one of Clare PPN’s member groups can stand for election as a Rep. Candidates must be nominated by a Clare PPN member group. In most cases, a Rep position is associated with one of our three pillars or colleges – Community & Voluntary, Social Inclusion and Environmental – and must be nominated by a group from the relevant college.
Clare PPN Reps sit on the following committees and boards:
• Strategic Policy Committee (SPC) for Social Development
• SPC for Economic Development
• SPC for Rural Development
• SPC for Physical Development
• Local Community Development Committee (LCDC)
• Local Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee
• Clare Biodiversity & Heritage Forum
• Joint Policing Committee (JPC)
• Fisheries Local Action Group West
• Clare Sports Partnership
• Clare Rural Development Forum
You can see a full list of our current Reps at this page: Your PPN Reps
Meeting & training session:
We will be having a meeting and training session on March 5th to chat about the upcoming vacancies. Keep an eye out on our social media channels for reminders or register your interest now by emailing admin@clareppn.ie – by the way, we’re now on Instagram as well.
We’ll also inform our member groups by email.
Finally, we’d like to say how much the membership, Secretariat and staff of Clare PPN appreciates the willingness of community-minded people to step forward and give their time freely to represent their communities and the network, we couldn’t do it without you.
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Upcoming vacancies for Clare PPN Rep roles:
We currently have – or soon will have – vacancies for the following roles:
Representing Social Inclusion College:
- Local Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee
- Rural Development Forum
Representing our Community & Voluntary college:
- LCDC
- Rural Development Forum
- Joint Policing Committee
Representing our Environment college:
