One of the main roles of the Public Participation Network (PPN), is to provide a nominating structure to elect community representatives onto decision making committees.
There is currently one vacancy on the Planning and Urban Form Strategic Planning Committee (SPC), and three vacancies on the Secretariat, which is the administrative body of the PPN.
Member groups are now being requested to nominate suitable candidates for these vacancies. Only registered member groups can make nominations and the candidates being nominated should have the relevant knowledge, experience, commitment and meet the qualifying criteria for the role.
Role of the Secretariat
The Dublin City PPN Secretariat is made up of three members from each of the three pillars/colleges of the PPN: Community & Voluntary, Social Inclusion and Environment, totalling nine altogether.
The role of the Secretariat is to:
- Identify, coordinate and facilitate activities of the PPN which are of benefit to its members.
- Communicate with all PPN members and disseminate information concerning all PPN activities.
- Ensure the proper functioning of the PPN.
- Devise a workplan and proposals to present to the Plenary.
- Work closely with the PPN resource worker and support worker, to deliver PPN objectives between plenaries.
- Support the strategic development of the Dublin City PPN.
- Work to ensure that the profile of the PPN is raised and inclusive.
- Work to ensure that representatives and linkage groups are participative.
- Only members of the pillar in concern, can nominate for that pillar: in this instance, only members from the Environmental Pillar, can nominate the three candidates for the Secretariat.
- The Secretariat meets monthly, attends two Plenaries and participates on other working and planning groups, as required.
Skills and Attributes
- A keen interest and awareness of general issues in the pillar the candidate represents.
- Experience of working and/or volunteering in the member group the candidate is selected from.
- Excellent organisational skills
- Experience of working on a board or committees.
- A commitment to attend meetings and events and participate fully in the duties of the Secretariat.
Current members of the Secretariat come from the Voluntary/Community and Social Inclusion Pillar/College. Consequently, the three current vacancies can only be nominated from Member Groups from the Environmental Pillar/College.
Role of the Planning and Urban Form Strategic Policy Committee (SPC)
Representing the PPN on the Strategic Policy Committees (SPCs) is an important task. It is the task of the SPCs as a committee of the council, to advise and assist the council in its work. The SPC system is intended to give councillors and sectoral interests an opportunity for full involvement in the policy making process from the early stages. Therefore, if the SPC system operates satisfactorily, much of the preliminary and background work, discussion and recommendation should be completed at SPC level for final consideration, and ratification by the council.
In order to ensure that representation is informed and based on knowledge of the policy area and on commitment to the PPN, the following criteria for PPN will apply.
- An awareness of general policy in the area the candidate will represent.
- The ability of the candidate to effectively represent the views of the entire PPN linkage group. The candidate is not representing their own organisation.
- A knowledge of the relevant areas and plenary decisions and a commitment to policy development, where necessary.
- A commitment to attending all meetings of the SPC
- Support to new representatives should the need arise.
- A commitment to convene, attend and report back to the linkage group AND issue a report after each meeting, for wider circulation by the PPN resource worker or support officer.
A fundamental role of the elected PPN representative to the SPC will be to represent and to give feedback to the PPN on the outcomes of policy meetings, and on the issues being raised. This will be achieved through the representatives’ interaction with their Linkage Group.
The current representative comes from the Social Inclusion pillar, consequently, the vacancy must be filled by a candidate from a Member Group from either the Voluntary/Community pillar or the Environmental Pillar.
For further details on the nomination process, see page 44 – 47 of the PPN Handbook (2020).
Notes*
In the event of more nominations than vacancies available, an election will be held.
PPN representatives are expected to gather and present the views and opinions of member organisations.
All PPN reps are required to sign the Representatives Charter and to adhere to PPN reporting mechanisms, constitution, policies.
PPN representatives’ expenses will be paid in accordance with the travel and expenses policy.
Dublin City PPN is non-political, non-sectarian and adheres to CVSP 8/2018 re: PPNs and Engagement in the Political Process.
Nominations Process (due to the current restrictions).
Due to the restrictions of the pandemic, the nomination process has been streamlined to make it easier for Member Groups to participate.
Email info at dublincityppn dot ie with “Nominations 2021” in the subject line.
- Fill in the following information in the body of the email:
Nominating Group Name and Membership Number
College: Community and Voluntary OR Social Inclusion OR Environment
Nominee Name/email address/telephone number/member group name
Proposed by: proposer’s name/position in the group/signature not required*
Seconded by: seconder’s name/position in the group/email address and phone number/signature not required*
- Send the email, on or before Friday 9 April 2021.
