FIRST PLENARY MEETING 26TH NOVEMBER 2014 7.30. Registration - Issuing Ballot papers 7.45. Overview : Public Participation Network and election process 8.00. Secretariat elections & Coffee 8.30. Speaker: Michael Ewing -‘Importance of community involvement in policy making’ 8.45. Roundtable discussion - How to make the new structure effective and meaningful for groups? 9.30. Election Results Mechanism to facilitate & support input by the community sector into decision making by Local Authorities & other local policy making structures Statutory basis in the Local Government Reform Act 2014 – first time in history of state there is a statutory framework for community representation Framework for Public Participation in Local Government to be adopted by the Council in 2015- the PPN cannot be bypassed by the Councils policy making structures –subject to Dept regulation Will meet minimum of twice per year. Challenge: To develop effective processes for real citizens engagement Democratic Deficit- alienation, disconnection Improve local decision- making - informed by wide range of local expertise and knowledge from C&V, social inclusion & environmental sectors Ensure wider access to decision making – open and inclusive policy making improves democracy Oversight: A mechanism for enabling the community sector to take an active & formal role in policy making & oversight committees of the Local authority and other organisations Accountability: Improve accountability of community representatives to the wider community sector. Information: Ensure all members are informed about new policies or initiatives impacting the sector Support & develop: A supportive network for voluntary groups in Co. Sligo – enhance capacity to participate County Plenary This is a gathering of all members at County level. It is the ruling body of the PPN. Two Municipal District Plenaries This is a gathering of all members at municipal level - Sligo MD and Ballymote/Tubbercurry MD Linkage groups Smaller groups from the County Plenary will be established to link with community representatives on specific s issues, e.g. heritage, sports etc. Secretariat A small group elected by the County Plenary, to coordinate the activities of the PPN Local Community Development Committee Joint Policing Committee Strategic Policy Committees (Draft Scheme) 1. SPC 1 – Housing & Corporate 2. SPC2 – Environment & Infrastructure 3. SPC 3 - Planning, Community & Economic Development, Arts & Culture Sports and Recreation Partnership Sligo PEACE and Reconciliation Partnership Heritage Forum Drug and Alcohol Taskforce Total no groups registered 280 Community and Voluntary College 235 Social Inclusion College 36 Environmental College 9 Sligo Municipal District 184 Ballymote- Tubbercurry Municipal District 96 26,776 members/committee places Core Activities of groups shows diversity of sector- broad knowledge base Tubbercurry Strandhill/Knockaree Tourlestrane Sligo town Sooey Rosses Point Skreen/Dromard Mullaghmore Riverstown Kintogher Killaraght Kiltycahill Keash Gurteen Hazelwood Gleann Grange Geevagh Drumcliffe/Rathcormac Enniscrone/Kilglass Drumcliffe Enniscrone Doorly Park Easkey Cranmore Dromore West/Templeboy Collooney Curry Cliffoney Culfadda Carraroe Coolaney/Mullinabreena Carney Coolaney Calry Cloonacool Ballisodare Castleconnor Ballintrillick Bunninadden Beltra Ballintogher Ballymote Ballinfull Ballinafad Ballincar/Cregg Ballinacarrow 0 20 40 60 80 100 Aclare 0 5 10 15 Identify a common purpose- shared issues – community wellbeing, funding, information. Keeping meetings meaningful Getting used to the new terminology/structures Geographic distance- Ensuring gender balance Identifying practical measures to stretch resources Use of Information technology – capacity building Coordinate activities of PPN Implement the decisions of the Plenary and linkage groups Ensure the proper functioning of the PPN Devise guiding documents and proposals to present to the Plenary Communicate and disseminate information Work closely with PPN Staff to enable them to deliver the PPN objectives Support the strategic development of Sligo PPN Work to ensure the PPN is effective in its role of influencing public policy Meet a minimum of 4 times per year Areas reps: Sligo Municipal District – 1 seat Ballymote/Tubbercurry Municipal District – 1 seat Sectoral reps: Social Inclusion College – 2 seats Community and Voluntary College – 2 seats Environmental College - 2 seat Each eligible organisation can vote for (1) a municipal area rep and a (2) sectoral rep Each eligible organisation will receive two ballot papers - for their area and electoral district. Each individual present can vote on behalf of one organisation only Voting will be ‘first past the post’ – i.e. candidates with the largest amount of votes will be deemed to be elected ONE preference should be indicated on each ballot paper. Where there are two seats and both seats are not filled in the first ballot, a second ballot will be held to determine the second seat. Returning Officer: Dorothy Clarke, Director of Services, Sligo County Council Where the number of candidates nominated equals the number of seats, these candidates will be automatically deemed elected. Where the number of candidates exceeds the number of seats, the persons to be elected are those credited with the highest number of votes In the event that that a clear preference is not indicated on a ballot sheet, it will be deemed a spoiled vote and will not be counted. In the event of a tie, the successful candidate will be determined by lot. The names of tied candidates will put in a hat. The first name drawn out will be deemed to be elected. If there are two seats the first two names drawn out will be deemed elected. Nominated delegates who are unsuccessful will be deemed ‘substitute Secretariat members’ in the event that the successful nominee resigns her or his seat over the lifetime of the Secretariat. The unsuccessful nominee with the highest number of votes will be the first substitute; the second highest number of votes will be second substitute and so on.