Litir Chumhdaigh
Setup as a result of Local Government reform in 2014, South Dublin County Public Participation Network (PPN) is an independent network of community, environment and social inclusion organisations, working to build a better county for the community of South Dublin County. The PPN is managed by voluntary Secretariat which reports to PPN members through the Plenary.
The members of the network are based across the South Dublin County administrative area. The PPN is the prescribed body to nominate community, environment and social inclusion representation onto various Council structures, including the SPCs.
The PPN welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback on the new Strategic Policy Scheme. The PPN is committed to providing high quality community, voluntary, social inclusion and environmental representation on South Dublin County Council Strategic Policy Committees.
The PPN is committed to developing supports for PPN Representatives who sit on South Dublin County Council Structures. This includes on-going training, the development of PPN Linkage Groups (or alternative mandate structures), policy development, and so on.
PPN Representatives will be supported to regularly report back to the wider PPN membership through the PPN Plenary meetings, e-newsletters and the PPN Secretariat.
Section 4.1 of the proposed scheme references the reviewing of Standing Orders to govern the operations of SPCs. These standing orders should provide clarity on the procedure for SPC members, including sectoral interest members, to submit proposed agenda items (or motions) for consideration in the setting of agendas for SPC meetings. The PPN recommends this should include:
- Identify the person to whom agenda items (or motions) should be submitted to.
- Identify a time frame for the submission of agenda items (or motions), i.e. at least 2/3 weeks before the meeting is due to take place.
- Identify parameters / format for the submitted items.
This is in the best interests of empowering sectoral participation in the SPC Scheme.
Section 3.2 of the proposed scheme, notes the adopting and agreement of the work programme linked to the corporate plan. It is most welcome that SPC members are provided with time to consider and respond to the draft work programme. The PPN suggests that a report on submissions is returned to the SPCs following consideration by the CPG (i.e. The CPG will notify SPC members on the submissions received, any changes that arose, the agreed matters for inclusion, and the priority of work programme issues to be explored.).
This is in the best interests of empowering sectoral participation in the SPC Scheme.
The PPN requests the following changes to the membership of the SPCs:
Economic Development, Enterprise & Tourism
PPN x 2 (community pillar, environmental pillar)
Additional seat proposed: environmental pillar (increase of 1).
Land use Transportation and Planning
PPN x 2 (environmental pillar, community pillar)
Additional seat proposed: community pillar (increase of 1).
Arts, Culture, Gaeilge, Heritage and Libraries
PPN x 2 (social inclusion pillar, community pillar)
Additional seat proposed: community pillar (increase of 1).
Environment, Public Realm and Climate Change
PPN x 2 (environmental pillar, community pillar)
Additional seat proposed: community pillar (increase of 1).
Housing
PPN x 2 (1 community pillar and 1 social inclusion pillar)
No change proposed.
Social, Community and Equality
PPN x 2 (1 community pillar and 1 social inclusion pillar)
No change proposed.