Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Clare communities find their voice with new network


Clare County Council has announced the establishment of a new forum aimed at enhancing and expanding the role played by the public in the formulation of local government policy and the future development of local communities across Clare.
The Public Participation Network (PPN), which replaces the Clare Community Forum, will be the new representative voice of the community, voluntary and environmental sectors in Clare.

An information briefing and registration event will be held at Glór in Ennis at 7.00pm on Wednesday, 3rd December 2014. The event will outline how community, voluntary, social inclusion and environmental groups can benefit from the new network and why they should consider becoming members.

Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, Councillor John Crowe said the PPN will enable community groups to interact with local government at different levels, as well as facilitate Clare County Council in developing policy and in plan making.

"The Network will be the main link through which the Council connects with the community and voluntary, social inclusion and environmental sectors. The PPN's primary objective is to enable the public to take an active formal role in the policy making and oversight activities of the Local Authority’s areas of responsibility," he added.

The Cathaoirleach urged groups interested in becoming members of the Network to attend the upcoming public meeting, as well as register their respective group by the deadline of Friday, 9th January 2015. 

A Clare County PPN will be established along with a PPN in each of Clare's four Municipal Districts, namely Ennis, Shannon, Killaloe and West Clare. PPN members will be able to nominate representatives to the Council's primary decision making bodies, including the Strategic Policy Committees (SPC).

Groups that do not register with the PPN will not be eligible to participate at PPN meetings, or be involved in the nomination process for seats on the decision making bodies of Clare County Council.  All groups that have previously registered with the Clare Community Forum / Clare County Council must register under this process if they wish to participate in the new structure.

Registration forms can be downloaded from www.clarecoco.ie and must be returned to Valerie Fleming, Tourism & Community, Clare County Council, New Road, Ennis, Co. Clare by Friday, 9th January 2015. 

For further information and criteria for membership, please visit www.clarecoco.ie or contact Valerie on 065 6846545 or vfleming@clarecoco.ie.