The CavanPPN – Organisational Structure and Procedures (A Summary)
Definitions
Plenary: An assembly of all the registered community groups of County Cavan.
Secretariat: The elected individuals from among the community groups to manage the PPN.
Administrative Board: 7 individuals from the Secretariat to run the company (Directors)
Linkage Group: The meeting of groups in a public meeting to source information on a particular topic the PPN has representation on or work to fulfill around.
Sectors: The issue-based registration process of groups based on (i) Environment (ii) Social Inclusion and (iii) Community/Voluntary.
MDs (Municipal Districts): The geographic-based registration process of groups based on
(i) Cavan/Belturbet area (ii) Ballyjamesduff area and (iii) Bailieborough/Cootehill area.
SPC: Strategic Policy Committee, meetings in Cavan County Council that develop strategy and policy on certain topics.
Intro
The PPNs were set up by the government in late 2014 to establish a way for community groups to have their say in civic and other matters in each county. Its original aim was to provide networking and representational functions but this has grown to training, support and animation. It is a growing process which is changing annually to adapt to community input and need.
Summary of Structure
The Plenary meets twice per year to decide on the membership, policies and workplan of the PPN. At these meetings they replenish or replace representative roles missing on the Secretariat or help to fill roles on external bodies. There is no stronger mandating body for community in the county.
The Secretariat is made up of 12 people elected at a Plenary (Core Reps). 2 come from each of the Sectors and 2 from each of the MD’s. To help the communications of the PPN 1 person from each of the statutory representational roles is elected from their Linakge Groups (Linkage Reps) to compliments the core 12. To ensure there are no gaps in community say, the Secretariat can then co-opt 4 reps from groups registered with the PPN. The Secretariat meets on the 2nd Tuesday of every 2nd month from 7.30pm. (Sept-Nov-Jan-Mar-May-July-Sept)
Terms of office
Core Reps hold office for 2 years and can run for a 3rd year but must take a “fallow year” prior to running again.
Linkage Reps hold office for the term their representation lasts on the body they are on.
Co-opted Reps are reviewed each year but cannot exceed the terms of Core Reps (2/3 years).
Administrative Board
The Secretariat nominates 7 of their number to the Administrative Board who allocate officer roles as Directors of the company. There will be a rotation of this board by thirds: twp being replaced after year 1, two replaced after year 2 and three replaced after year 3 to ensure full rotation of Board Members over the 3 year period. The officer roles are: Company Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer and Public Relations Officer. This Board can nominate a Company Secretary who may or may not be a member of The Secretariat.
Linkage Groups
Linkage Groups are how the PPN engage with the community groups. A Linkage Group is set up around each Sector and MD and each representational post the PPN has. It is the job of the Coordinator to organize these but the job of the Linkage Group representative to host and facilitate the meeting. Linage Groups are:
- Environment Sector * - Social Inclusion Sector*
- Community/Voluntary Sector* - Cavan/Belturbet MD*
- Ballyjamesduff MD* - Bailieborough/Cootehill MD*
- Environment & Planning SPC** - Housing, Community, Social, Cultural SPC**
- Transport & Infrastructure SPC** - Economic & Enterprise SPC**
- Breffni Integrated** - Joint Policing Committee**
- Cavan Peace Partnership** - Local Community Development Committee**
- Cavan Childcare Committee - Cavan Sports Partnership
- Cavan Heritage Forum - Regional Drugs Taskforce
* providing 2 Secretariat members **providing 1 Secretariat member
Elections
The Electoral Policy of the PPN is broken into 2 sections; internal and external.
Internal: where a vote is required a nominator and seconder is required and voting is done by single ballot first past the post. In elections involving multiple community groups (for instance at a Linkage Group) each group shall hold a single vote.
External: Where the PPN shall provide representation on an external body or facilitate such a representative process the following shall be the electoral policy of this body.
An invitation from the external body shall trigger public advertisement which shall be open for a period of two weeks. Final candidates shall be made aware to the electors for a period of no less than 7 days prior to an election.
Elections: Community Groups shall nominate an elector to hold ONE VOTE per community group at such elections. Individuals may not hold more than one vote. Where the election is pertaining to a particular segment of the community (e.g. Environment Groups electing an Environment SPC Rep) The CavanPPN Secretariat may deem it necessary to grant voting rights only to community groups registered in that segment.
Funding
The PPN is an independent body driven entirely by the PPN members. It derives its budget from the local Council and Government in fractions of 3/5. The maximum budget suggested is €80,000. Therefore, this is €30,000 from the Council and €50,000 from Government. Should the Council reduce its contribution then the Government contribution will likewise decrease proportionately. The Government strongly recommends that PPNs require €80,000 for their program costs.
The Worker
The CavanPPN Worker is Daniel Downey. He works full time but his hours are flexible to suit evening/weekend events. Excess hours worked are taken as TOIL (Time Off In Lieu) at a later stage. Though the company hires Daniel, his work is directed by the Secretariat.
Definitions
Plenary: An assembly of all the registered community groups of County Cavan.
Secretariat: The elected individuals from among the community groups to manage the PPN.
Administrative Board: 7 individuals from the Secretariat to run the company (Directors)
Linkage Group: The meeting of groups in a public meeting to source information on a particular topic the PPN has representation on or work to fulfill around.
Sectors: The issue-based registration process of groups based on (i) Environment (ii) Social Inclusion and (iii) Community/Voluntary.
MDs (Municipal Districts): The geographic-based registration process of groups based on
(i) Cavan/Belturbet area (ii) Ballyjamesduff area and (iii) Bailieborough/Cootehill area.
SPC: Strategic Policy Committee, meetings in Cavan County Council that develop strategy and policy on certain topics.
Intro
The PPNs were set up by the government in late 2014 to establish a way for community groups to have their say in civic and other matters in each county. Its original aim was to provide networking and representational functions but this has grown to training, support and animation. It is a growing process which is changing annually to adapt to community input and need.
Summary of Structure
The Plenary meets twice per year to decide on the membership, policies and workplan of the PPN. At these meetings they replenish or replace representative roles missing on the Secretariat or help to fill roles on external bodies. There is no stronger mandating body for community in the county.
The Secretariat is made up of 12 people elected at a Plenary (Core Reps). 2 come from each of the Sectors and 2 from each of the MD’s. To help the communications of the PPN 1 person from each of the statutory representational roles is elected from their Linakge Groups (Linkage Reps) to compliments the core 12. To ensure there are no gaps in community say, the Secretariat can then co-opt 4 reps from groups registered with the PPN. The Secretariat meets on the 2nd Tuesday of every 2nd month from 7.30pm. (Sept-Nov-Jan-Mar-May-July-Sept)
Terms of office
Core Reps hold office for 2 years and can run for a 3rd year but must take a “fallow year” prior to running again.
Linkage Reps hold office for the term their representation lasts on the body they are on.
Co-opted Reps are reviewed each year but cannot exceed the terms of Core Reps (2/3 years).
Administrative Board
The Secretariat nominates 7 of their number to the Administrative Board who allocate officer roles as Directors of the company. There will be a rotation of this board by thirds: twp being replaced after year 1, two replaced after year 2 and three replaced after year 3 to ensure full rotation of Board Members over the 3 year period. The officer roles are: Company Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer and Public Relations Officer. This Board can nominate a Company Secretary who may or may not be a member of The Secretariat.
Linkage Groups
Linkage Groups are how the PPN engage with the community groups. A Linkage Group is set up around each Sector and MD and each representational post the PPN has. It is the job of the Coordinator to organize these but the job of the Linkage Group representative to host and facilitate the meeting. Linage Groups are:
- Environment Sector * - Social Inclusion Sector*
- Community/Voluntary Sector* - Cavan/Belturbet MD*
- Ballyjamesduff MD* - Bailieborough/Cootehill MD*
- Environment & Planning SPC** - Housing, Community, Social, Cultural SPC**
- Transport & Infrastructure SPC** - Economic & Enterprise SPC**
- Breffni Integrated** - Joint Policing Committee**
- Cavan Peace Partnership** - Local Community Development Committee**
- Cavan Childcare Committee - Cavan Sports Partnership
- Cavan Heritage Forum - Regional Drugs Taskforce
* providing 2 Secretariat members **providing 1 Secretariat member
Elections
The Electoral Policy of the PPN is broken into 2 sections; internal and external.
Internal: where a vote is required a nominator and seconder is required and voting is done by single ballot first past the post. In elections involving multiple community groups (for instance at a Linkage Group) each group shall hold a single vote.
External: Where the PPN shall provide representation on an external body or facilitate such a representative process the following shall be the electoral policy of this body.
An invitation from the external body shall trigger public advertisement which shall be open for a period of two weeks. Final candidates shall be made aware to the electors for a period of no less than 7 days prior to an election.
Elections: Community Groups shall nominate an elector to hold ONE VOTE per community group at such elections. Individuals may not hold more than one vote. Where the election is pertaining to a particular segment of the community (e.g. Environment Groups electing an Environment SPC Rep) The CavanPPN Secretariat may deem it necessary to grant voting rights only to community groups registered in that segment.
Funding
The PPN is an independent body driven entirely by the PPN members. It derives its budget from the local Council and Government in fractions of 3/5. The maximum budget suggested is €80,000. Therefore, this is €30,000 from the Council and €50,000 from Government. Should the Council reduce its contribution then the Government contribution will likewise decrease proportionately. The Government strongly recommends that PPNs require €80,000 for their program costs.
The Worker
The CavanPPN Worker is Daniel Downey. He works full time but his hours are flexible to suit evening/weekend events. Excess hours worked are taken as TOIL (Time Off In Lieu) at a later stage. Though the company hires Daniel, his work is directed by the Secretariat.
Daniel Downey is our Community Development Coordinator, helping to support and grow public participation for community groups in the network. He is from County Cavan and has worked and volunteered for many years both at home and abroad on various projects.
His contact details are on our Contact Page.
