Clare Public Participation Network Report July to September …clareppn.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Work-report-for...-EVENT REPORTS Climate Adaptation Strategy Consultation In July,

Clare Public Participation Network Report

July to September 2019

2019

REPORT ON ACTIVITES

CLARE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION NETWORK | Clonroad Business Park, Ennis, County Clare V95 N62T

Clare Public Participation Network’s Report to Clare County Council


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Strategic Policy Committees update (SPCs) page 1 Overview of work page 2 - 3 Report on events page 4 -6 Engagement page 7 Appendix One: Mass email page 8 Appendix Two: Expenditure page 9

Strategic Policy Committee news Following the local elections held in May 2019 it is necessary for each County and City Council to establish new Strategic Policy Committees (SPCs) in line with the revised guidelines published by the Department in June 2019. The task of the SPC is to assist and advise the Council in the formulation, development and review of policy. Clare PPN made a number of recommendations in a submission to the Draft Strategic Policy Committee Scheme; http://clareppn.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Clare-PPN-Submission-SCHEME-FOR-THE-STRATEGIC-POLICY-COMMITTEES-2019-2024-003.pdf One of the main recommendations was the formation of an SPC for Climate Change & Biodiversity. Unfortunately this has not happened, with the compromise being Climate Change & Biodiversity split between existing SPCs and directorates. The SPC scheme for 2019 -2024 is as follows.

Overview of Work

Economic Development SPC

Economic Development

Planning and Enterprise

Biodiversity

Physical Development SPC

Transportation

Environment

Water and Wastewater

Fire & Major Emergency

Management

Climate Change

Rural Development SPC

Rural Development

Community

Tourism

Broadband, Digital,

Information and Communications

Technology

Social Development SPC

Housing

Arts and Culture

Sports and Recreation

http://clareppn.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Clare-PPN-Submission-SCHEME-FOR-THE-STRATEGIC-POLICY-COMMITTEES-2019-2024-003.pdf



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Representative elections Clare Public Participation Network is determined to make sure that community groups can play an active role in the decisions made by Clare County Council for the county and all its people and so we are currently holding elections for PPN representative seats with candidates from amongst our membership groups. The election poll-toppers will be announced at the Autumn plenary meeting on 8th October 2019.

Administration: Started re-registration (completion expected in October 2019) Maintained lobbying register Monitored attendance and input by representatives. Conducted elections for multiple Representative seats Management of finances, banking and invoices

Outreach/Policy Work: Held one secretariat meeting Held one plenary meeting Elected three new reps to LCDC Facilitated Clare Environmental Network meeting Hosted a public consultation on the Draft Climate Adaptation Strategy Hosted a public consultation on the Draft SPC Scheme Hosted three meetings in Miltown Malbay re: asylum seekers Circulated and collated questionnaire on community insurance Organised day trip for asylum seekers and local community Made submission to the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission and the

Department of Housing Planning and Local Government in relation to the Draft Traveller Accommodation Programme in collaboration with the Traveller Primary Health Care Workers

Made submission to the Draft SPC Scheme (as mentioned above) Made submission to the Draft Climate Adaptation Strategy (see events below) Co-hosted and organised Traveller Talks events with CLDC and HSE

LCDC reps (L-R) Theresa, Ann Marie, Mary, Kasia, Niamh



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Met with Primary Health Group to discuss Traveller Accommodation Plan Hosted Traveller drop-in information centre Co-hosted ‘Traveller Talks’ event for Traveller men Attended the launch of the Traveller Health Needs Assessment Attended regional workers meeting in Mallow Attended resource workers meeting in Dublin Attended stakeholders meeting on Climate Adaptation in Limerick Attended 2 County Council meeting in observatory role Attended meeting with Clare Comhairle na nOg (after meeting with co-ordinator) Assisted representatives with research and/or policy questions

Communications:

Circulation of calls for submissions, grant schemes, event notices to members (see appendix One) Press releases to local media on events and policy issues. Continued communication with linkage groups/colleges/public. 3 newsletters to all members – see appendix for details Updating members through social media channels and website Various Clare FM interviews on insurance, CAS and protest

Training:

Held training event for new LCDC reps Co-hosted Governance Code Webinar with Clare Volunteer Centre & Carmichael Centre

‘We can work together to achieve our common goals’ - Consultation response

Poster for ‘Traveller Talks’



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Climate Adaptation Strategy Public Consultation – 31st July 2019

- EVENT REPORTS

Climate Adaptation Strategy Consultation In July, Clare PPN hosted the only public consultation on the five year Draft Climate Adaptation Strategy. It was attended by 40 individuals representing 27 environmental groups including An Taisce, Ennis Tidy Towns, the Green Party, Clare Leader Forum & CELT. The expertise gathered on the night was collated and matched against the Strategic Development Goals and became the main substance of the Clare PPN Climate Adaptation Strategy submission. It was handed in to Clare County Council by young activists from Fridays for Future. The Draft Climate Adaptation Strategy was adopted on 16th September by Clare County Council without any amendments related to public consultation. http://clareppn.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Clare-PPN-Submission-in-respect-of-Clare-Draft-Climate-Change-Adaptation-Strategy-August-2019-1.pdf

Fridays for Future presenting the Clare PPN Climate Adaptation Strategy submission to Clare County Council.

Extinction Rebellion at Clare County Council - 9th September

http://clareppn.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Clare-PPN-Submission-in-respect-of-Clare-Draft-Climate-Change-Adaptation-Strategy-August-2019-1.pdf





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Re-establishment of Clare Environmental Network Following on from the Climate Adaptation Strategy consultation, it was felt by the participants that a strong and cohesive environmental organisation was needed in Clare to bring together the considerable expertise and knowledge throughout the county. The inaugural event included a presentation from Karen Foley (CCC) and was followed by discussion on how environmentalists can use the PPN structure to access and influence local authority decision-making. The Network has also decided to start a Climate Action & Biodiversity Committee in the absence of a County Council SPC and will invite councillors to the quarterly meetings so that they can keep up-to-date on legislation, policy and other environmental news. Miltown Malbay Community & Asylum Seekers Support Clare PPN held numerous meetings in July & August in Miltown Malbay in order to establish links between the local community and asylum seekers in a newly established emergency accommodation centre. A day trip was organised, to the Cliffs of Moher and around the Burren with lunch sponsored by the Armada Hotel. We established a WhatsApp group to facilitate the locals in continuing to offer daily support to the asylum seekers and provide continued support. Clare PPN and the Miltown Malbay support group seek the immediate abolition of the Direct Provision as it is a violation of human rights.



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Governance Code #1 Webinar (of three)

We were over-subscribed for Governance Code training in September. This webinar looked at the Charities Governance Code principles 1: Advancing your charitable purpose & 2: Behaving with integrity. This was co-hosted by Clare Volunteer Centre and was delivered remotely by Carmichael Centre. The next sessions will take place in October and November.

Member groups events supported by Clare PPN

Clare PPN also supports its member groups by promoting, attending and reporting on their events. Clare Leader Forum continues to excel in advocating

for the needs of disabled people in Clare. Make Way Day on 26th September saw Clare Leader Forum journey the streets of Ennis, highlighting common

obstructions for people with mobility issues. Clare Environmental Network, Futureproof and XR Clare have been very visible with the Climate Strike on 20th

September.

Make Way Day 26th September - Clare Leader Foru



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Engagement Membership:

Clare PPN currently has 290 member groups Community and Voluntary College 218 Environmental College 20 Social Inclusion College 52 Social Media Facebook followers: 1280 Twitter followers: 931

Climate Strike 20th September 2019

Clare Environmental Network



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Appendix One: Clare PPN mass communications with members



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Appendix Two: Clare PPN income & expenditure – July to September 2019

Clare Public Participation Network Report July to September …clareppn.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Work-report-for...-EVENT REPORTS Climate Adaptation Strategy Consultation In July,

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