Nominations Invited | GCCN Representative Elections 2024

Summary

We understand that this article contains a lot of information. This is aimed mainly at those interested in making a nomination for one of the GCCN Representatives Vacancies as of September 2024. We hope that it will provide all the details necessary to fully understand the nomination process and the important commitment involved. Thank you for your attention and engagement.

GCCN Representatives during Plenary meeting

Galway City Community Network (GCCN), as the Public Participation Network (PPN) in Galway City, elects representatives to a variety of policy and decision-making structures in the city, including Galway City Council Strategic Policy Committees (SPCs), the Local Community Development Committee (LCDC), the new Local Community Safety Programme (LCSP) and the Galway Sports Partnership (GSP).

The 2024 GCCN Elections will be held on 2 October at the Autumn Plenary Meeting.

Nominations are invited from 16-30 September.

To ensure everyone has the most accurate and comprehensive information available, please refer to both the GCCN Representative Elections 2024 – 2029 – Guidelines and Information HERE and the Public Participation Networks Handbook when making a nomination.

Information on the Galway City Council Strategic Policy Committees (SPCs) is available in the Galway City Council Strategic Policy Committee Scheme 2024-2029 HERE.

Vacancies

Below you can find an overview of the local structures currently seeking representation from GCCN:

Local Structure	GCCN Reps	Pillar/Electoral College	Vacancies
SPC1: Social Development	2	Social Inclusion Community/Voluntary	2
SPC2: Operational Development	2	Community/Voluntary Environment	2
SPC3: Project Development	2	Community/Voluntary Environment	2
SPC4: Urban Development	2	Environment Community/Voluntary	2
SPC5: Corporate Development	2	Social Inclusion Community/Voluntary	2
SPC6: Tourism Development	2	Social Inclusion Community/Voluntary /Culture[1]	2
Local Community Development Committee	5	Environment Social Inclusion Community/Voluntary	1 (Social Inclusion Seat)
Local Community Safety Partnership[2]	TBC	*To be confirmed*	TBC
Galway Sports Partnership	2	*Any Pillar*[3]	2
Galway City Partnership	5	*Any Pillar*	1
Comhairle na nÓg	1	*Any Pillar*[4]	1

[1] Culture representatives will be drawn from GCCN members with an interest in arts and culture.
[2] The membership of the Local Community Safety Partnership (LCSP) has not yet been confirmed.
[3] GCCN Representatives on the Galway Sports Partnership must be members with an interest in sports and recreation. To ensure gender balance, the committee is seeking one female and one male/non-binary representative.
[4] GCCN Representatives on the Comhairle na nÓg must be members with an interest in working with young people.

Criteria for GCCN Representation

Representing GCCN is an important task. In order to ensure that representation is informed and based on knowledge of the policy area and on commitment to the values of GCCN, the representatives are required to meet the criteria for GCCN Representation as outlined in the GCCN Representative Elections 2024 – 2029 – Guidelines and Information HERE.

NOTE: All GCCN representatives are elected to represent GCCN. They are accountable for their representation to the GCCN membership. In GCCN representative capacity, they do not represent their own group/organisation, but the entire membership of GCCN.

To become a GCCN representative, you must be part of a current GCCN member group, have a history of engagement with GCCN, and be nominated by a member organization. You should have knowledge and experience in the relevant policy area, regularly attend meetings, and actively contribute to discussions while promoting GCCN’s values.

In addition, for certain roles, like on the Local Community Development Committee (LCDC), specific knowledge of local government reforms, community development, and programs like SICAP is required. GCCN Representatives on the LCDC also must not be affiliated with Galway City Partnership or hold political office.

For more details please refer to the GCCN Representative Charter.

Nominations

Nominations will be sought for the seats outlined above for a period of two weeks, from the 16th to the 30th of September 2024. Nominations received outside of the nomination period will not be accepted;

Nomination Forms are circulated to GCCN members with this email. These are also available on the GCCN website HERE;

GCCN members can nominate a candidate from within their own membership. Where appropriate, these nominations may be confined to the member’s Pillar.

A number of seats are allocated to particular Pillars (or Electoral Colleges). Where this is the case:

Only members of the Environmental Pillar can nominate and vote for environmental seats;
Only members of the Social Inclusion Pillar can nominate and vote for social inclusion seats;
Only members of the Voluntary Pillar can nominate and vote for voluntary seats.

IMPORTANT NOTES

GCCN representatives can only sit on one structure/committee.

GCCN representatives are required to regularly attend the following meetings:

The relevant Local Authority meeting for the role. These meetings are generally held quarterly, during the day time, between 9am and 5pm.
The GCCN Plenaries, which take place four times a year, usually on Wednesdays from 6.30pm to 9.30pm.
The Linkage Group meetings, which take place a few days before the Local Authority meetings, at the time based on the availability of the GCCN representatives (day or evening).

To check the GCCN membership under the three Pillars/Electoral Colleges please visit the GCCN Directory of Members.

Elections

The GCCN elections for representatives on local committees are held every 5 years, to coincide with the election of the local councillors.

Elections for the GCCN representatives vacancies above will be held at the next Autumn Plenary Meeting on 2 October 2024.

Please note: All nominated GCCN members will be required to attend the Plenary meeting and give a brief presentation of who they are and how they are suited for the role.

ELECTION GUIDELINES

Profiles of all the nominated candidates will be circulated to GCCN members;
Ballot papers will be designed according to the criteria for each structure and issued appropriately to relevant member groups/organisations at the Autumn Plenary on Wednesday, 2 October 2024;
Elections will be held by private ballot at the same GCCN Plenary meeting;
Each member group will be provided with one vote for vacancies relevant to their Electoral College/Pillar together with instructions on how to vote.
Where the number of candidates for a seat that is vacant on any Committee is less than or equal to the number of vacancies available, then those candidates will be deemed elected and subsequently be ratified by the Plenary.
Where the number of candidates for a Pillar’s representation on any Committee is less than the number of vacancies available, then a vacancy will remain.

If you wish to submit a nomination, please fill out the
GCCN Representative Nomination Form – here and submit it by email to communications@gccn.ie before 5pm on Monday, 30 September 2024.

GCCN Members during Plenary meeting - banner4

Important Key Points from the PPN Handbook

Nomination Procedure (Additional information)

As included in the PPN Handbook, any person who wants to be considered as a GCCN Representative must:

Nominees should ensure that they understand the time commitment, required attendance etc. relating to the position applied for;
Be proposed and seconded by 2 members of their own PPN Member Group
Include a short Biography (max 200 words) of the nominee for inclusion on the Ballot Sheet
Complete in full the appropriate Nomination Form;
Ensure nomination form is returned to Oana at communications@gccn.ie by closing date for applications at 5pm, Monday, 30 September 2024.

Additional details:

Representatives are nominated by Member Groups following an open and transparent nominations process. If the original nominating body no longer exists, or the Representative is no longer associated with that nominating body, the Representative will be deemed to have stepped down from the role and an alternate will be selected following another nominations process.
An individual may only represent GCCN on one Board or Committee (with the exception of Secretariat members, who are permitted to hold positions on both the Secretariat and one other Board or Committee following the usual nominations and elections process.
Where an individual has been nominated for, and elected to, more than one seat, they must choose their preferred Board or Committee. The seat on the Board or Committee not chosen will then be filled by the nominee with the next highest number of votes (if applicable) or re-advertised for election by GCCN.
Where an individual is currently a Representative on a Board or Committee and is then nominated for and elected to another seat, they must choose their preferred Board or Committee.

Where they prefer to continue in their current Representative role, the seat on the Board or Committee not chosen will then be filled by the nominee with the next highest number of votes (if applicable) or re-advertised for election by GCCN.
Where they want to take up the role on the new Board or Committee, they must resign from their current Representative role. The vacancy on that Board or Committee will then be advertised and filled by GCCN in the usual way.

Only in exceptional circumstances, and at the discretion of the Plenary, and on a temporary or interim basis, would an individual be allowed to sit on more than one Board or Committee.

Read all details in the PPN handbook in the “Nominations Process” section at page 44 and in the “Sample Nomination Form” at page 163.

Who can be a Representative (Additional criteria information)

Following the guidance provided in Departmental Circular CVSP 01/2014, the following criteria will apply in making a decision on who to nominate:

The track record of the nominee in working on the issue that is the focus for the representative forum. • The ability of the nominee to make an effective contribution.
The participation of people experiencing the problem/issue to be addressed at the representative forum.
Whether the problem/issue to be addressed at the forum is a ‘core issue’ for the PPN member.
As far as possible ensuring fair distribution of positions across geographical areas.
As far as possible ensuring gender balance.
A commitment from the person(s) to participate fully with the Linkage Group, including reporting back.

Read all details in the PPN handbook at page 40.

Commitments of GCCN Representative (Additional information)

Representing the views of GCCN on a Board or Committee is one of the most rewarding aspects of joining a PPN.
The role of GCCN Representative is an active and participative one which requires time and commitment. In summary representatives are required to:

Organize Linkage/Thematic Group meetings and ensure effective communication.
Use basic electronic communications (email, internet) or alternatives.
Prepare for and actively participate in meetings on behalf of the PPN, avoiding personal or political interests.
Collaborate with group members, respect diverse views, and work on research and proposals.
Convey the group’s opinions to the Board/Committee and provide clear feedback.
Attend relevant training and networking events.
Act with honesty and build positive relationships with stakeholders.
Represent the PPN in a constructive, positive way.

Read all details in the PPN handbook in the section “Role, Rights and Responsibilities of the Representative” at page 41.