Plenary Meetings

Plenary meetings are like Annual General Meetings (AGMs) for Public Participation Networks. Plenary meetings happen at least twice a year. They are an opportunity for PPN member groups to meet, network and have a say on the work of the PPN.

What happens at a Plenary meeting?

Plenary meetings are an opportunity for all members of DLR PPN to meet, share ideas and exchange information.
At the Plenary members are updated on what the PPN has been doing over the past 6 months and what it aims to achieve in the future.
Members have an opportunity to input into DLR PPN policies, strategies, work plans, priorities and direction.
There can be presentations and talks from PPN members or other organisations.
The Plenary meeting is also an opportunity for members to find out about issues and activities relating to the community and voluntary, social inclusion and environmental sphere of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown.

How can members have an input at these meetings?

By voting on the approval of policies or plans for how the PPN is run, such as the PPN’s annual workplan.
By proposing motions – formal proposals relating to the governance, operation, structure or direction of the PPN that seeks to improve its effectiveness. For example a member group might propose that the PPN adopts the Sustainable Development Goals as a guiding principal for it’s work. PPN members would vote whether to approve this action at the Plenary.
The election of members of the Secretariat (steering group) can happen during a Plenary.
Usually there is an opportunity to ask questions following presentations or information updates.
Consultative workshops are sometimes run at Plenary meetings when the Secretariat needs members’ input on a piece of work.

Motions

At Plenary meetings DLR PPN members can propose motions. A motion is a proposal to change something about how the PPN is run or what it does in order to make it better. At the Plenary PPN members vote for whether the motion should be passed or not. A motion can relate to the governance, activities, structure or strategy of the PPN, or anything that seeks to improve its effectiveness.

Examples of a motion:

“That the DLR PPN Ezine also includes links to any new reports from PPN Reps relating to their work on committees.”

“That the minutes of the Secretariat meeting are hosted on the PPN Website and that notification of same is circulated to all PPN Members. This allows for members to have sight of the work and decision making processes of the Secretariat as the elected administrative body of the PPN.”

You can propose a motion using the online form or download the form