Terms of Reference

• Area: Wider Youghal Area
• Membership: The Network membership is open to representatives of community organisations and individuals who are committed to active engagement in the Network and who have an interest in any of the following: Climate Change, Environment, Woodlands, Ecosystems, Coastal and Marine Life, Biodiversity and Conservation, Air and Water Quality, Energy and Waste reduction, Recycling, Up-cycling, Rivers, Circular and alternative socio-economic systems.
• Members can join by requesting membership of the Network. If the network meeting agrees, contact details must be provided and personal details will be added to the group.
• Members commit to monthly meetings (or as scheduled) on Weds from 8pm to 9pm. These are mostly on zoom and face to face meetings will take place also every few months.
• Attendance at Network meetings will be reviewed every six months. Non-attendance at meetings for three months consecutively without contact will end membership automatically.
• Community reps are expected to report back to their organisations, keeping them informed and involved in Youghal Blue and Green Community Network. Also opportunities for involvement of all members of all organisations should be promoted when available e.g. training/workshops/webinars.
• The ethos of Network will be one of co-operation, support for each other, respect, listening, sharing information and working with others to complete tasks.
• The Network will operate as a collective and will make decisions through discussion, debate and then ideally by consensus. (A majority voting system may be used if agreeable and votes must be over 70% to pass. Community reps will have three votes and individuals will have one). Any action to be undertaken must be agreed by the Network meeting.
• A quorum will be 5+1 members for any decision to be made.
• Youghal Blue and Green Community Network will be chaired by Maria Power, Cumann na Daoine for 2021/22.
• New Chair will be elected in March 2023.
• Maria Power (employee of Cumann na Daoine) will support the work of the Network by allocating two days a week to doing the work of the Network. This will include inviting agreed speakers to present, assisting with funding applications and updating members with regular information. (Maria will also support the Network to develop a work-plan and strategy over the coming year).
• Maria will provide quarterly written reports on the work of the Network to Cumann na Daoine, Cork County Council (funder) and Network members.
• Any financial matters and funding will be managed by the finance dept at Cumann na Daoine. A summary of accounts will be provided by the finance administrator on request and regularly if transactions increase. All funds at Cumann na Daoine are audited annually and these audits are available to view on the Companies Office and Cumann na Daoine website.
• Cumann na Daoine is a company limited by guarantee, is governed by a voluntary board of directors, is fully compliant with the Code of Governance and the Charities Regulator.
• Publicly available annual reports are also produced by Cumann na Daoine.

Key Roles 2021 – 2024

Chairperson of Network meetings: Dr Maria Power, Cumann na Daoine (and Network support 2 days per week).

Note taker at meetings and oversight of Finances: Julie O Shea.

Secretary: Teresa Ahearne (who will take and send out minutes of meetings)

Treasurer: Maureen Jackson (who will review the B&G CN account quarterly)

Communications/PR: Hayley Fox-Roberts (who will promote Network activities across platforms)