The Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA)
THE CIVIC FORUM
5.8 The selection committees from the sub-sectoral groupings select / elect two people who are offered in order of merit as the panel's choice for nomination to the Civic Forum.
5.9 The Selection Committee will either (a) select the nominations following the criteria developed by the 4 RO's, together with additional criteria applicable to their panel or (b) follow an election system for choosing nominations. In the latter case the Selection Committee will call a meeting for all those registered on the panel who will form the electorate, with each group registered entitled to one vote. All candidates who have completed the application forms for civic forum membership will be invited to speak or, if they cannot attend the meeting, submit a short written piece on their candidature. The two nominations will be chosen by a PR-STV voting system.
5.10 The first choice of nomination from each sub-sectoral grouping will automatically go forward as a nomination, the second choice will go into the broader pool from which the remaining seven nominations will be selected in order to equality proof the overall nominations.
5.11 All nominees will be required to complete an equality monitoring form which will be used to equality proof the nominations and inform the final selection of seven nominations.
5.12 A core selection panel will be established to select the final seven nominations. The core selection panel will consist of the Chair (or a member) of each Panel Selection Committee, together with one representative from each of the 4 R.O.'s. (Any individuals who have been nominated for selection will be excluded from the Core Selection Panel).
5.13 The core selection panel, using the equality monitoring information requested from each nominee, will use the statutory equality duty categories and identified cross-cutting themes to equality proof the final selections. The pool from which the final seven nominations will be selected will consist of (a) nominations from individuals or groups who are not identified within the panel structure and (b) the 11 second choice nominations submitted by the 11 panels.
5.14 The remaining nominations will form a reserve pool in the event that a nominee to the Civic Forum stands down. Replacements from this pool will be selected by the 4 RO's, in consultation with the sub-sectoral panels, on the basis of equality proofing the overall balance of the nominees.
5.15 The 4 regional organisations will take final responsibility for ensuring that 18 nominations are submitted for the Civic Forum in the event that any part of this process is not completed.
5.16 The whole process will be reviewed, including an assessment of the effectiveness of the training and information aspects.
5.17 There are no Civic Forum nominations ring-fenced for any groups. The only route for groups or individuals, including the members of the 4 R.O.'s and sub-sectoral panels, to seek nomination is as described above.
6 COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE
The 4 Regional organisations will operate a complaints procedure ensuring that any complaints around the selection process are dealt with in a fair and timely manner. Complaints should in the first instance be sent to the panel concerned, if it involves the work of a panel. Final appeals will be to the 4 regional organisations. The complaints procedure will be overseen by individuals within the 4 RO's who have not been involved in the selection process.
(20 June 2000)
Disability Action, NICVA, Rural Community Network and Women's Resource and
Development Agency. |
