|
Ways of Working
- Terms of Reference
- Ways of Working
- Membership
Terms of Reference
REN is an independent network of environmental agencies, organisations
and groups in the South West Region. REN’s goal is to add real
value to efforts of those organisations, interests and individuals involved
in protecting and enhancing the environment of the South West - in the
context of sustainable development - by providing at a regional level:
- A shared voice for what is important about the environment in the
South West and why;
- A forum for development of a more common understanding of key regional
environmental issues and relevant initiatives, amongst member bodies
and with others;
- A forum to share intelligence, co-ordinate action and add weight to
the environment sector’s influence in support of the emerging
South West Region Environment Strategy and on other key regional organisations,
strategies and initiatives;
- An `informed customer’ role for the South West Observatory,
particularly the Environment Module, advising on its priorities and
work programme for monitoring, research, state of the environment and
other reporting and the exchange of information on environmental issues
and related activity;
- A forum from within which nomination and election of environmental
members for the Regional Assembly’s Social, Economic and Environmental
Partners (SEEPs) and other South West regional fora is managed, and
a facility to support communication between the these representatives
and the wider environment sector.
Ways of working
1. Full SW REN Meetings
REN full meetings normally consist of 4 meetings per year. Extraordinary
meetings are held if deemed necessary by Management Group. Meetings incorporate
a blend of formal and informal presentations and discussion sessions,
recognising the value gained from face-to face networking, and are chaired
by the overall Chair of REN or a nominated deputy.
List of meeting and other important dates
(including agendas and minutes)
2. SW REN Focus Groups
REN identifies (as need be) focus groups made of nominated and/or
interested REN members (sometimes with non-members invited) to facilitate
discussion and action outside of the full REN meetings, around key
issues, work areas and initiatives. REN does not seek to establish such
groups where the issues or initiatives are already being well addressed
from an environmental perspective by existing groups, networks or partnerships.
In such cases, the priority is to develop and clarify the links between
REN and these.
Go to focus groups.
3. SW REN Management Group
REN appoints, on an annual basis, a Management Group involving the
REN Chair, Secretariat and at least 4 others, with responsibility
for managing the affairs of REN in between full meetings. Membership
of this Group includes representation from at least one statutory agency,
one non-governmental organisation and the SEEPs. Efforts are made to
try and ensure a fair representation of key environmental issues/themes
on this Group. The Management Group will meet up to 6 times a year and
seeks to:
- Advise/provide a steer to the Chair and Secretariat on REN business
issues, work programme and priorities, external communications and
influence, meeting agendas and other proposed REN events;
- Actively seek views from REN membership to help do the above;
- Help determine, design and set up necessary REN Focus Groups, tracking
progress and performance of these groups as necessary and encouraging
reporting;
- Oversee any budgetary or related resource issues relating to REN
operation;
- Organise venues and speakers for meetings;
- Oversee and `sign-off’ formal communications from REN when
this is appropriate;
- Promote use of and oversee content of the REN webspace.
More details can be found here
4. SW REN Secretariat
Acting secretariat for 2007 / 2008 is Maisie Davies. Contact: maisie.davies@rspb.org.uk
or call (01392) 453772.
5. SW REN funding and resources
It is expected that expenses incurred through attending full REN, Focus
Group and Management Group meetings are covered by members’ representative
organisations.
It is proposed that REN members, who have access to meeting rooms
and related facilities, e.g. catering, will be content to provide these
free of charge.
Any resource requirements or issues are overseen, monitored and reported
on by the Management Group, seeking support from REN members or other
sources as appropriate.
Membership
Membership of SW REN is open to:
- Environmental agencies, organisations and groups in the Region operating
at a regional or sub-regional level and/or those of significant strategic
importance to the South West;
- Representatives of strategic agencies, organisations and groups which
may not explicitly be focused on the environment, but can contribute
to its protection and enhancement;
- Environmental representatives from the South West Regional Assembly
Social, Economic and Environmental Partners (the environmental SEEPs).
- Membership details, requests for membership and/or termination of
membership are registered with and maintained by the REN Secretariat.
Any issues regarding membership are considered by the REN Management
Group (see below), taking into account the views of the REN membership
at an appropriate meeting or otherwise.
The SW REN Chair is appointed annually.
Membership
|
