Moreland Environmental Committee

Moreland Environmental Committee

Terms of Reference

Type of Committee / Citizen Committee
Purpose and Scope / The purpose of all Citizen Committees is to inform Council decisionmaking by:
­  Providing formal pathways for community input;
­  Providing regular, formal feedback to Council; and
­  Facilitating formal networks and communication between Council and selected stakeholders.
Committees are one way Council engages with community to obtain local input, expertise and participation to inform planning and decision making.
Further to this, the purpose of the Moreland Environmental Committee is to:
­  Provide a forum for high-level aspects of environmental sustainability;
­  Respond to Council initiated issues with advice, feedback and recommendations;
­  Bring up issues of community concern that the Committee feels Council should know about or take a role in;
­  Provide advice and comment on frameworks and priorities for the implementation of sustainable development strategies and programs by Moreland City Council;
­  Share information and provide advice to Council on Council and community activities relating to sustainable development, identifying opportunities for ongoing sustainable development programs and projects;
­  Promote community awareness and support for opportunities and actions required to achieve sustainable development in the Moreland community;
­  Assist Council to engage the local community, organisations, stakeholders and networks in sustainable development projects and initiatives; and
­  Advise Council on processes, structures and programs that should be implemented to further sustainable development in the community.
Membership / Membership of the committee shall include 12 people who live, work and/or study in Moreland, and citizens from different geographic locations from Moreland who have affiliation with Sustainability. Membership is composed of 5 community group / industry members from the Moreland Energy Foundation, CERES, Climate Action Moreland, Melbourne Water and the Merri Creek Management Committee and 7 citizens who have work or volunteer experience in the environmental sustainability area.
Committee members should have an interest in and willingness to contribute to Moreland’s environmental sustainability.
All members will be required to adopt these Terms of Reference.
All members will be inducted into their roles and responsibilities.
If a Community member resigns within their term, the Committee shall recommend a suitably qualified nominee as replacement, subject to Council approval.
Roles, Responsibilities and Accountabilities / The Committee is accountable to Moreland City Council whose role is to support the Committee.
Members:
Role: Strategic advisory
Accountability: To the Convenor and Chair
Convener – ESD Unit Manager:
The Convener provides a co-ordination role for the Committee including setting the agenda, communication between Council and committee members on Committee business, scheduling, minutes and reports, Councillor briefings.
The Convener manages the Committee’s effectiveness including introducing relevant information and opportunities, Committee induction and dispute resolution process.
Councillors:
Cr Responsible For Sustainability, Transport, Climate Change and Water chairs the Committee, ensuring meetings are fair and effective.
Councillor participation is to objectively hear and understand community views and to work with the Convener to bring Committee views and recommendations to Council to inform decision making. Councillors may also bring Council’s decisions to the Committee.
Reporting requirements / Minutes will be taken by the Unit Manager, ESD and are distributed to members (within two weeks of the meeting) and lodged with Council.
Assembly of Councillors filed within one business day.
Input, feedback and recommendations from Citizen Committees will inform reports to Council in order to inform Council planning and decision making.
Meetings / Meetings will be held quarterly at the Coburg Civic Centre, on an evening between 6pm and 8pm. Date, time and location of meetings will be scheduled in advance and agendas circulated at least one week prior to each meeting.
Where members are unable to attend a meeting, an apology should be forwarded to Convener prior to the meeting.
The Committee may call special meetings or set up working groups to progress plans between meetings.
Timeline for involvement / Membership is for a term of two years at which time positions will be re-advertised. Existing members can re-apply to continue with the group. A maximum of 4 years per member applies.
Relevant information and references / The Moreland Environment Committee advises and assists Moreland City Council in developing and monitoring policies, programs and projects designed to address environmentally sustainability in the municipality.
Approval date
Next review date

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SELECTION CRITERIA AND PROCESS FOR APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS TO THE

Moreland Environment Committee

Purpose

The Moreland Environmental Committee provides advice on sustainability policies and strategies. Committee members will bring industry knowledge and provide input to Council on opportunities for ongoing sustainable development programs and projects and assist Council to engage the local community, organisations, stakeholders and networks in sustainability projects and initiatives.

Membership

Membership of the committee shall include 12 people who live, work and/or study in Moreland, and who have affiliation with Sustainability. Membership is composed of:

·  1 representative from the Moreland Energy Foundation Ltd;

·  1 representative from CERES;

·  1 representative from Climate Action Moreland;

·  1 representative from the Merri Creek Management Committee;

·  1 representative from Melbourne Water; and

·  7 citizens who have work experience in the sustainability area.

Term

2 year term, can re-apply. The maximum term is 4 years.

Selection Criteria

·  Experience with environmental issues; including any practical experience and involvement.

·  Experience or roles (current or previous) working with groups related to the environment.

·  Able to represent the views of a particular community group or sector of the Moreland Community.

·  Able to communicate with Moreland networks and community groups to share knowledge and promote sustainability in Moreland more broadly.

Application Process

Applicants should fill in the application form required and submit is by the due date.

Selection Process

Expressions of Interest will be invited and applications will be considered by the Manager Governance and Convenor. Recommendations will be provided to Council for final decision at which time all candidates will be advised of the outcome.

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