Though not quite participatory budgeting, the RSA’s new Citizens Economic Council project is certainly inspired by it. In the prospectus for the Citizens Economic Council research was undertaken on PB in Porto Alegre, seen as the founding example of a worldwide phenomena. The RSA prospectus makes the case for why we need a better and… Read More
England
What's happening in Participatory Budgeting across England
Buckinghamshire’s Area Forums using PB
In Buckinghamshire, some Local Area Forums have held ‘community budgeting’ schemes over the past few years. These schemes have taken place in Aylesbury, Amersham and Wendover. To see the details of the projects that have benefited from this community budget money, view the previous years’ reports. Its unclear if the project is continuing in 2016…. Read More
Your Salix, Your Say: PB and Social Housing
Housing associations and social housing providers have been using PB for many years. This is just one example, from 2015, run by Salix Homes in Salford. Since it began five years ago, the initiative has channelled £157,000 into the local community and supported 75 local projects. If you lived on a Salix Homes estate or… Read More
SQW’s Evaluation of Participatory Budgeting in England 2011
In 2011, just as the New Labour sponsored English National Strategy for PB was winding down, the evaluation of the programme undertaken by SQW was published. Though its no longer readily available on UK government websites, unless you know where to look. Therefore a copy of the report "Communities in the Driving Seat" has been… Read More
Town famous for its "Flatpack Democracy" embraces Participatory Budgeting
FROME Town Council will be giving more power to the people next year when it brings in a participatory budgeting system, allowing local residents to vote on how to spend the council’s money. “Participatory Budgeting fundamentally re-thinks the council’s relationship with the people of the town,” said Mayor, councillor Toby Eliot. "We’re planning to allocate £30,000… Read More
Burtonwood residents have their say in Police Commissioner led PB
THE fate of a £20,000 cash post has been decided after the public was asked to have their say on where the money should be spent. Eleven projects will receive funding from the A Better Burtonwood Participatory Budgeting project in Warrington. The winners were announced by Cheshire’s police and crime commissioner John Dwyer. He said:… Read More
Would more citizen engagement would build trust with the police service?
The Economy Watch website has recently published a review of the role of Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs). In their report they highlight that too few PCC’s are embracing participation in budgets as a way to raise their profile. As the April 2016 report indicates in various passages: "Voters across 40 police force areas in… Read More
UCL Sustainability Team wins Award for Innovation with PB online platform
The Sustainability Team at University College London has received an award from UCL’s President and Provost Professor Michael Arthur for its innovative approach to academic collaboration and communicating the University’s carbon reduction challenge. Building on research from Deputy Director of the UCL Transport Institute Dr Tom Cohen, the Sustainability Team led the development of a… Read More
Public can vote online for favourite school project and spend £100,000
As reported in the Royal Borough Observer: "parents and supporters will be able to win funds for their favourite schools’ treasured projects under a new scheme being launched by the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead. The Schools Participatory Budgeting Scheme will see £100,000 made available each year, split across three terms. Schools can apply… Read More
Voice your Choice Scarborough… The results are in
A Voice Your Choice decision-making event was held in Scarborough on Wednesday 9 March 2016. The results are in! Residents in Scarborough came out in force to cast their votes at the sixth and final Voice Your Choice Decision-Making Event held on Wednesday 9 March 2016 at Scarborough Library. The theme for this year’s Voice… Read More
