The PB Network has commissioned a guide to Participatory Budgeting in the UK. Funded by donations from consultancy work done by PB Partners, and written by leading experts on PB in the UK. Our 20 page A5 booklet and online PDF covers all the basic information you need to understand how PB contributes towards the… Read More
Documents
Downloadable reports, briefings and research papers
Democracy has become the political version of kale, almost everyone says its good, but few want to eat it
In a new blog entitled ‘let them eat kale’ by Peter Bryant, PB Partners associate and head of community engagement at Our Life, he argues that DevoManc is an excellent opportunity to practise devolved democracy. In a memorable quote by Josh Lerner, director of the North American PB Project: "democracy has become the political version… Read More
Another City is possible! Alternatives to the city as a commodity.
Yves Cabannes and Cecilia Delgado published Another City is possible! Alternatives to the city as a commodity. Their central argument is that "PB is the practice that connects best with other alternatives to radically transform the way cities are ill produced and achieve systemic changes. PB seems the most promising avenue that leads to “another… Read More
Contribution of Participatory Budgeting to provision and management of basic services: Municipal practices and evidence from the field
A report from Participatory Budgeting expert Yves Cabannes, emeritus professor of Urban Planning at University College London, explores the contribution made by PB to the service provision of cities and local authorities. Published by the International Institute of Environment and Development, the reports abstract says: "Over 1,700 local governments in more than 40 countries are… Read More
Improvement Service publishes briefing on participatory budgeting for elected members
With editorial support from PB Partners a new resource for elected members on the opportunities brought by participatory budgeting(PB) has been published by the Scotland based Improvement Service. The Improvement Service (IS) developed an Elected Members Briefing Series to help elected members keep pace with key issues affecting local government. New ideas for more develoved commissioning… Read More
Due North Health Equity report recommends more participatory budgeting
Due North: The report of the Inquiry on Health Equity for the North, published last year, makes a number of important recommendations for reducing health inequalities base don expert witnesses and background research. The Inquiry was commissioned by Public Health England (PHE) and led by an independent panel of leading academics, policy makers and practitioners…. Read More
Online tools for Participatory Democracy
Nesta is a respected champion of innovation, new technology and online collaboration. As part of its series of ‘Tech4labs’ briefings it presents a helpful description of the differences between representative, direct and participatory democracy. As well as a review of a number of online platforms and tools for stimulating online deliberation, decision making and networking…. Read More
Participatory Budgeting Improves Public Service Delivery
A report by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDP) provides a systematic overview of many international experiences of Participatory Budgeting (PB). While it is similar to many academic and governmental reports in that it qualifies its findings overall it concludes that PB does improve decentralized public service delivery. Put simply … involving citizens in deciding on… Read More
Everyone Counts: could Participatory Budgeting change democracy?
A new book by Josh Lerner, executive director the the North American Participatory Budgeting Project is the result of winning a new USA democracy award, coordinated by the Penn State Institute for Democracy. The Laurence and Lynne Brown Democracy Medal recognizes outstanding individuals, groups, and organizations that produce exceptional innovations to further democracy in the… Read More
How budgets should help realise human rights
Governments’ budgets are fundamentally about people’s human rights. They are the central means by which governments provide people with access to quality education, decent health care services, a safe working environment, potable water, and goods and services essential for lives with dignity. Article 2 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights sets… Read More
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