The City of Paris has been running the largest scale Participatory Budgeting process in Europe. As part of an international study visit to Paris in December 2016 by representatives of Glasgow and Fife Community Planning Partnerships, enabled by What Works Scotland, a report by "Atelier Parisien d’Urbanisme"(APUR) into the types of projects proposed in 2015… Read More
Neighbourhoods
The role of Participatory Budgeting in neighbourhoods
Oor Bit – Places and Spaces in Fife: The results are in!
THE results of Fife Council’s “Oor Bit” consultation are in. Over 1,400 people from the Cowdenbeath area have been voting on their favourite local projects as part of a bid to involve the community in deciding local spending priorities. And now 14 projects close to people’s hearts will be funded to the tune of £250,000…. Read More
Big Local Eastern Sheppey ‘You Decide’ Participatory Budgeting Event
On the 9th July 2016 the Big Local programme in East Sheppey ran a successful Participatory Budgeting event. The aims of the Eastern Sheppey Big Local You Decide event were more than simply to distribute Community Chest funding. By creating an event it was envisaged that Big Local would: Empower and build stronger communities Raise… Read More
Your say, your way in Luton funds £133,000 of community initiatives
Your Say, Your way is Luton Councils long running Participatory Budgeting initiative. It’s all about the council, police, Luton Clinical Commissioning Group, fire service and voluntary and community groups working together in a joined up, cost effective and supportive way to involve all citizens and respond to local issues by listening to your views. As… Read More
Rural transport community led commissioning featured as model of good practice
The Uist and Barra Public Bus Service Redesign project has used innovative methods to improve service outcomes for rural communities through procuring services in a new way. By using participatory budgeting methodology the community has had the opportunity to be fully involved in the design and procurement of their bus services. Together with the use… Read More
Small is beautiful: Buckfastleigh builds Participatory Budgeting from the ground up
In October 2016 Buckfastleigh Town Council held the first open deliberation in their Participatory Budgeting inspired process for engaging residents in the work of the Town Council. Often PB starts with a funding pot and a request for bids, which then go to a public vote. Yet too often these participatory grant making processes, which… Read More
Grant Making Through Participatory Budgeting: A ‘How To’ Guide.
Grant making through Participatory Budgeting: A ‘How To’ Guide for Community Led Organisations and community engagement workers. Launched in September 2016, this guide was written by PB Partners, at the request of the Scottish Government, to support the £2m Community Choices programme. Specifically written with community led organisations in mind but also useful for front… Read More
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
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