For the fourth year in a row numerous local projects have been funded in Edinburgh through the Leith Decides Participatory Budgeting programme. Over 1000 people participated through multiple channels, including postal voting, using local libraries as voting stations as well as at the decision day event. Just under £23,000 was in the pot, with local… Read More
Neighbourhoods
The role of Participatory Budgeting in neighbourhoods
Municipal Journal features Durham Participatory Budgeting
Municipal Journal featured Durham County Council’s exciting work on Participatory Budgeting in its February 20th 2014 issue, highlighting the 19,000 residents who have directly participated in deciding on how to spend over £1.5m on local projects. Since its first PB event in March 2011 the council has hosted 40 events across it’s 14 Area Action… Read More
Participatory Budgeting "thriving" in Trafford
Conservative run Trafford Council have been running Participatory Budgeting small grant programmes for a number of years in a variety of settings. Cllr Karen Barclay, chairman of the South Locality Partnership, commenting in the Trafford Messenger said: “We are really excited about this opportunity to support the voluntary work in south Trafford…the South Locality Partnership… Read More
Otley Town Council uses Precept to run Participatory Budgeting
Otley residents were invited to submit project ideas for the town and help spend £10,000 during June 2013, with voting on the results in September 2013. This forms part of Otley Town Council’s drive towards local decision making and the introduction of participatory budgeting. Key to Voice Your Choice is that Otley residents participate in… Read More
Edinburgh positive about the impact of Participatory Budgeting
In a recent report on a range of Participatory Budgeting initiatives Edinburgh City Council recognises the positive impacts in terms of public approval for opportunities to have a say over budgets. Examining programmes like the award winning Leith Decides encouraged the council to continue to develop the approach, and it is trying PB in a… Read More
Windsor and Maidenhead’s online Participatory Budgeting
The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead runs an annual online public vote on projects that benefit the community. Voting in the latest round will close at 5pm on Monday 10 February 2014. Up to £50,000 has been allocated to help fund these local projects. Local groups can bid for up to £2,000 to support… Read More
Massive turnout for Durham PB events
Durham County Council has been leading on innovations in local authority wide PB, and this year have seen their efforts pay off with record breaking attendance, with 11,000 residents participating at their already popular local events. Not only in developing citizen led decision making on small grants, but linking this to wider budget consultation exercises…. Read More
Diocese of Lichfield PB Day, June 2013
Steph Clerke produced this blog based on her involvement with the Bishop of Lichfield’s PB programme in June 2013. Below are some exceprts from her blog. PB Partners provided advice to the Diocese to make the event a great success. "Today I went with Kate Goodall over to Stafford to the Diocese of Lichfield Participatory… Read More
Communities in the driving seat… Oldham Big Local tries PB
Around 250 residents of Oldham attended It’s Up2us on the 30th November 2013. Oldham Big Local is one of a number of newly emerging community led PB programmes. They recently made £15,000 available to local residents in three neighbourhoods to spend on projects to improve their local communities. They named their programme "It’s Up2us!" Following… Read More
Burscough Parish Council PB, 2013
"Two children’s projects are to get a cash handout from Burscough Parish Council. The Parish Council, at their annual assembly meeting, allowed the public to decide how £10,000 in funding should be spent through Participatory Budgeting. Over 100 people turned out to vote for the two community projects to keep children active during the summer"… Read More