This article is an extract from the full story on the website of the Center for Urban Pegagogy in the USA and was published in 2012. How can someone who is too young to vote have a say in the future of their neighbourhood? What does civics really look like in action? In the spring… Read More
Themes
The central themes dealt with by Participatory Budgeting
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
Doing Democracy with Chicken Cutlets and Pearl Milk Tea in Taipei
The annual budget of the Taipei City Government is more than NTD 160 billion (£3.8b). City residents may not have a good understanding of how large this number is or how this budget is used. Providing such an understanding is key to promoting civic participation reports the About Taipai website. In Taipai they have 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
Third Force News reports political commitment to £100m for Participatory Budgeting
In a recent article, Third Force News, the ‘voice of the Scotland’s third sector’ reports a commitment from the SNP to extend the role of participatory budgeting(PB) to 1% of Glasgow City Council’s Budget if it takes control of the city in upcoming elections. In a city with a population of around 600,000, that is… Read More
Maybole residents turn up in force for PB
Maybole in South Ayrshire is the latest Scottish community to experience PB. And it was reported to be another full house. People from across North Carrick voted with their feet on how best to spend funding in their local community. South Ayrshire’s first ‘decision day’ was held in Maybole on Sat 7th May 2016 to… Read More
67,000 people vote in PB New York 2016
Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and the New York City Council announced the voting results and winning proposals of the 2015-2016 Participatory Budgeting cycle. During the voting period of March 26th through April 3rd, over 67,000 New Yorkers voted to allocate $38 million dollars for locally developed capital projects across 28 Council Districts in New York City…. Read More
Seattle’s $700,000 youth focussed Participatory Budgeting
Youth Voice, Youth Choice is a Participatory Budgeting (PB) process in which Seattle youth will democratically decide how to spend $700,000 of the City’s budget. This initiative began here in July 2015 when Seattle Mayor Murray and former Councilmember Nick Licata announced the launch of a citywide youth PB process. Youth Voice, Youth Choice is… 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
Aberdeen youth spend £100,000 to improve their lives
As recently reported in the Aberdeen evening express: "Thousands of pounds have been handed out to Aberdeen community groups after a Dragons’ Den-style event. Aberdeen City Council had allocated £100,000 as part of its participatory budgeting process to fund new youth projects and initiatives across the regeneration areas of the city." The PB Scotland website gives… Read More