On June 2nd, 2016, at Brunel University in London there took place a full day of workshops and seminars entitled “Participatory Budgeting, Democratization and Open Government: State of the Art in Europe and the UK”, organized by the EMPATIA project in collaboration with UK Participatory Budgeting Network and hosted by Brunel University. Participatory Budgeting (PB)… Read More
News
Budgets in the public interest: PB Network at Brunel University, June 2016
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
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
Child-Participatory Budgeting: Good Practice Review
Plan International and the Centre for Children’s Rights at Queen’s University Belfast are conducting a global review of good practice for involving children and young people in participatory budgeting processes. This study includes an online survey and a small number of case studies in different countries and regions around the world. The study examines the… Read More
Scotland sets the pace, with a target of 1% of local government spending via PB
The SNP is setting the pace in Scottish politics and amongst the many pledges in its 2016 manifesto is a target of at least 1% of all local government spending being decided through ‘Community Choices’, the brand name of Scottish PB. Over the last year or two UK PB Network members has been excited to… Read More
Glasgow residents decide on over £200,000 across the city.
The Glasgow Evening Times reports a boost for local groups is helping to provide everything from inflatable gymnastics equipment to woodworking workshops. More than £200,000 went to fantastic projects across the city. Glasgow City Council and Glasgow Community Planning Partnership asked people in all 21 of the city’s Area Partnerships to put forward proposals for… 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