Small steps towards citizen say in council budget planning

Joint commitment to 1% participatory budgeting target

People across Scotland are to have a say in how  £100 million of council funds will be used in their communities. Council leaders have agreed that at least 1% of local government budgets will be subject to participatory budgeting by the end of 2021, giving communities more influence than ever to make decisions on how  funding is spent in their localities. 

Local Government Minister Kevin Stewart said: ““This is a clear way of bringing democracy to local communities by giving people a direct voice in spending decisions. Through the Community Choices Fund, the Scottish Government has already invested £4.7 million in participatory budgeting activity by supporting public authorities and communities across Scotland.  Last year, the fund helped over 39,000 people to have a say on spending in their local area.

“We want to see a Scotland in which everyone can play a full part in society and every community has different challenges and opportunities, which is why it is fantastic news at least 1% of local authority budgets will be subject to community choices budgeting.

“Local authorities are to be congratulated on taking democracy closer to the people and we will continue to work with them, communities and all sectors across Scotland to make community choice budgeting a success.”

The framework for the operation of the fund has been produced by the Scottish Government and COSLA.  Local authorities will decide how to take forward the work to reach the target.

COSLA spokesperson for Community Wellbeing, Councillor Kelly Parry, said: “This framework will hopefully see Scotland’s Councils building on strong examples of participatory democracy.  I am looking forward to a growth in the number of cases where local people express their needs and preferences and engage in decision making that will improve their lives.  COSLA is committed to ensuring local democracy is strengthened.

“The Commission for Strengthening Local Democracy, stated that we see participatory budgeting as becoming ‘the standard by which [participation in decision making] is delivered in Scotland’.  If we are to achieve this and build trust we must see our public sector partners, including the Scottish Government, being engaged in using the process as part of the way we work.”