Local Government
20
Large Cities
0
Capital Cities
0
Regional or State Governments
0
National Government
0
Other Institutions
13
Local Government
20
Large Cities
0
Capital Cities
0
Regional or State Governments
0
National Government
0
Other Institutions
13
Community
Capital
Edinburgh
Population
5 425 000
Language
English
Currency
Pound Sterling
Indexes
Democracy
14
Full Democracy
Democracy
Democracy
14
Full Democracy
Democracy
Corruption Perception
12/180
Low
Corruption Perception
Corruption Perception
12/180
Low
Corruption Perception
Human Development
15
Very High
Human Development
Human Development
15
Very High
Human Development
World Happiness
13/153
Very High
World Happiness
World Happiness
13/153
Very High
World Happiness
Global Peace
45
High
Global Peace
Global Peace
45
High
Global Peace
Global Terrorism
28
Medium
Global Terrorism
Global Terrorism
28
Medium
Global Terrorism
Legislação sobre Orçamentos Participativos
There is no legal requirement for the national or local government in Scotland to implement PB but there is a ‘commitment’ for all local authorities to disburse 1% of their budget (minus revenue collected through council tax) via PB by 2021. This date may be extended as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic.
PB is still relatively new in Scotland and continues to be developed alongside other legislative measures to improve and extend local democracy contained within the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act. Part 3 of the Community Empowerment Act 2015 enables communities to request to participate in decisions and processes which are aimed at improving outcomes and in some instances,the legislation has been used to request a PB process.
Impacts of COVID-19 Disease on PB
- PB have been suspended: 10%
- PB continued to function normally: 0
- PB have undergone changes/adaptations: 90%
Main Trends of PB in the Country During the Pandemic
Since 2018 Scottish local authorities have committed to allocating at least 1% of mainstream council budgets through PB activity by 2021. Whilst progress towards this target has been delayed owing to the pandemic, much of the PB activity across councils in the 2019/20 year focused upon integrating Participatory Budgeting approaches across council services e.g., grounds maintenance, roads, transport or community libraries. Many councils reported that there is a strong ongoing commitment to ensure Participatory Budgeting processes are embedded as Scotland responds to the COVID-19 and acknowledge that the focus of mainstream PB projects going forward will prioritize social recovery and renewal. Community led PB activity has also paused but will recommence once restrictions are lifted.
Additional Information
Between April 2019 - March 2020 Scottish local authorities completed 20 PB processes. PB projects carried out throughout the 19/20 period ranged from projects focused upon geographic regions e.g., villages, towns or electoral wards, to those which intended to address local community priorities identified via local outcome improvement and community plans. It should be noted that of the 20 completed PB processes, several were conducted across multiple wards based on thematic issues e.g., in Stirling Council the Participatory Budgeting process was conducted across 7 wards, with £100,000 devolved for decision making in each ward.
PB projects focused upon supporting geographic communities often involved community councils as community stakeholders and were informed by local outcome improvement and/or community plans. Projects focused upon thematic issues were also frequently defined by geographic regions. In working towards the Mainstreaming Participatory Budgeting Agreement some councils reported using Participatory Budgeting activity to integrate community involvement in reform of public services. Areas of service delivery which utilized PB included: grounds maintenance, infrastructure, environmental services, community facilities and libraries, youth services and alcohol and drug services. Within these processes’ deliberation and coproduction of project ideas was taken forward through joint working between local authority officers and community members via strategic planning and working groups.
Thematic issues participatory budgeting projects across Scottish local government during 2019/20 included: Healthy living, Food poverty, Climate change and sustainability, Local Heritage, Social isolation and loneliness, Poverty, Skills and capacity building, Tackling inequalities, Mental health and wellbeing.
