Just Transition Participatory Budgeting Fund: EIR release

Information requested

1. Why these agencies were chosen to deliver the fund and which other (if any) agencies were also considered to run the fund.

2. Why so many agencies are involved in running the fund.

3. Which of the agencies above were responsible for paying the participatory grants out.

4. The amount of money that has been given out through the participatory grant scheme in each year by each agency.

5. The amount of money that each of the six agencies received to run the fund in each of the years (not including the money for the participatory grants).

6. Why the above agencies are not all publishing (publicly available) financial accounts showing the money they have received. In particular the two agencies not registered as charities in Scotland.

7. What metric(s) is the Scottish Government using to measure value for money for the fund and its stewardship.

Response

1. Why these agencies were chosen to deliver the fund and which other (if any) agencies were also considered to run the fund.

The Scottish Government engaged widely with local, regional and national partners with expertise in participatory democracy, climate change and community empowerment. This helped to establish the parameters of the fund and process for delivery, including the governance. Individual meetings included: COSLA Participatory Budgeting (PB) team; Moray, Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire council PB leads; Third Sector Interface (TSI) leads; Scottish Community Development Centre (SCDC); Money For Moray (M4M) PB Community Group; and the North East Scotland’s Climate Action Network (NESCAN).

The Scottish Government also hosted a PB Workshop attended by 39 delegates. This helped to guide the allocation of the fund, recommending a series of local criteria to consider for successful applications. Delegates also co-produced a series of core principles that underpins their shared vision for the Just Transition (JT) PB fund, to include the importance of: participatory democracy; partnership approach; sustainability; and ensuring transparency throughout the PB process

From these discussions the five partner organisations were chosen as they hold the local knowledge, expertise and networks within their respective areas.

2. Why so many agencies are involved in running the fund.

Each region of the north east have a TSI to manage the capital fund, due to the wide geographical spread, this allows for an organisation with experience in each of the areas to provide region specific support. NESCAN provide climate knowledge and support in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire and Money

4 Moray provide support on PB processes in Moray. SCDC provide expertise knowledge of PB to support all partner organisations through learning and development.

3. Which of the agencies above were responsible for paying the participatory grants out.

The TSI’s currently have management of the capital fund for each of the regions.

• Aberdeenshire Voluntary Action (AVA) have responsibility for Aberdeenshire
• Aberdeen Council of Voluntary Organisations (ACVO) have responsibility for Aberdeen City
• tsiMoray have responsibility for Moray

4. The amount of money that has been given out through the participatory grant scheme in each year by each agency.

The table below shows the amount of capital fund each organisation has distributed in the two years of the Just Transition Participatory Budgeting Fund.

Organisation	2022/23	2023/24
AVA TSI	£333,333	£500,000
ACVO TSI	£333,333	£500,000
tsiMoray	£333,333	£500,000
Total:	£1,000,000	£1,500,000

5. The amount of money that each of the six agencies received to run the fund in each of the years (not including the money for the participatory grants).

The table below shows how much each of the organisations received in revenue funding to run the PB process.

Organisation	2022/23	2023/24
AVA TSI	£50,000	£66,635
ACVO TSI	£50,000	£38,833
tsiMoray	£50,000	£38,833
NESCAN Hub	£50,000	£39,930
Money 4 Moray	£10,290	£9,200
Total:	£210,290	£193,431

AVA, ACVO and tsiMoray each received £33,333 to distribute to community organisations to build capacity. SCDC did not receive funding from the Just Transition PB Fund. SCDC is funded as part of the Scottish Government’s national PB Support Programme funded by the Investing in Communities Fund.

6. Why the above agencies are not all publishing (publicly available) financial accounts showing the money they have received. In particular the two agencies not registered as charities in Scotland.

The Scottish Government does not hold that information on the publication of accounts. You will need to contact each of the organisations directly.

In reference to the two organisations not registered as charities; NESCAN Hub is a community interest company, currently in the process of becoming a registered charity. More information can be found here. Money 4 Moray is a volunteer group of community councils set up for the sole purpose of delivering PB.

7. What metric(s) is the Scottish Government using to measure value for money for the fund and its stewardship.

As part of the grant agreement, the Scottish Government works closely with partner organisations and carries out mid and end of year reviews to evaluate the Just Transition Participatory Budgeting (JTPB) Fund. Partners are also required to provide end of year reports.

We will also undertake an evaluation of phase one of the Just Transition Fund, including the JTPB Fund, in the 2024-25 financial year, aiming to commence the next phase in the following financial year.

About FOI

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