Open Government action plan 2021 to 2025: commitment 5 – participation milestone progress
Milestones progress summary for Scotland's Open Government action plan participation commitment for 2021 to 2025.
Supporting participatory budgeting to take an Open Government approach
Milestone: monitoring the completion of local authorities delivery of 1% of budgets through participatory budgeting (PB) and supporting local authorities to develop new ways to measure the success of PB.
Timescales
From autumn 2021.
Where we started
Scottish Local Authorities and the Scottish Government agreed a framework whereby at least 1% of local government budgets will be subject to Participatory Budgeting.
The aim for this milestone was to establish a shared expectation that we use Participatory Budgeting to go beyond current arrangements for consultation and engagement.
Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic upon local government, people, and communities, Councils initially reported on spend in August 2021 instead of March 2021 as initially outlined.
Our original milestone was to monitor the completion of local authorities delivery of 1% of budgets through participatory budgeting.
What changed and why
This has remained a set of activities undertaken as planned. In July 2023 it was announced that local authorities had reached the milestone of the 1% mainstream PB target for the first time in the financial year 2021 to 2022. The 1% target was reached again in 2022 to 2023.
Where we are now
PB work continues at pace in local authorities and so we will continue to work with COSLA to support local authorities in their PB work, and monitoring the delivery of 1% of budgets being allocated through PB.
What activity this will involve
- supporting COSLA to progress actions around other ways to measure the success of PB
- the timeline to develop a paper to outline options available has been postponed until 2025 due to resource and capacity issues
- actions for this milestone can be expected to be defined following this
Milestone status
In progress, behind schedule.
Milestone: support the National Participatory Budgeting Strategic Group (NPBSG) as they provide the strategic direction for participatory budgeting (PB) across Scotland.
This includes raising awareness of the National PB Framework’s priorities and indicators for success, championing open government values and principles.
Milestone: support the expansion of the NPBSG remit and function.
Timescales
From September 2021.
Where we started
A Framework for the Future of Participatory Budgeting in Scotland was produced in July 2021.
The aim for this milestone was to implement the National Participatory Budgeting Strategic Group’s framework for the future of participatory budgeting and embedding open government principles.
The Framework established areas of priority where there is significant potential for a contribution from PB. These were education, health and wellbeing, housing and tackling climate change with our communities.
Four Short Life Task Groups were established to support priority recommendations from the National PB Framework, including raising an understanding of PB; evaluating and monitoring impact of PB; PB in climate justice; PB in Education.
What changed and why
This has remained a set of activities undertaken as planned.
In 2023, a discussion was held into the possible expansion of the remit of the group to have oversight of the wider participatory democracy agenda in Scotland, including PB. This would represent progression on aspects of the IPDD working group’s recommendations.
A workshop was held on the 14 June 2024 to discuss progressing this action and what the newly formed group’s remit and reporting instructions will include.
Where we are now
This has been placed on pause due to resource and capacity.
Milestone status
Delayed.
Milestone: embed Open Government principles in Green Participatory Budgeting
Timescales
From 2021.
Where we started
The Just Transition Fund (JTF) is a £500 million ten-year commitment that will support projects in the North East and Moray which contribute towards the region’s transition to net zero.
Initial milestones identified included:
- exploring the use of Participatory Budgeting in 2021 to 2022 as part of our wider support for community-led climate action
- identify opportunities at COP26 to develop the concept of Participatory Budgeting for climate action – both in Scotland and abroad – and identify opportunities to develop programmes specifically involving schools and young people
- work with local authorities to embed climate principles into wider participatory budgeting initiatives, building on the agreement between the Scottish Government and COSLA that at least 1% of council budgets will be subject to Participatory Budgeting by 2021 to 2022
What changed and why
This has remained a set of activities undertaken as planned.
Scottish Government has committed to continue supporting PB for Year 3 (2024 to 2025) of the Just Transition Fund based on demonstrated success and impact in Year 1 (2022 to 2023) and Year 2 (2023 to 2024).
Focus has been given to the delivery of the Just Transition fund and activity to advance green participatory budgeting.
Where we are now
As part of the Just Transition fund, work has been completed to engage with young people in the North East following COP 26, through setting aside monies for local youth PB projects.
Scottish Government is committed to continue to support COSLA to encourage green PB processes in local authorities as part of the 1% agreement.
What activity this will involve
Work continues to:
- explore the use of PB as part of our wider support for community-led climate action
- identify opportunities to support Green PB programmes across Scotland
- work with COSLA to support local authorities’ PB initiatives, including Green PB
Milestone status
In progress, on schedule.
Contact
Email: opengovernment@gov.scot