Leith Decides on the 27th of November
August 10, 2010 by Ally A unique experiment in local democracy is set to take place in Leith later this year, with the launch of the "Leith Decides," initiative that will see local residents vote directly on how more than £16,000 will be spent. So, you should mark the 27th of November in your diary now - as voting day will be really exciting.
The so-called 'participatory budgeting' initiative will be the first undertaken in the city, and is amongst the first few ever undertaken in Scotland. Although Leith is leading the way in Scotland, the idea is big in other parts of the UK - with around £23million allocated this way, mainly at a local level in England.
So, how does it work? The Leith Neighbourhood Partnership have allocated just over £16000 from their community grant fund to the project. Normally, the decisions about applications from community groups that apply to the fund are taken by the members of the Leith Neighbourhood Partnership.
Leith Decides turns that process on it's head, by giving all the residents of Leith the opportunity to vote on project proposals after seeing a series of 3 minute pitches given directly by the applicants. The video below, although it's a bit old, is from the participatory budgeting unit and it gives you a flavour of what you can expect.
Given our support for any initiative that helps to open up decision making, Greener Leith is right behind this initiative. We hope that everyone will attend the voting event that will be held on the 27th of November at Leith Academy at 1pm. Please do put that date in your diaries now!
Before the event though, community groups, residents groups, schools, sports clubs, and communtiy councils have the chance to submit an application for funding. The application form has been simplified and shortened in a bid to encourage a broad range of groups to apply, and so if you're a member of local group why not give it a go?
Your proposal must be for no more than £1000, it must benefit people in the Leith Neighbourhood Partnership area, and you must be able to complete it by April 2011. There's more information on what can be funded and the application documents below:
If you have an idea, but are not a member of a local organisation, don't worry, you can still get help to put in application from local community education staff. Contact Jackie Mearns or Martin Black, Community Learning and Development, Leith Community Education Centre, 12 Newkirkgate, Edinburgh, EH6 6AD. Telephone 0131 554 4750 or e-mail Jackie.mearns@edinburgh.gov.uk or Martin.Black@ea.edin.sch.uk.
What would you spend £1000 to improve Leith?
Over the coming months we hope to be able to provide more information on this blog on some of the proposals as they come in.
Reader Comments