Dave Thompson MSP

Dave Thompson, SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch today welcomed a Scottish Government initiative giving residents in Highland Council direct control over aspects of council budgets.

Highland Council is one of thirteen local authorities to benefit from a £500,000 funding boost designed to trial participatory budgeting – receiving an investment of £67,530.

The Scottish Government funding will be used to match-fund existing council commitments, provide support for participatory budgeting events, and support communities to engage with the process, evaluation and learning. This will help fund over fifty participatory budgeting projects across Scotland.

Mr Thompson said, “In these times of unprecedented political engagement in Scotland, participatory budgeting offers communities the chance to have a direct say in how councils spend their money.

“This funding will support initiatives to give people the opportunity to address the issues that are important to their communities.

“Participatory budgeting has been used in other countries and the impact can be transformational. I hope that this is the first step in empowering residents in the Highlands and supporting their engagement with local government and their local community”.

Notes:

Scottish Government news release on funding:

http://news.scotland.gov.uk/News/Councils-giving-more-power-to-people-2120.aspx

More information about participatory budgeting is available at: http://pbscotland.scot/

Local Authority    Total
Highlands         £67,530