Secretary
of State for Communities Hazel Blears has set out a new draft strategy for consultation
to give people in every local authority area a greater say on how public money is
spent. The strategy explores, for the first time, the possibility of using ‘community
kitties’ for projects that are of particular importance to communities.
In a major
speech on empowering communities she called on local authorities, community
groups and the public to give their views on Whitehall plans to expand participatory
budgeting. These plans cover areas such as local policing, health and youth
services and could give people a greater say over the issues they care most about.
The strategy
explores ‘community kitties’ as a way of increasing participatory budgeting through
public meetings and votes to set local priorities and fund projects and services.
Hazel Blears
said: "Local people that use services day in day out know how they need to
be improved, whether tackling gangs and crime, giving young people places to
play or improving leisure activities and the local environment.
"But
community kitties don't just lead to better services, they give local people
the opportunity to influence the future of the place where they live, generate
civic pride and bring our communities together with a common purpose.
"This
new strategy shows how councils can make greater use of community kitties both
across the country and into the services people care about most so that every
local area can benefit from this opportunity by 2012. This consultation is
inviting views from councils and communities on how to achieve this."
For more information
on the draft strategy click here
