Survey results: PB and the Covid-19 recovery

We recently asked PB Scotland Network members their thoughts about how participatory budgeting (PB) has been affected by the coronavirus outbreak and what opportunities we might see as we move to the next phase of the recovery. 

From more than 60 responses to our survey, we’ve seen how Covid-19 responses have shifted staffing and resources usually focused on PB to meet the immediate and pressing need of local communities. But, crucially, we’ve also seen an appetite for using participatory budgeting to help us ‘build back better’ as we move into the next stage of recovering from this global crisis. 

You can read a summary of the responses below. We’ll be using this to help inform our work over coming months.

Results overview

Given the potential impact of COVID on our public resources does PB have a role in our recovery?

Yes: 46             No: 16              Not sure: 1

What are the key opportunities you see for PB as we move into recovery and beyond?

Respondents focused on the importance of communities continuing to be able participate and have their say about how money is allocated, in particular using PB to build on the local responses to Covid-19 as part of the wider recovery.

There was an emphasis on making sure public budgets are spent well and in the right places, with PB having a role in making that happen. A key issue for respondents in this section of the survey was how the facilitation of PB can be protected (staffing, events, dialogue sessions) in light of Covid-19.

What impact has the coronavirus outbreak had on running or planning PB processes in your local area?

Respondents generally reported that PB processes they’re involved in have been postponed or slowed down due the impact of Covid-19. The reasons for this varied between a lack of staffing capacity, with many organisations shifting to more immediate responses to the crisis, or an inability to engage fully with other groups, other public sector stakeholders or the wider public.

Where PB processes are continuing what methods are being used and how effective are they?

This question saw mixed responses, with some replying with ‘n/a’ or similar due their processes not continuing, while those who were still going ahead reported the use of digital tools (e.g. Zoom, email, phone) and having to try new ways to continue their work. We’ve seen examples of this already from North Ayrshire. 

Do you have any ideas about how we might continue to use PB under the current restrictions?

Respondents spoke about the importance of supporting PB to continue, along with the need to use other methods to engage people, especially using digital tools such as Facebook and Consul. There were concerns about this, however, with respondents mentioning the lack of digital access for some people. Responses highlighted the need for capacity building in this area, for staff and for communities.