Christmas lights and other projects could benefit from 2019 Budget

Friday 12 October 2018

Participatory budgeting could come to Guernsey with the public given a say on how the States spend a small portion of our money.

A one million pound trial will be set up next year, if the States agree, with the Policy and Resources Committee given delegated authority.

Participatory Budgeting is a democratic process in which community members directly decide how to spend part of a public budget.

Deputy Gavin St Pier said it's something the people behind the budget decided to look at last year and they've decided to go ahead with it this year "with a small allocation of one million pounds into a fund for that."

The plan would be to work with a third sector organisation which would help oversee how the money is spent.

"It's about capturing the ideas from the community, the things the community think are really important and that should be supported, and in ways that wouldn't otherwise be possible," Deputy St Pier said.

"Hence the term participatory, it's giving the community participation in making decisions, rather than just government making decisions but actually finding a mechanism to involve community participation in that process.

"A good example of something that might be pitched as an idea that might be supported in that way, could be something like the Christmas lights in town, which constantly...there is a struggle to fund those sorts of projects, and there's a constant question of whether government should play a role.

"Now, actually, this is something that might be suitable for the community to be making that sort of decision, and whether they think it's a good idea or not that we use public money to support that kind of thing."

Pictured: The St Peter Port Christmas lights - but who should pay for them?

Jax Robin, who is Chair of the St Peter Port Christmas Lights Charity, has spearheaded the fundraising for the lights over the last few years - helping raise money herself while co-ordinating wider efforts.

She said it was "very interesting and positive news" to hear the lights could in future be funded in this way by the States.

"Naturally I would like to see the Christmas Lights put forward as a recipient and I do think that the lights and other projects would be better off under this type of budgeting compared to their current funding arrangements."

Mrs Robin said; "it sounds like the idea would work similar to the Lottery funding grants, you'd apply and then your application would be considered by a panel who would allocate funds according to lucky recipients. 

"I feel this would be seen in a very favourable way by the community of Guernsey, both business and private, as they feel that the States of Guernsey should be supporting endeavours such as ours to show that they understand the need for things like the Christmas Lights to keep our town alive and thriving and for the well being of the people.

"Without Christmas Lights in our town, Guernsey will be a very sorry place to be at Christmas."

Pictured: Mrs Robin, centre, during a recent fund-raising campaign. 

Mrs Robin is already scheduled to meet Deputy St Pier to discuss participatory budgeting but she had a few concerns ahead of that appointment.

She warned, "there is a risk that Government could put too many things as 'participatory' - wants instead of needs. For example would it be the intention to include regular support for the Arts and Sports and special events such as the Island Games and the recent Victor Hugo celebrations."

Mrs Robin said she would insist the Christmas Lights are much more than a 'want' or a 'would like' as they are "vitally needed to keep our town vibrant and there is a need to support the retail and economic activity of town."

Pictured top: One million pounds could be set aside for participatory budgeting.