Participatory Budgeting 2019/20

Delivering a budget that balances the needs of an entire community, provides quality services and keeps rates as low as possible is the biggest challenge we face as a Council.

In an effort to gain a better understanding of the services our community value, this year Bayswater Council voted to adopt a participatory budgeting approach. As part of the process, the community were given an opportunity to provide input into the City’s entire operating budget.

By embracing participatory budgeting, we have stepped out of our comfort zone. In fact, we are the first metropolitan Council in WA to embark on this journey. We would like you to know that our efforts to include you in the decision making process are genuine.

To find out more, visit the City’s engagement portal at engage.bayswater.wa.gov.au and download the Participatory Budgeting explained brochure. You will also find links to the City’s draft Budget 2019/20 and a full report of the recommendations made by the community panel.

On 2 July a meeting will be held at the Civic Centre to adopt the City’s annual budget. A meeting agenda will be available on the City’s website prior to the meeting.

Andrew Brien

Chief Executive Officer

Community representatives handed a final recommendation report to Council on Saturday 16 March, concluding their deliberations on the 2019/20 Operating Budget. The panel of more than 30 randomly selected City of Bayswater residents represented their community in the most comprehensive participatory budgeting project ever run by a metropolitan council.

City of Bayswater Mayor Dan Bull thanked the panel for their commitment.

"This is the first time we, or any metropolitan council, have laid out the entire operating budget for the community to view and recommend changes.

"Panellists worked tirelessly over three in-depth workshops. They heard from City staff, analysed a huge amount of data, and took part in a robust discussion about how they think services should be prioritised.

"We're fortunate to have proactive residents who are keen to step forward and represent their community."

The City's Participatory Budgeting process started in November 2018 with an Online Budget Allocator Tool. Residents were invited to prioritise spend across the City's service areas, and balance the cost implications of each decision. The tool was available on the City's Engage Bayswater portal until the end of January. A panel of randomly selected community representatives was then formed to deliberate on the budget in more detail.

"Delivering a budget that provides great outcomes for the community while keeping rates as low as possible is the biggest challenge Councils face. It's a balancing act that takes months of planning and deliberation to get right.

"This year, we're armed with a deeper understanding of community priorities as we plan the draft 2019/20 Budget."

Thank you to everyone who completed the Budget Allocator tool as part of the first stage of the PB project. The results from the 250 submissions can now be viewed in the Budget Allocator Report.

This report was provided to the Community Panel to inform their deliberations regarding the operating budget, as well as being provided to Council.

Congratulations to Hitesh from Bayswater who won the $250 shopping voucher for participating in the Budget Allocator tool.

The Community Panel, comprised of a randomly selected sample of residents from across the City of Bayswater, have completed their first weekend of workshops. The group heard from City staff, analysed a huge amount of data and completed the first draft of their recommendations for the 2019/20 operating budget.

Over the next month, the panellists will continue to deliberate online and refine their recommendations, which will be presented to Council at the panel's final session in mid-March.

Thank you to all who contributed to the Budget Allocator tool. Results will be released shortly.