Letting the people decide

摘要

Each year, Haringey LBC's Making the difference programme allocates ￡50,000 to each of the borough's seven local area assemblies, for one-off projects costing up to ￡10,000. Local people and groups put forward their ideas, proposals are discussed in detail at area assembly meetings where residents rank the bids, and funding is then agreed, in line with those preferences. Funding can be matched with other grants, and the council's neighbourhood management teams can help with other funding sources and applications, for unsuccessful as well as successful applications. The scheme has seen record numbers of bids coming in each year, proving its worth not only as a way for residents to exercise real control over spending in their area, but also as a means of encouraging local people's involvement in their community and partnership with the local authority. Schemes such as this also engender a new level of trust in the council.