Skerries starter for six
A Community Council PB Project based in Skerries to distribute £6,000, undertaken in March 2017.
The aims of the project were to:
- Build and maintain momentum in PB activity already being supported by PB Partners
- Increase the impact PB has to support community engagement
- Build on participatory democracy
- Help tackle inequality
Skerries Community Council worked in partnership with Shetland Islands Council to deliver this project. Priorities were identified from the Skerries Development Plan namely: Depopulation, Transport, Employment, Housing, Tourism, Health.
Skerries Community Council invited applications from local groups through the local advertising, word of mouth, email, local press and social media.
The PB event took place on Friday 3rd March 2017 and had good attendance out of a population of approximately 50 people with 35 people coming along to take part with 25 votes cast.
A total of 4 applications were received by the 16th December closing date and all 4 bids went forward to the public vote. Information on each project was produced to share with the community over the New Year period. Skerries Community Council opted that their PB event should have a “presentation” format where each group nominated someone to explain its idea. Each speaker was given 5 minutes to share their project idea and then be available to answer any questions from the voting public. There was a great deal of deliberation in the hall as people listened intently to each group in turn explain why they should get the votes.
After the presentations were delivered voting commenced. People completed voting slips and posted their votes in the ballot box provided. All votes were input onto a master voting sheet ensuring an accurate record was kept. Within 20 minutes the count had been completed and the results delivered to the Chairman of Skerries Community Council to announce the winners.
Following the announcement of results and presentation of cheques supper was served and the entertainment began. The band consisted of people from Unst and Cunningsburgh who had volunteered to play and the audience were delighted to stay and be entertained, using it as an opportunity meet up with friends and neighbours from the community.