Council staff, Helen Mackenzie, Gayle Findlay and David Macleod were congratulated by local government minister, Kevin Stewart (centre).
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, the Outer Hebrides Community Planning Partnership and
transport authority, Hi-
Using a participatory budgeting approach, the contracts for public transport services in Uist and Barra were opened up for more involvement from the community throughout the procurement process.
Local community councils, youth councils, bus users and members of the community were able to identify and vote on priorities and evaluate proposals received from bus operators so that contracts could be awarded.
Plenty of feedback has been received since the contracts were put in place and in Uist community councils, supported by Uist Council for Voluntary Service, are now taking an active role in engaging with people prior to the summer 2017 timetables being put in place.
Local Government minister, Kevin Stewart, congratulated the partners on the award.
Mr Stewart said: “It is extremely encouraging to see new projects which seek to use community choices budgeting to put people at heart of decision making for their communities.
“These contracts show what can be done using the procurement process as means of giving people real power over the services they receive.
Bus service consultation exercise wins award
10 December 2016