The new budget was launched this week and, as expected, cuts are called for in many areas. Also called for, although not in the budget as such,  is public engagement in issues related to the budget.

The Spending Challenge

In a novel approach, the government is turning to the public for ideas on how to save money. The Spending Challenge public engagement campaign started yesterday (June 24), asking civil servants and public sector workers ‘How can we rethink services to deliver more for less?’ Over 8,000 suggestions were received in the first day, showing the interest, engagement and creativity found in the community.

“Each idea is being reviewed by a cross-government team, and a team of ‘ideas champions’ will send the most promising suggestions to departments and Treasury spending teams to be worked up.”
(DirectGov website)

More answers can be submitted until July 8, not on a post-card but via ‘The Spending Challenge’ website.

Cutswatch

Another public engagement exercise related to the budget is Cutswatch, run by the Guardian and Observer newspapers. Rather than asking how to save, Cutswatch invites reports about how the cuts affect people and communities.

“…the ongoing story is how these decisions taken in Westminster will impact on local public services and the people who rely on them.”

Motives?

Is it is genuine interest in the power of the crowd and a will to engage that are bringing about these kinds of initiatives, or are they are implemented as a way to save money by getting the public to take over more and more, from budgeting to investigative journalism? Will the public motivation to contribute be exhausted or increase as we see more crowdsourcing opportunities? Much depends on what happens now – what is the effect of us embracing the budget challenge? Will we make a difference?