Uist and Barra Public Bus Redesign Project – Outer Hebrides

Quality of Life

Participatory procurement: generating higher satisfaction at lower cost

The Uist and Barra Public Bus Service Redesign Project has used innovative decision making methods to improve service outcomes for rural communities and reduce costs. By using a participatory budgeting methodology, the people in the Outer Hebrides islands of Uist and Barra have driven the design, procurement and ongoing contract management of their bus services. Four year contracts for these services started in 2016. Engaging early with people to understand their needs, an output specification and priorities were developed, approved by the communities, and used to frame the tendering process. The evaluation of tenders was carried out by community representatives including teenagers and older people. Community councils now lead the bi-annual contract and timetable review. Giving people real choices and decision making power over a service of significant value has paved the way for the use of a participatory budgeting approach in other areas. The council has approved a target of undertaking at least one procurement exercise each year using a participatory approach.