1 Local Information Systems: Their role and benefits Birmingham 20 th Sept Paul Foley

2 1.Introduction: What are they? 2.Four key themes from the CLG study:- a. The role of information in policymaking b. Contribute to three key strands of the Local Government White Paper 2006 c. Vital in supplementing national data sets with up- to-date local intelligence d. Enhancing policy design and delivery activities and cultures 3.System Characteristics 4.Tips for Success and networking 5.Case Studies 6.Recommendations Overview

3 What are they? 69 systems meet the definition (below) for a fully functional local information system. This is 18 per cent of the 388 UK Local authorities. 183 authorities are served by a system. A computerised, automated or manual information system organised and/or accessed by a local authority alone or in partnership that systematically collects, processes, stores, displays, transmits and disseminates topical local or sub- regional information about individuals, household, businesses or geographical areas for strategic and operational regeneration, renewal or social inclusion activities. We analysed all and interviewed per cent of the English population

4 The role of information Some local authorities have developed sophisticated local information systems to collate and analyse data about their area and citizens. This can be a powerful tool for targeting activity and improving decision-making. We will look to support work in this area Local Government White Paper para 6.27

5 Assisting and assisted by White Paper goals The 2006 Local Government White Paper highlighted the important role that local information systems can play in improving decision making and targeting service delivery (paragraph 6.27).  Systems assist policies promoting empowerment and devolution and the establishment of goals or targets by local authorities or communities for their own neighbourhoods (para 6.40).  Local information collection and utilisation is vital if preventative work and early intervention for the most disadvantaged groups suffering from ‘multiple disadvantages’ is to be undertaken successfully (para 6.15).  Strengthening bottom up accountability to achieve a new central-local relationship, which enables people to hold local services to account, will only be possible if communities and citizens have easy access to local information at relevant local neighbourhood geographies (para 2.22).

6 Policy design and development process

7 Policy design and information Strategy designA broad range of up-to-date information is required at fine geographical detail to enable policymakers and citizens to better understand baselines and trends in neighbourhoods. Operations and delivery Individual and/or household information is required by service providers to enable them to ‘join-up’ and enhance services or better target those in need. Evaluation and performance monitoring Robust data collected in a consistent way to enable comparison over time is essential to ensure accountability. Data usually concerns or is derived from outputs of service delivery.

8 179 Variables Central government departments and their agencies collectively demand 566 performance measures from local authorities. Department for Communities and Local Government, July 2006

9 Key Data Sources (Appx 3)

10 Data to supplement government sources Variables by Topic System variabls Solely from C Govt Business Crime 16 1 Education and Skills Employment Environment and other 15 5 Health Housing and homelessness 20 9 Population 11 9 Total Only 45 of the 84 govt sources have information at ward level or finer. 21 of these were collected as part of the 2001 Census. Only 13 variables from government agencies provide information for 2005 or 2006 at a fine level of detail.

11 System Characteristics /communities/localinformationsystems

12 System development chronology  Long development period, on average one year and four months  Early Millennium catalysts - PAT 18 (Better Info, 2000) and Regional Development Agencies (1999)  At least seven under development in 2006/7 Year StartedLive Mapping % % % % % % % % % %

13 System Characteristics Population Avg Average population those with systems Type of Authority % of authorities with systems 673,735590,360County74 % 96,810181,548District 2 % 218,647226,133London Borough12 % 300,595389,280Metropolitan Borough56 % 179,744237,830Unitary26 %

14 System Resources System Characteristics Avg devel £Avg Yrly £ Avg FT staff Avg PT staff County system £71,200£47, District system £10,000£5, London or Metro Borough system £143,400£80, Unitary system £106,100£68, NRF Authority £125,300£77, Non-NRF system £67,500£40, Mapping system £111,500£75, Non-mapping system £70,200£31, Average all systems £95,500£59,

15 Culture change One of the things that the system does that’s really important is to put information into the hands of local people that they normally wouldn’t have, enabling them to make decisions for themselves based on information. It’s very hard for us to think that there are other areas who struggle to get access to information. Director of a Local Strategic Partnership supported by an information system

16 Change and Culture Local regeneration information systems are beneficial against a wide range of criteria.  In 2005 Local Strategic Partnerships self assessed their performance against national and local targets during 2004/05, using a traffic light rating system. 45 per cent of Local Strategic Partnerships with a local regeneration information system gave themselves a green light, the highest performance ranking. Only 29 per cent of partnerships without a system gave themselves this rating.  71 per cent of system managers had observed a change in the way regeneration activities are undertaken following the establishment of their system.  85 per cent of systems in Neighbourhood Renewal Funded areas are used to develop targets for Local Strategic Partnerships.  They are also useful for strategy development activities; good examples include:- - Better targeting of after school care according to local need. - Targeting the locations of early year’s children centres. - Crime audits to respond strategically to crime patterns. - Accident collision data is used by highways departments to introduce accident reduction measures.

17 Benefits: System or Service? System Characteristics Importance 10 = high 1 = low ManagrsUsers Up-to-date data and information Data and information on a wide range or areas Capability to map data and statistics Capability to compare data between different areas8.4 Fine geographical detail for statistics and data Neighbourhood reports (pen pictures) derived from data Tables providing data for variables selected by users Assistance for users from system staff in finding relevant data Protocols or agreements to guide data sharing and data use Assistance for users in understanding and analysing data Capability to automatically generate a report for an area Training for users from system staff in using the system Access to point data about a household or individuals3.04.6

18 Top Tips & Barriers

19 Networking and Best Practice Changes in the UK policy context are likely to place increasing emphasis on the use of consistent local intelligence by policymakers and citizens. A network to enable information system managers to meet, communicate and share best practices is being established. The need for a network was demonstrated by the very high proportion of system managers that attended systems development workshops, hosted by the DCLG, in June 2006 and May A network to enable information system managers to meet, communicate and share best practices is being established. The need for a network was demonstrated by the very high proportion of system managers that attended systems development workshops, hosted by the DCLG, in June 2006 and May A forum for those interested in Local Information Systems will shortly be formally launched on the ESD Toolkit portal. A networking event will be held in Manchester on November 15th. For further details contact Paul Foley or Adrian Laughton ).

20 Local Information System Examples Information Management for Worcestershire Partnership

21 Worcestershire Community Safety Partnership Tasking? “To anticipate, mitigate and resolve community safety problems”  Information Sharing – identifying common issues  Monthly meeting of partners looking at community safety issues  Managing Community Safety Partnerships performance  Delivering local solutions to local problems Information Management for Worcestershire Partnership

22 Why was Tasking set up?   Meet the needs of all partners in addressing community safety issues   Co-ordinated response to local community priorities   Focus on specific and measurable outcomes and help prioritise action   Regularly review progress of projects   Greater accountability

23 What does Tasking involve? Actions agreed Monthly meeting Monitor actions Data sources Analysis Presentation

24 Gloucestershire’s Accessibility Toolkit Uses Accession software available to all local authorities. Measure from Census Output Areas (Neighbourhoods) to a range of Service Outlets using Accession. Consultation for day/time, acceptable walk distances/travel times Present the data as a Matrix/Toolkit with Associated Maps.

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27 What is this Hotspot?

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29Conclusions Five key themes from the report  Systems have important but different roles at all stages of the policy design and delivery process  Systems will help to achieve key changes advocated by the Local Government White Paper. Equally the development of systems should be assisted by the White Paper’s goals and initiatives  The 179 data sets cover a more diverse range of information, usually at finer scale, than central government sources  Systems are changing and enhancing policy making activities and cultures  Establishment of a network will enhance the efficiency, quality and role of new and existing systems

30 Local Information Systems: Their role and benefits Birmingham 20 th Sept Paul Foley