1. 1 Local Information Systems Workshop Manchester 15 th November Paul Foley pdfoley@btinternet.com

2. 2 1.Thank you 2.Workshop activities 3.The changing context for systems 4.The research study 5.Recommendations Overview

3. 3 Workshop Activities  A third opportunity for managers to meet and discuss barriers to system development, share tips for advancement, identify what works and discuss what can be done to help systems develop.  Importantly, time has been allocated for small group discussion.  Small group discussions will identify tips for successful networking and system development (am) and mainstreaming (pm).  Quick questionnaire to find the importance of different elements that might constitute minimum system standards.

4. 4 Workshop Programme

5. 5 Quick Questionnaire

6. 6 1.The changing context for systems 2.New and newer systems 3.Networking activities 4.Recommendations Overview ever

7. 7Context The two strategic reports have overlapping themes. These include:- Flexible policy making Flexible policy making Innovative and responsive service delivery Innovative and responsive service delivery Use of a robust and shared evidence base Use of a robust and shared evidence base Systems will play an important role

8. 8 What have we found? 72 systems meet the definition for a fully functional local information system. An information system that systematically collects, processes, stores and disseminates information for neighbourhood renewal activities. Our study in spring 2006 found 69 But the situation is not static

9. 9 The situation is not static Eleven new systems BlackpoolHackneyDurhamEastleighHalton Hammersmith & Fulham HampshireHarrowSunderlandSutton Tower Hamlets Eight major revisions CheshireDoncasterManchesterNorfolkNewhamSandwellWarwickshireWorcestershireConsolidationLeicesterDoncasterBirminghamCornwallDevonWorcestershire 19 New Systems

10. 10 System resources  The average running costs for systems was £58,000 per annum (similar to 2006).  However, annual running costs range from £2,000 to £300,000 per annum.  Ten systems have annual running costs of £100,000 per annum or more.  Average running costs for the eleven systems established since spring 2006 was only £34,000. Only two had an annual budget at or above the average for all systems.

11. 11 Data collection and cleansing  On average, systems staff spend 58 hours a month obtaining data from national and local sources, checking it is ‘clean’ and adding it to their systems.  In our previous study the average was 36 hours a month. It appears that systems’ data collection activities have increased.  Time allocated is very diverse. 14 systems spend less than ten hours and 12 have one or more people working full time (160 hours or more) per month.  18 systems have the capability to automatically download data via XML tags (2006, 10 systems). Recommendation: Recommendation: All systems should develop compatibility with the automatic XML data download process being introduced by central government in spring 2008.

12. 12 Data gaps  Main barriers are perceived, sometimes illusory, confidentiality. Cost also a problem (HESA, Caci) Topic/SourceKnown data Not available Health126 Crime76 DWP and/or JobCentre Plus81 Demography/ migration/ethnicity29 Lifestyle/income47 Education50 Recommendation: Information to meet data requirements identified by system managers should be examined and the legitimacy of sharing this data should be clearly established.

13. 13 System Use  The average number of unique visitors every month at the 20 systems that recorded usage (using this measure) is 1,619. This average figure excludes one system that reported more than 100,000 unique visitors per month.  Usage data comparisons between spring 2006 and October 2007 were possible for fifteen systems. On average these systems had achieved a 330 per cent increase in use over the eighteen month period.  29 systems did not record usage data or could not provide usage information. This was surprising since this data should be an important benchmark against which to monitor usage and changing trends.

14. 14 LIS and performance management systems  83 per cent of respondents reported that their local authority or partnership had a performance management system.  23 per cent reported that their local information system had links with their local authority or partnership performance management system.  62 per cent of managers reported that there was duplication in data collection or analysis with pms colleagues.  PMS frequently record narrow indicators at district or borough level, while LIS collect more general statistics usually at a finer level of granularity that could provide contextual information.  More than two thirds of respondents reported plans to better co- ordinate LIS with PMS.  84 per cent of respondents expected their system to be used more for setting goals and performance monitoring in the future.

15. 15Networking  Networking to share ideas, best practice, overcome problems and assist new managers to establish systems is advantageous.  Organic growth requires a threshold size of members to contribute ideas, organise activities and lead agendas  Only if a network is viewed as beneficial will it attract members and achieve sufficient size to sustain organic growth. NetworkMentions No networks used17 DCLG network13 SW Regional Observatory12 ESD Forum9 East Midlands Intelligence network 4 East of England Observatory3 Local Authorities Research and Intelligence Association (LARIA) 3 South Yorkshire network3 Vendor networks3 Others (11 sub-regional networks with two or fewer mentions and the Home Office) 14

16. 16 Networking in the South West

17. 17 Networking Recommendations  An online national local information system network should be developed with sufficient resource to assist early growth and the accumulation of information resources.  Annual or six monthly meetings should be hosted at different venues throughout the country.  Four regionally based networks should be established to complement national activities and facilitate more frequent contact between system managers RegionSystems Not networking % North West1145 Greater London838 Yorkshire and the Humber 838 West Midlands1030 South East729 South West138 East Midlands40 Eastern50 North East60 Total72 RegionSystems Not networking % North West1145 Greater London838 Yorkshire and the Humber 838 West Midlands1030 South East729 South West138 East Midlands40 Eastern50 North East60 Total72

18. 18 Networking Recommendations Development of thematic groups or modules has technical (data expertise), operational (data collection) and strategic (research co- ordination) advantages. They can also collect ‘soft’ intelligence. Rather than develop regional thematic centres or modules from scratch local information systems should be encouraged to develop these areas of expertise in the same way that schools have done. They could offer a ‘shared understanding’ of local conditions and become a central data repository providing ‘everyone’ with the ‘same’ data.  Recommendation: Regional information networks should establish thematic groups to provide sources of expertise about particular topics.  Recommendation: Thematic groups or modules in regional information networks should consider collecting and automatically downloading required data about the theme to constituent local information systems.  Recommendation: Thematic groups or modules in regional information networks should be supported to undertake or co- ordinate research (with a local emphasis or results) that is beneficial to its constituent local information systems.

19. 19 Conclusions  Local information systems are developing rapidly.  And they need to.  Automatic data downloading is coming, get ready.  Persistent gaps in data availability still exist, let’s get to grips with it.  Networking could be so much better.

20. 20 Local Information Systems Study Any Questions? Paul Foley pdfoley@btinternet.com