1. PPI Network South East 3 March 2010 Mr Lyn Cadwallader Research and Citizen Participation Manager Public Service Support Unit Torfaen Information tools to support Public Involvement

2. How is research and citizen participation organised at present?  Lyn Cadwallader, Research and Citizen Participation Manager  Andy Wilson, Research and Information Officer  Julia Rooney, Public Engagement Officer  Donna Edwards-John, GIS Officer  Julia Evans, GIS Assistant  Chris Lewis, Customer Focus Support Officer (p/t)  Adam Logue, Torfaen Trainee

3. Where it sits within the organisation…  Centrally located since 2006 and part of PSSU since April 2009  Although Research and Citizen Participation activity also currently carried out within service departments  Joint working with other public service analysts/researchers/citizen participation officers

4. Information about us…

5. What do we do? Economists do costs, so what will researchers and citizen participation people do? Undertake analysis to better understand resident attitudes and behaviour Responsible for advice/guidance/carrying out public surveys and research activity by local government/partner agencies eg supporting funding applications Increasingly will collate much of the evidence that supports the Community Strategy/Shared Outcomes work streams Currently developing/deploying the Research and Citizen Participation Service capacity/tools

6. We’re about helping to provide the evidence base to support decision- making… “It’s really quite simple – this is how you embed evidence into policy making.”

7. …and helping people avoid the pitfalls!

8. Challenges for PSSU  To capture/analyse citizen engagement & research information  Produce useful, relevant and clear material which will be of value to the community  To better equip public service staff and public service decision makers  To make this available in accessible formats for use by the public and public service staff alike

9. Why are these challenges important to us? Better information can help to improve…  The evidence base for decisions  Needs assessment & more effective targeting of services  Forecasting of future needs & demand for services  An understanding of “what works”  Cost savings and service effectiveness  The identification of problem areas & areas for improvement

10. How can PSSU assist? What are we currently doing? Providing the tools to do the job…  Citizen Engagement  Research  Geographic Information Systems (GIS)  Local Land Property Gazetteer (LLPG)

11. Citizen Participation… Knowing the limits of engagement tools For example Surveys are best for enumeration and description They are not a good analytical tool that helps you understand ‘why?’ “If your only tool is a hammer, all problems look like nails.” Mark Twain

12. SNAP Survey software

13. ‘My Say’ Consultation System

14. Torfaen People’s Panel

15. Viewpoint – Survey Tool  Licence currently held by CYPP  Limited use to date  Functionality particularly geared towards children/young persons

16. Citizen Participation – next steps Publishing our own standards defining community engagement – implementing the Public Engagement Strategy Training and supporting staff through learning and product support - e-Learning Toolkit Joined up Citizen Engagement programmes Then telling the community what to expect – Report Cards

17. Research Tools SASPAC – National statistics query tool

18. Research Population Projections

19. Research – next steps  A regionally relevant data observatory  Improved data sharing eg vulnerable persons/swine flu preparations  Research programme based on the information needs of the community strategy/shared outcomes

20. What is G.I.S.? Geographic Information Systems …or… Computer-based mapping

21. The data can come from anywhere…. A-road network / school sites Height levels / minor-roads Ward / community / ‘whatever’ boundaries OS MasterMap TM / Aerial Photography

22. My Torfaen information portal

23. My Torfaen – citizen centric information

24. …how about the L.L.P.G. & N.L.P.G? UK-wide list of all addresses (including land, monuments etc) The ‘link’ in the chain - for all TCBC systems GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION “…big picture…” “…support network…” “…one tool, many uses…”

25. Capture multiple datasets in one place…

26. GIS / LLPG – Next steps  Development of Location Strategy based on recent Ordnance Survey Review  Improved metadata (better information about the information we hold) in accessible format for staff/public

27. And so to the future… Working in partnership…

28. But…we need to build capacity We are dealing with a paradox - citizens don’t need training in how to be engaged or told how to use information – we do Citizens are engaged daily/living in an information rich environment Councils/public services are only just learning Research and Citizen participation means addressing our skills and knowledge gaps Also, we need to improve how we communicate this information to the public – currently multiple platforms to access information

29. The way forward Developing the role of the Torfaen Research and Engagement Network – avoiding duplication, better quality assurance Setting up research and citizen engagement programmes of work in collaboration with Partnership Boards Identifying gaps in current knowledge with Partnerships eg child obesity data Strengthening communications eg My Say consultation system/data observatory Reviewing how information is deployed Stronger links to budget setting Review of research and citizen engagement – better co-ordination and joining up of analytical services.

30. And… …any questions? Mr Lyn Cadwallader Research and Citizen Participation Manager Public Service Support Unit lyn.cadwallader@torfaen.gov.uk 01495 766230 (Ext. 6230)