3.18 — weeknotes — panel discussion on the role of data in local government — good fun!

A week of recovering from the count on Saturday — so a day off on Monday — was good to rest after the weekend, very much needed after Saturday!

We had our Digital Strategy Board this week where we went through a couple of papers that are going to CLT next week, so good to have an early conversation. I’m taking two papers next week broadly around governance of online websites and reusable components across our infrastructure. The idea is that we develop components of processes that we are able to reuse often in our services, for example using Gov.Notify and Gov.Pay. Whilst we use these already putting an appropriate governance wrapper around it all will really help move things along. This is all part of our wider digital community experience programme of work that is starting to take more shape.

We are continuing to undertake a lot of work on the World of Work programme, Thursday evening we hosted a Member briefing session where we updated them all with the work we had completed over the last 15 months or so and the thinking and plans for the future. It was really good to hear their views of the last 15 months or so and it was clear that the whole organisation has really fundamentally changed and everyone recognises there is a place for virtual meetings. There was a real desire to engage with the community in digital ways as well for example running surgeries and area forums to ensure that we have more engagement. Some really positive things emerging from the pandemic.

It is such a shame that the government has not allowed virtual meetings to continue and hearing from colleagues across the country today on the additional steps and expense needed to hold socially distanced AGM’s. All of this could have been avoided with the right legislation when this is clearly worked over the past 15 months.

Friday morning I took part in a panel discussion as part of the digital virtual summit with a topic of:

Exploring the Role of Data in Local Government Post-Covid

• What has the Covid experience taught us about the role of data in local government? How can data help fulfil our future vision for public services?
• What capabilities do councils most need to derive value from data; both individually and in collaboration with other organisations?
• What sources and uses of data should now be considered strategic priorities for councils?
• How can more ambitious uses of data be conducted in a way that is worthy of citizens’ trust?

The conference was using a new technology for me anyway, swapcard, this meant there was lot more interaction engagement and just like being in a real conference. From the perspective of being a panel member it was like going on live TV before and after the panel session, a little bit scary I have to say. (not that I have ever been on live TV but you get where I am coming from) I think the session was really good we had some really good conversations and some commonality as well as challenge from the different panel members. There was a theme of Trust! Ensuring that we have trust across the organisation and across partners to share data in the first place, and trust with our communities to obtain and use data in the first place!

I really think that there is a real opportunity as we emerge from the pandemic to use data in new and innovative ways, especially with emerging technologies / smart place. My take away was from Milly who, from their International Cities roundtables on framing the data project as a opportunity / who would benefit rather than a problem to work on. Changes the whole approach, really interesting.

Have to say, I really enjoyed the discussion and the rest of the day.

Tune of the week: Cornershop — Brimful Of Asha, Norman Cook Mix (Tjinder Singh) Official Music Video