Sharpening the commercial edge
The case for well-managed council commercial activity is one that needs to be defended if we want a mature and sustainable local state, argues Jonathan Werran.
Embracing the opportunity of alternative data
02/06/2021 Or Lenchner? examines how the National Data Strategy (NDS) could have a transformative impact on decision-making and policy development across local government. |
Data sharing 'crucial' to how councils managed pandemic, study reveals
27/05/2021 Data sharing was critical to how Scottish councils responded to the COVID-19 crisis, academics have revealed. |
Cyber security in a post-pandemic world
18/05/2021 Mark Scott outlines how councils can build a secure cyber strategy and secure data for the long term. |
New £26m fund to help councils migrate to Local Land Charges Register
10/05/2021 The Treasury has created a new £26m fund to help councils migrate their local land charges service to HM Land Registry. |
Taking asset management from ‘worst first’ to data driven
19/04/2021 Constrained local authority budgets and the skills gap are making highways asset management a major challenge. Steve Batchelor says advancements in risk-based artificial intelligence could be the key to saving time, money and lives. |
Data transparency in local government: Where next after the pandemic?
29/03/2021 With the vaccine rollout and light at the end of the COVID tunnel, can local authorities revert their data strategies to pre-pandemic days? |
A third of councils experienced unplanned IT outages in past year
25/03/2021 Nearly a third (32%) of councils experienced unplanned IT outages in the past year, according to new research. |
Getting the data right: seamless data migration for councils
24/03/2021 Tony Armitage outlines the most important elements for councils to consider when undertaking a data migration. |
How better data management can help put councils back in the black
12/03/2021 An-Chan Phung presents seven fundamental areas where local authorities are using better data management to drive savings and efficiencies. |
Why data must unite UK Infrastructure Bank and Levelling Up Fund
08/03/2021 Dr Nicola M Headlam explains why a data-led approach is absolutely vital for local government to avoid spending billions on white elephants. |
London councils awarded £150,000 for digital projects
17/02/2021 Two local authority digital projects in London aimed at making smarter use of data have been awarded £75,000 each. |
Council chiefs call for ‘secure’ access to data to help COVID-19 response
10/02/2021 Local authority leaders have emphasised the importance of ensuring councils have ‘regular, secure’ access to data to support their response to COVID-19. |
Councils need funding to maintain data innovations, says report
04/02/2021 Local government needs increased investment to ensure recent data-driven innovations are maintained, a new report has argued. |
Lack of data affecting decision on local energy projects, councils warn
26/01/2021 The majority of councils are struggling to access the data they need to make informed decisions around local energy projects, a new survey has revealed. |
Government urged to adopt UPRN for residential properties
21/01/2021 The Government has been urged to adopt the Unique Property Reference Number (UPRN) across the housing market to reduce fraud and protect tenants from rogue landlords. |
How local government can increase the ROI of their data investments
12/01/2021 Adam Mayer explains what local councils can do to drive better outcomes from their data. |
Criminals publish stolen council data online
07/01/2021 Data stolen from Hackney Council in a cyber attack last October has been published online by the criminals responsible. |
Data sharing framework launched to encourage use of London car clubs
17/12/2020 A new data sharing framework between London boroughs and car club operators has been launched to help accelerate the use of car clubs in the capital. |
'Data desert' on vulnerable children and county lines, report warns
03/12/2020 Local authorities and police forces are failing to identify the number of vulnerable children being exploited by criminal gangs, a new report has warned. |
How local authorities can unlock the potential of data
23/11/2020 Dan Thompson explores how local authorities can tap into the value of the data at their fingertips. |
Research shows just over a tenth of councils have fully digitalised all citizen records
16/11/2020 Only 11% of local authorities have fully digitalised all of their citizen records, new research has revealed. |
Think-tank issues warning on Brexit readiness
03/11/2020 Local authorities and the devolved nations risk being overwhelmed by Brexit as they are trying to deal with the COVID-19 crisis, a think tank has claimed. |
Launch of £4m data project to transform Covid-19 research
28/10/2020 A multi-million pound research project will give scientists better access to data to help develop potential therapies and treatment for COVID-19. |
How will data improve public services for citizens in the future?
19/10/2020 Paul Tomlinson explains how the public sector will build on its ability to be agile and responsive with digital solutions, breaking down silos, using data and building only on those platforms that enable flexibility. |
Welsh councils spend ‘several millions of pounds’ extra on shared electronic record
15/10/2020 The implementation and roll-out of a community care information system in Wales is taking much longer and proving costlier than expected, auditors say. |
Majority of councils lack a defined data analytics strategy, survey shows
08/10/2020 Less than a third of local authorities have a defined data analytics strategy despite the majority investing in data analytics platforms, new research has revealed. |
Digital secretary announces £2.6m data sharing project
09/09/2020 The Government today launched a National Data Strategy, which includes a new multi-million pound project to address barriers to data sharing. |
Hancock announces plans to share more data
20/07/2020 Health secretary Matt Hancock has announced plans to share more data with local government in a bid to help track and trace COVID-19 cases more effectively. |
Councils in local virus data call
03/07/2020 Councils have called for the Government to go further after it finally started to publish more coronavirus testing data. |
Open access to UPRNs and USRNs set to unlock the power of place
03/07/2020 GeoPlace advises organisations on how to maximise the opportunity that open access presents. |
Contact tracing apps: Considerations for local authorities
27/05/2020 Dr Nathaniel O'Grady outlines what four key points should be considered by local authorities before the roll-out of the tracing app begins. |
North West mayors call for regional data on Covid-19 infection rates
13/05/2020 Two mayors have called on the Government to publish a regional breakdown of the 'R' infection rate for coronavirus. |
Councils call for access to data for effective contact tracing
11/05/2020 Crucial data must be shared with councils in order for effective contact tracing to take place, the Local Government Association (LGA) has said. |
CIPFA: 17 years to work through council housing waiting list
04/05/2020 It could take up to 17 years to re-house individuals and families on the waiting list for council housing, data analysis by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) has revealed. |
Collaboration works
10/03/2020 Melanie Marchant explains how collaborative works save time and money and leads to a role on the Greater London Authority (GLA) Infrastructure team. |
The balancing act: reducing emissions and improving transportation
17/02/2020 Paul Moorby outlines how using Big Data to analyse real-time traffic information can help councils to refine traffic management policies whilst reducing carbon emissions. |
Council leadership needs to have oversight of the entire AI system
10/02/2020 Council leaders need to provide ‘proper accountability’ for AI technology and staff cannot take a ‘computer says no’ approach, according to the chair of the Committee on Standards in Public Life. |
West Midlands and Google team up to tackle climate change
31/10/2019 The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has teamed up with Google to tackle the climate change emergency. |
More places available at fighting fraud webinar
25/10/2019 Due to popular demand, the number of places available at this free webinar have been extended. Find out the five best ways to use data better to fight fraud. |
Supporting community members in vulnerable circumstances
24/10/2019 Matthew Drage outlines how councils can ensure they best identify and communicate with the most vulnerable members of their communities. |
Webinar: Five ways to use data better to fight fraud
23/10/2019 Register for the HooYu LocalGov webinar to protect the public purse. |
Guidance to help cash-strapped councils deliver policies published
16/10/2019 New guidance cautions local authorities that have been hit hard by austerity against using untested programmes in disadvantaged areas. |
Councils join pilot to find data-driven solutions to homelessness
03/10/2019 Three local authorities in Scotland, Wales and England have agreed to join a pilot which aims to help them improve their use of evidence and data in order to tackle homelessness. |
A vision for transparency
30/09/2019 How can technology-enabled integration and data sharing deliver better outcomes for London’s young people? Dave Pether reports. |
Named person scheme dropped
20/09/2019 A mandatory named person scheme for every child in Scotland – underpinned by law – will not now happen, deputy first minister John Swinney has announced. |
ICO launches consultation on its updated data sharing code of practice
18/07/2019 The Information Commissioner’s Office is asking organisations to have their say on its updated data sharing code of practice. |
Over £1m awarded to ‘innovative data projects’
09/04/2019 The winners of a competition designed to find the most innovative data projects out there will receive a share of a £1.5m fund, the Government has announced. |
The Golden Record: creating the Smart Council
05/04/2019 Richard Godfrey provides his insight into how councils can maximise the data at their disposal to create the golden record. |
How digitisation will put the human into HR
27/02/2019 Simon Fowler explains about how local government employee engagement can be supercharged by HR professionals learning to harness data and technology. |
Care chiefs raise concerns over poor data sharing with NHS
08/01/2019 Less than a quarter of local authority chief executives and social care directors regard their relationship with the NHS as good with data sharing being a particular problem, according to a survey by The MJ and BT. |
Councils urged to create a 'data-driven environment'
06/12/2018 Welsh councils need to make better use of data to improve services, according to regulators. |
Putting data to work
03/12/2018 Faith Clark explains how a new contract will give local government free access to aerial photography. |
Councils on verge of 'real-time data revolution'
21/11/2018 Councils across England could be on the brink of a 'real-time data revolution', according to the results of a new survey. |
The rise of predictive analytics in local government recruitment
20/11/2018 Why does data have such an important role to play in improving recruiting practices within the local government? Charles Hipps reports. |
Open technology and data connects citizens and cities
12/11/2018 Phil Brunkard talks about how Open technology connects citizens and cities. |
Majority of councils using data analytics to improve services
24/10/2018 Seven out of 10 local authorities are harnessing data analytics to improve citizen services, freedom of information requests reveal. |
Two councils launch intelligent data challenge
20/09/2018 Durham County Council and Blaenau Gwent Borough Council are calling on technology businesses to develop solutions that capture and analyse data to improve public services. |
Understanding your citizens to beat the Universal Credit challenge
27/06/2018 Local authorities and social housing providers must use data to provide a faster and more efficient service for the citizens they serve, says Gary Bell. |
Dispelling the myth: future networks whitepaper
25/06/2018 A new whitepaper – produced by BT - looks set to dispel the myths surrounding ‘future networks’ and achieving a smarter digital future for organisations. |
Data on racial inequalities ‘inconsistent’, MPs say
11/06/2018 The collection of data regarding racial inequalities in public services is ‘inconsistent’, MPs have found. |
Three areas chosen to pilot health and care records scheme
23/05/2018 Information about patients will be shared between hospitals and GPs in a new 'partnership' scheme being trialled in three areas of England. |
General Data Protection Regulation
23/02/2018 Download a new White Paper on dealing with the new EU General Data Protection Regulation |
Former council worker fined for snapchatting personal data
23/02/2018 A former apprentice at Southwark Council has been fined after illegally sharing personal information about schoolchildren and their parents via Snapchat. |
EXCLUSIVE: Finance settlement 'shambles' after provisional data wrong
18/01/2018 The local government finance settlement has descended into a shambles after it emerged allocations in the provisional document were wrong, The MJ can exclusively reveal. |
Technology and the public sector 2018
15/01/2018 Jos Creese outlines some key technology trends councils should focus on in 2018. |
Finding land for development
20/12/2017 Stefan Webb explains how data platforms can improve the speed, quality and cost of planning. |
'Troubled services' costing £10bn to keep going by Government
19/10/2017 The Government is spending billions keeping public services going but failing to deal with underlying problems, experts have warned. |
Failing to provide the full picture
27/09/2017 Gary Pettengell warns that messy government data makes it impossible to predict outcomes for vulnerable children. |
Councils to boost revenues collection with real-time intelligence
14/09/2017 Find out why authorities are investing in innovative new technology that provides up to date intelligence that sits alongside their own data, helping them make more informed decisions on recovery and forecasting. |
The power of data
10/08/2017 Stewart Eldridge discusses with key figures the way local authorities have been making the most of quality, comprehensive data to deal with the challenge of delivering efficient, quality services. |
The road to a smart city
08/08/2017 Paul Haddlesey sets out why local authorities should ensure street lighting infrastructure can adapt to future data input needs. |
Council apologises over air quality ‘manipulation’
02/08/2017 Cheshire East Council has apologised after admitting its air quality figures were deliberately tampered with for three years. |
The six challenges facing local councils over next 20 years
12/07/2017 An ageing population, fragmented families and housing affordability are among the challenges the local government sector will face over the next two decades, report says. |
Data system 'refresh' needed by 2019, warn council IT heads
23/06/2017 Around three quarters of councils believe their systems for storing and analysing data will be ‘unfit for purpose’ within two years, according to a new poll. |
Councils invited to join research on ageing-related decision making
09/06/2017 Councils are being invited to join an ‘innovative new data project’ which will help them to better understand ageing-related issues in their communities. |
Lib Dems call for mandatory reporting on ethnicity pay gap
10/05/2017 The Liberal Democrats have announced plans to introduce mandatory reporting on the ethnicity pay gap for organisations with 250 employees or more if elected. |
Oxford council tests innovative street mapping project
12/04/2017 Oxford City Council is trialling a new street mapping project as part of a push to develop autonomous vehicles and as a means to transform the way the authority manages its services across the city. |
Think tank outlines potential of using data 'dashboards' to improve services
04/04/2017 Using 'dashboards' to help staff make sense of huge quantities of information could improve public sector services, a think tank has recommended. |
Councils should be ‘more creative’ with technology, report says
21/03/2017 Local authorities must become more creative in their use of technology and more collaborative with both their citizens and other organisations in order to prepare for the future, report says. |
Statsbuster – Housebuilding in England 2016
27/02/2017 Neil Merrick analyses the latest housebuilding statistics to reveal national and local trends in starts and completions. |
Why communication is the missing link
25/01/2017 Nick Smee explains why highways agencies need to drive two-way communication with the public. |
An evidence base for tackling social cohesion
04/01/2017 Professor Richard Webber explains how Big Data has been used to identify the level of diversity in every street in Britain and how councils can use this information to tackle social cohesion. |
Our data-driven future is already here
04/01/2017 Bob Quin explains how local authorities can use data analytics to deliver better outcomes and more cost-effective services. |
Majority of councils unable to analyse siloed data
08/12/2016 Although nine out of ten councils store their citizen data digitally, less than a third are able to analyse it effectively, according to a new survey. |
Data scientists should be embedded in local councils argues Nesta
29/11/2016 The Government should ringfence £4m to enable data scientists to sift councils’ ‘data goldmines’, innovation foundation Nesta urged today. |
MPs urged to support take up of free school dinners
28/11/2016 Councils should be free to share benefit data with schools to enable children to be automatically signed up for free meals, school leaders have said. |
Mass data breach at Nottinghamshire council
24/11/2016 The police are investigating a possible mass breach of data protection laws in a Nottinghamshire council. |
Information-sharing agreement to improve children’s services
16/11/2016 A new information-sharing agreement looks set to improve children’s care services across England. |
How Big Data will stop you missing your flight
10/11/2016 Bob Quinn outlines how councils can use simple data mining exercises to build the foundation of a Smart City. |
Welsh councils should think ‘strategically’ about charging for services
10/11/2016 Local authorities are not using all the options at their disposal to generate income because of weaknesses in their policies and in how they use data, auditors say. |
How analytics is shaping the future of local government
07/11/2016 Nick Felton predicts that data analytics and business intelligence will become crucial for councils over the next few years. |
Prescribing for Type 2 diabetes ‘increased drastically’
11/10/2016 Type 2 diabetes prescriptions have risen by one third in five years, new research reveals. |
Improving the safety of mobile technology
24/08/2016 Has BYOD and mobile technology become secure enough for local government use? Peter Merkulov reports. |
London counter-fraud scheme could save £60m a year
10/08/2016 The new London Counter Fraud Hub could detect up to £60m in fraud according to new data. |
Councils warn about new transparency burdens
12/07/2016 Government plans to make councils publish more data will put further financial pressures on councils for ‘no apparent purpose’, London Councils has warned. |
Data sharing programme uncovers £17m in fraud
30/06/2016 A data sharing exercise between councils and other public sector organisations in Scotland has uncovered nearly £17m of fraud and errors. |
Stockport Council signs data centre deal
28/06/2016 Stockport City Council has significantly reduced its data centre footprint by moving to an enterprise cloud solution. |
Connected cycle light wins smart city award
13/05/2016 An intelligent cycle light that can show city planners where best to invest money in cycling infrastructure and the sites of potential potholes, has won a £15,000 prize. |
Watchdog calls for improved scrutiny of public spending
04/05/2016 The increased used of outsourcing and devolution to local areas is undermining Parliament's ability to hold the Government to account, the public spending watchdog is warning today. |
Silver bullet for digital strategies
26/04/2016 Establishing a single standard for data management has numerous benefits. Dean Wanless sets out the criteria for enabling common working across the sector as it fast-forwards towards devolution. |
This issue of Public Property examines how how flexible workspaces can lead the way in regeneration for local authorities, Why local authority intervention is key to successful urban regeneration schemes and if the Government’s challenge of embracing beauty is an opportunity for communities.
The March issue also takes a closer look at Blackburn with Darwen Council's first digital health hub to help people gain control over health and care services.
