1. Local Public Data Panel Transparency Code consultation Clare Clark, DCLG 5 th December 2012

2. 2 What has happened so far? Councils responded very positively to publishing £500 spend and other information – within and beyond datasets specified in the Code There are several examples of Councils who are at the forefront of transparency – Redbridge, Windsor and Maidenhead, Manchester, Surrey-i Local responsiveness and approaches Innovative uses of Council data: - Elmbridge: use of parking data in an app to support town’s businesses - Lambeth in Numbers: mapping food-related data to support Food Strategy - Bristol: map which shows which streets are wheelchair/ pushchair friendly - Lichfield: food safety inspections scores on a map But there is not universal provision of all the data specified in the Code, in a timely way.

3. 3 Overview of proposed changes Ensuring all citizens, up and down the country, have equal access to the data set out in the Code Ensuring that there is a minimum standard of access to this data, and when it is made available Supporting businesses and promoting efficiency through transparency on contracts Helping Local Authorities manage their assets strategically, and giving communities and businesses access to assets information Clarifying and updating some areas of the Code Regulations Publication of contracts over £500, include transparency specifications when services contracted out, use Contracts Finder, datasets to support SMEs New Annex on Land and Property Assets Clarifying datasets, and adding new ones Helping compliance on inventories Minimum standards Timeliness Fraud Annex

4. 4 Involving the Panel Would the Panel like to submit a written response to the consultation? (Deadline 20 th December). If so, need someone to pull it together. Potential areas for Panel member detailed involved in February, after we have analysed consultation responses: Contracts (perhaps someone from the procurement sub-group)? Standards Inventories We can revisit this at the 5 th February Panel meeting. To note: Charlotte Piper has drafted an Annex on Fraud and circulated it to key contacts for comments.

5. 5 Next steps Plan: - analyse responses in January - summarise responses and make initial proposals to Ministers in late January/ early February - work on revising the Code thereafter and publish an updated version in Spring/ early Summer - any regulations would follow