Revised Local Authories Data Transparency Code (UK0044)
Overview
At-a-Glance
Action Plan: United Kingdom – Second National Action Plan 2013-2015
Action Plan Cycle: 2013
Status:
Institutions
Lead Institution: Department for Communities and Local Government
Support Institution(s): CSOs: Compact Voice
Policy Areas
Capacity Building, Land and Spatial Planning, Local Commitments, Public Participation, RegulationIRM Review
IRM Report: United Kingdom End-of-Term Report 2013-2015, United Kingdom Progress Report 2013-2015
Early Results:
Major
Design i
Verifiable: Yes
Relevant to OGP Values: Yes
Ambition (see definition): High
Implementation i
Description
In September 2011 the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) published
the Code of Recommended Practice for Local Authorities on Data Transparency. This Code
was issued to meet the government’s desire to place more power into citizens’ hands to
increase democratic accountability and make it easier for local people to contribute to the local decision making process and help shape public services. The government will issue a revised Code and is minded to bring into force regulations to make it a legal requirement for local authorities to publish data in accordance with parts of the revised Code.
Local authorities have responded positively to this agenda – all local authorities are already publishing expenditure of £500 and over, but performance on publishing other data varies across authorities; the NAO found that only 4% of local authorities published information on land and building assets. The revised Code will ensure greater consistency in the data that is made available to local people across England.
Timescales: The next steps to deliver this policy are to:
-publish the government response to its consultation on revising the Code, including a draft
of the revised Code (November 2013)
-issue the revised Local Authorities Data Transparency Code (Winter 2013)
-bring into force regulations making it a legal requirement for local authorities to publish data
in accordance with the Code (Winter 2013)
-work with the sector, eg local government workshops, to disseminate guidance and good
practice (Spring to Summer 2014)
-work with the Local Government Association (LGA) and the Information Commissioner’s
Office to adopt a light touch approach to monitoring and enforcement and determine levels
of compliance during the 2014 to 2015 period