Figure 1: The role of information in the policy design and delivery process
The rapid growth in small area statistics availability has been accompanied by a gradual shift towards more evidence-based policy and decision-making across the public sector.
There has also been a greater acceptance that some issues can best be addressed by targeting resources at specific areas of need. In
An initiative is currently on-going through the CLG Information Management Programme with regular national LIS meetings and a dedicated LIS forum (see link above). CLG’s role as a catalyst in this area is re-enforced through its provision of Neighbourhood Renewal Funds (NRF) to those authorities considered in greatest need. In most of these authorities some of this funding has been used for LIS development. To date between 50 and 70 per cent of English top tier authorities now have some form of LIS according to their research. Elsewhere within the
Many local authorities and local partnerships now support web based systems to store, analyse and present locally and nationally held datasets down to small area level. Their main focus is to provide a place-focused evidence base for local decision makers to target resources and services. They provide a wide range of statistics and reports allowing users to review the current evidence base and build a picture of localities and neighbourhoods for their area of interest. Partner organisations can share their data effectively thus enabling, potentially for the first time, a wide range of indicators to be made available in a consistent form across the partnership. Information products can be built which combine locally and nationally available data into more meaningful intelligence aimed at specific user groups.
Useful Links - Local Information Systems [UK Presentations]
Show me the Key Benefits of an Local Information System
Go to InstantAtlas Desktop Resource - 'Building a business case - what are the benefits of a Local Information System [LIS]?' - Webcast' - February 2008
Discussion with Prof. Paul Foley, De Montfort University Business School & Dr. Tom Smith Managing Director, Oxford Consultants for Social Inclusion
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