Evidence: Local Information Systems Research

Information is central in the government's strategy to enhance social inclusion and neighbourhood renewal.  Robust information collection and utilisation at the local and sub-regional level can help to enhance strategic policymaking and the operational delivery of projects and services to enhance regeneration and inclusion.

A variety of systems, often IT-based, have been developed by local, regional, and national providers. Some of these systems re-package nationally available sources, such as Neighbourhood Statistics, others also collect and share local data. 

The ODPM's Neighbourhood Renewal Unit has commissioned this research to ensure a detailed understanding of the issues raised by the development of these systems at a local and national level.  Download 'Local information systems case studies' here.  The goals of this project are to:

Establish a robust understanding and identify best practice in developing  Local Information Systems. 
Identify key drivers, enablers, barriers for Information System development and assess their role in providing an evidence base to inform neighbourhood renewal. 
Identify the users of systems, the providers of information and understand how locally-developed systems integrate with other information systems. 
Provide strategic recommendations to facilitate optimal development of such systems.

The working definition for Local Regeneration Information Systems developed for the project is: 'A computerised, automated or manual information system organised and/or accessed by a local authority alone or in partnership that collects, processes, stores, displays, transmits and disseminates topical local or sub-regional information about individuals, households or geographical areas for strategic and operational regeneration, renewal or social inclusion activities'. 

Research for the project is being undertaken in three stages: 

1.  Involves background literature analysis and interviews with stakeholders to better understand key issues, contexts and key policy implications for the collection of local information.  (Completion by March 2006).

2.  A comprehensive analysis of all systems established by English local authorities and local strategic partnerships.  Analysis will investigate the drivers for action, development timespans for projects, partners contributing and utilising information, data holdings, data management and storage, operating protocols, utilisation of data and the value of information.  (Completion by May 2006)

3.  Distill the findings from surveys and in-depth visits to local systems.  A half-day workshop to discuss initial results with all interested groups will be held in Spring 2006, the final report will be submitted at the end of June.