Opportunities for Local Governments to Use DataWhether it's supporting vulnerable children, stripping out inefficient back office processes, knowing where to send the gritting vans or which bins need emptying, councils are exploring a range of ways in which data can help them do what they do better. This research finds that councils are increasingly sophisticated in how they gather their data, how they manage it, the types of analysis they can perform, and the ways in which they use this to contribute towards positive social change. But this is really just the beginning. Most councils are only just starting to get to grips with all the data they have, and all the ways they could use it to make improvements. The data held by the local government sector is a potential goldmine of insights into how to improve people’s lives and make our communities better. The case studies featured in this report are some of the first attempts at doing this...Over the next year Nesta will be exploring these opportunities and others to help government- central and local - get more from the data they hold. This report features ways of using datawhich are having hugely positive impacts for people, communities and councils. We hope thisto the start of the story, not the end. NestaN_18ad3df6-74c1-11e2-ac7e-249f64612d42Local Government SectorNesta is keen to work with the sector and others to get more from local data. Our Innovation Lab programmes include pilots for Offices of Data Analytics in UK cities, which enable us to put these insights and our expertise to use in practical settings. Based on the findings of this work, we also set out five opportunities which Nesta will be exploring and developing with the sector. These are described in brief below, and explored in greater detail in our separate recommendations paper. Data helps local governments do what they do better._9bcf9bde-c945-11e6-b24d-f46ab8ca98f4To set out opportunities to work with the local government sector._9bcf9d64-c945-11e6-b24d-f46ab8ca98f4InnovationDrive further data-led innovation._9bcf9e22-c945-11e6-b24d-f46ab8ca98f41This research found that bringing data analysts and scientists together with end-users (such as frontline professionals, managers, or senior decision-makers), can result in new and impactful uses of data. To promote further data-led innovation, there should be exploration of a dedicated scheme which pairs data analysts with frontline workers, managers and leaders in councils across the country. This scheme could bring funding and expertise as a means of creating the space for problem-oriented data work in councils._9bcf9ecc-c945-11e6-b24d-f46ab8ca98f4Best PracticesScale up existing best practice._9bcf9f80-c945-11e6-b24d-f46ab8ca98f42Imagine if it wasn't just Manchester's social workers saving two weeks a year in the time taken to triage and assess new cases, but all the social workers in local government. Or if it wasn't just Bristol's local transport data that was available through an open API, but all local transport data. Replicating some of the case study work across the hundreds of local authorities, even just in England, would be a means of generating significant benefits.Scaling these initiatives up across the country is not as simple as finding the funding to purchase the software and technology used by the case study councils. The interviews showed that successful implementation requires managing the internal culture of organisations, knowledge about data sharing and information governance, and the ability to champion the work to data-sceptic stakeholders. There is a need to develop a knowledge transfer programme that enables local authority staff to share their knowledge and skills with other local authorities._9bcfa02a-c945-11e6-b24d-f46ab8ca98f4Data CombinationsCome to grips with data at a combined authority or sub-regional level._9bcfa0d4-c945-11e6-b24d-f46ab8ca98f43The case studies which integrated data, such as Manchester or Kent, demonstrate that some of the biggest opportunities lie with linked data. There are enormous opportunities that come from integrating data across the local public sector, such as health, education, housing, police, and social care. But the benefits of linked data apply as much across local authorities as to a single 'place'. With the emergence of new combined authorities, sub-regional entities such as LEPs, and other local partnerships, there are opportunities to bring together data at a large scale. This should be a main area of focus for local authorities exploring how to get more from their data. Nesta's programme of Offices of Data Analytics will be looking at some of these opportunities, but it should also become a feature of all devolution deals and combined authority arrangements. _9bcfa192-c945-11e6-b24d-f46ab8ca98f4EvaluationUse systematic evaluation to see what works and what doesn't._9bcfa23c-c945-11e6-b24d-f46ab8ca98f44Scaling-up the use of data should be done on the basis of rigorous evidence of impact. Our research noted that a lack of systematic evaluation of impact was a feature across the case studies. This was often for good reason and this is certainly not unique in the local government sector. However, systematic evaluation makes scaling impact easier. Interviewees frequently noted that presenting tangible evidence of impact was the easiest way to promote further data-led work. Properly evaluating data and analytics work will provide a clear picture of which tools, analysis and projects should be be scaled, and which do not produce the impact to justify continuation. _9bcfa2f0-c945-11e6-b24d-f46ab8ca98f4Tools & ResourcesTranslate insight into tools and resources._9bcfa3ae-c945-11e6-b24d-f46ab8ca98f45The case studies were testament to the fact that the process of using data to inform changes to services, or as part of decision-making, is not straightforward. There are identifiable challenges that occur frequently where data and analytics are involved. The commonality of these challenges suggests that there is scope for the development of practical tools and resources that can be used by the sector. In this research, we used the insight gathered to develop a prototype data maturity framework (see Appendix 2). This was prompted by discussions in research workshops, interviews and the project's advisory group, which identified the opportunity to produce a framework which would help councils think about the data they hold and how they use it. As the sector continues to learn about how to use data and analytics for social good, we will see opportunities to turn this insight into practical tools and resources as should central government organisations working across the local government sector. _9bcfa462-c945-11e6-b24d-f46ab8ca98f42016-11-302016-12-23https://www.nesta.org.uk/sites/default/files/wise_council.pdfOwenAmburOwen.Ambur@verizon.net