Data analytics usage

The request was partially successful.

Data Justice Lab

Dear East Lindsey District Council,

We are submitting the following Freedom of Information Request for documents relating to uses of data analytics, predictive analytics, or algorithmic automated systems used for risk assessment, scoring systems or automated decision making within the jurisdiction of your authority. This could include the use of these data systems in order to draw insights from large and integrated datasets, or to influence decisions about resources, funding or service delivery. This could include, but may not be limited to, uses of predictive analytics in child welfare, health care, adult social care, fraud detection, or policing.

Specifically, we are requesting:

· Any briefing notes, reports, evaluations, or summaries concerning uses of algorithmically driven data systems. Ideally this would include information about software, hardware, operations and types of data

· Any overviews about how system outputs are produced.

· Any training manuals or materials (e.g. slides, etc.) for staff about data collection, analysis, assessment and reporting as related to the use of the systems.

. Any impact assessments

· Any data visualisation outputs connected to the systems.

· Any promotional material, presentation material, or staff educational material related to the systems.

. Any contracts relating to the systems. We argue that the release of contracts does not compromise commercial sensitivity. The full argument is provided below.*

Also, please note we are not requesting datasets or any data about individuals.

Please let us know if any information requires clarifying.

We would like to receive electronic copies of this information.

All the very best,

Data Justice Lab

Please note that we are following the Information Commissioner’s guidance on the Freedom of Information Act which specifies that requests can be made by organisations and there is no need for a named individual (pages 9-10, sections 38-39).
Source: https://ico.org.uk/media/for-organisatio...

*Addressing the commercial sensitivity question:
a) Section 20 of the Department for Communities and Local Government’s ‘Local Government Transparency Code 2015’, which encourages greater transparency in the public interest, notes:

‘The Government has not seen any evidence that publishing details about contracts entered into by local authorities would prejudice procurement exercises or the interests of commercial organisations, or breach commercial confidentiality unless specific confidentiality clauses are included in contracts. Local authorities should expect to publish details of contracts newly entered into – commercial confidentiality should not, in itself, be a reason for local authorities to not follow the provisions of this Code’.

Source: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk... (page 9, section 20)

b) There is always the potential for a company in any area to act in bad faith, but this should not be a reason to deny access to information about how public money is spent.

c) Contract and tendering details are provided regularly by a range of government bodies in the public interest. For example, many police and fire services release contractual information through the Bluelight database ( https://www.blpd.gov.uk/foi/foi.aspx ).

d) There may be core aspects of the systems contracted that have competitive commercial value and we appreciate that such details will be redacted from any documents released. We argue that commercial interests will not be compromised by revealing other details that may be provided in contracts or related communications with contracted companies. Details that could be released include details about the existence of a system, it's purpose, the tasks being contracted, continued relationships, general descriptions, types of data being used, how this data is shared.

Management, Information, East Lindsey District Council

Thank you for your email to Information Management.

 

Should your email require a response a member of the team will make
contact with you shortly.

 

If you need to call us please do so on 01507 613409.

[1]The Council issues a regular newsletter by email to residents. It’s
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If you’d like to subscribe to receive this please sign up at
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Management, Information, East Lindsey District Council

Re: Freedom of Information Act 2000 – Information Request FOI-1819-07-243

We acknowledge your request for information received on 20^th July 2018.

Your request is being considered and you will receive the information
requested within the statutory timescale of 20 working days as defined by
the Freedom of Information Act 2000, subject to the information not being
exempt or containing a reference to a third party. 

If appropriate, the information may be provided in paper copy, normal font
size. If you require any alternative formats, e.g. language, audio, large
print etc. then please let me know.

For your information, the Act defines a number of exemptions that may
prevent release of the information you have requested. There will be an
assessment and if any of the exemption categories apply then the
information will not be released. You will be informed if this is the
case, including your rights of appeal.

There may be a fee payable for this information. We will charge
administration costs in all cases where costs exceed £10. Administration
cost is the cost of physically producing the information and posting it to
you if required. Where we intend to make a charge we will inform you and
you will need to make payment before we let you have the information. You
will be able to pay and collect your information from us.

Costs include:

·         Photocopying or printing material (10p per A4 sheet, 20p per
double paged sheet)

·         Postage

·         Producing material in an alternative format at the request of
the applicant, such as putting it onto CD-Rom, video, or audio  cassette

·         Providing extracts of databases

·         Translating information into a different language at the request
of the applicant.

 If the estimated cost of providing the information exceeds the
£450 statutory limit, then whilst we are not obliged to supply you with
the information, we may contact you to ask if you are happy to pay and
will not proceed until we have your confirmation.

If you have any queries or concerns, please contact Information Management
on [1][East Lindsey District Council request email]

Data Protection Notice for Information Request

East Lindsey District Council is a Data Controller and can be contacted
at: Tedder Hall, Manby Park, Louth, Lincolnshire, LN11 8UP. Tel 01507
601111. The Data Protection Officer can be contacted at the same address.

We are collecting your personal data in order to process your application
for information under Freedom of Information, Data Protection or
Environmental Information legislation.

Your data will not be shared with third parties but may be used for
Council purposes, in order to prevent or detect crime, to protect public
funds or where we are required or permitted to share data under other
legislation.

Your data will be kept for 6 years for requests under the Data Protection
Act and 2 years plus the current year for other requests, in line with our
retention policy.

You have the right to access your data and to rectify mistakes, erase,
restrict, object or move your data in certain circumstances. Please
contact the Data Protection Officer for further information or go to our
website where your rights are explained in more detail

Any complaints regarding your data should be addressed to the Data
Protection Officer in the first instance. If the matter is not resolved
you can contact the Information Commissioner’s Office at: Wycliffe House,
Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF Tel: 0303 123 1113

For further information on our Data Protection Policies please go to our
website.

Yours sincerely,

Information Management Team
Internal Audit and Information Governance
East Lindsey District Council,
Room 115, Tedder Hall, Manby Park, Manby
Louth, Lincolnshire, LN11 8UP

Tel: 01507 613409
E: information.management[2]@e-lindsey.gov.uk
Website: [3]www.e-lindsey.gov.uk  

'Lincolnshire's Coastal District'

 

[4]The Council issues a regular newsletter by email to residents. It’s
free and keeps you informed on the Council work and that of its partners.
If you’d like to subscribe to receive this please sign up at
www.e-lindsey.gov.uk/messenger

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Management, Information, East Lindsey District Council

1 Attachment

 

Re: Freedom of Information Act 2000 – Request for Information 1819-07-243

 

Thank you for your recent request for information. Your request has now
been considered under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and
our response is attached.

 

Please note that East Lindsey District Council will be publishing copies
of decision notices issued in response to requests made under the Freedom
of Information Act 2000 and the Environmental Information Regulations
2004. Please be assured that no information regarding the identity of the
individuals making the requests will be published but if you have any
concerns regarding this, please contact the Council’s
Information Management Team (contact details given below).

 

Yours sincerely,

  

Information Management Team

 

 

Information Management

East Lindsey District Council,

Room 115, Tedder Hall, Manby Park, Manby

Louth, Lincolnshire, LN11 8UP

 

Tel: 01507 613409

E: information.management[1]@e-lindsey.gov.uk

 

Website: [2]www.e-lindsey.gov.uk  

Facebook: [3]www.e-lindsey.gov.uk/facebook
Twitter: [4]www.e-lindsey.gov.uk/twitter

 

'Lincolnshire's Coastal District'

 

 

[5]The Council issues a regular newsletter by email to residents. It’s
free and keeps you informed on the Council work and that of its partners.
If you’d like to subscribe to receive this please sign up at
www.e-lindsey.gov.uk/messenger

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