Data analytics usage

The request was partially successful.

Data Justice Lab

Dear Wakefield City 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.

freedomofinformation, Wakefield City Council

Dear Data Justice Lab,

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 - REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

Thank you for your email requesting information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 which we received on 20 July 2018. It is our intention to have the response delivered to you by 17 August 2018.

I would like to inform you that all requests submitted under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 might be subject to exemption(s), which the Authority is entitled to apply to refuse the request.

Any future correspondence you may have in relation to this matter should be marked Private & Confidential and sent to the Senior Information Governance Officer, Information Management Team, County Hall, Wakefield WF1 2QW or e-mailed to [Wakefield City Council request email].

Yours sincerely

Information Governance Officer
Corporate Information Governance Team,
City Solicitor’s Office.
Wakefield MDC, County Hall, Wakefield WF1 2QW
Email: [Wakefield City Council request email]
Tel: 01924 306112

show quoted sections

freedomofinformation, Wakefield City Council

Dear Data Justice Lab,

Freedom of Information Act 2000 - Request for Information

I am writing in respect of your recent enquiry for information held by the Authority under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act.

Please find the response to your request below.

Wakefield Council does not use any data analytics, predictive analytics, or algorithmic automated systems for risk assessment, scoring systems or automated decision making.

Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any further queries regarding this matter.

Yours sincerely

Information Governance Officer
Information Governance Team
City Solicitor’s Office
Wakefield MDC
Tel: 01924 306112
E-mail: [Wakefield City Council request email]

show quoted sections