Data analytics usage
Data Justice Lab made this Rhyddid Gwybodaeth request to Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council as part of a batch sent to 403 authorities
This request has been closed to new correspondence. Contact us if you think it should be reopened.
Dear Wigan Metropolitan Borough 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.
Please quote ID 7280 on all correspondence
Dear Sir / Madam
I am emailing to confirm the receipt of your recent FOI request to Wigan
Council. This has been logged and will be forwarded to the relevant
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We will respond as soon as possible and in most cases no later than 20
working days after the receipt of your request ie 17th August 2018.
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Regards
Freedom of Information
Legal Service - Resources Directorate
Wigan Council, PO Box 100
Town Hall, Library Street, Wigan WN1 3DS
[2]www.wigan.gov.uk
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Dear Sirs
I am writing to respond to your recent request for information. This
request has been handled under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
* The response to your request is detailed in the attachment(s)
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Kind Regards
Freedom of Information
Legal Services - Resources Directorate
Wigan Council, PO Box 100
Town Hall, Library Street, Wigan WN1 3DS
[3]www.wigan.gov.uk
[4]www.twitter.com/wigancouncil
[5]www.facebook.com/WiganCouncilOnline
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>>Corporate Disclaimer<<
This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and
intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom
they are addressed. If you have received this email in error please
notify the system manager.
Email may be automatically logged, monitored and/or recorded
for legal purposes.
As a public body, the Council may be required to disclose this
email or any response to it under the Freedom of Information
Act 2000 unless the information in it is covered by one of the
exemptions in the Act.
This footnote also confirms that this email has been swept for
the presence of computer viruses.
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