Use of data analytics, predictive analytics or algorithmic automated systems for decision-making in Children's Services

The request was refused by Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council.

Dear Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council,
We are submitting the following Freedom of Information Request for documents relating to previous or current uses of data analytics, predictive analytics, or algorithmic automated systems used for processing, risk assessment, scoring systems or automated decision making in relation to child and family services delivered in the jurisdiction of your local authority.

Please can you supply the following information:
1) Has the council used any data analytics, predictive analytics and or artificial intelligence systems to support children’s service provision?
2) Is the council using any data analytics, predictive analytics and or artificial intelligence systems to support children’s service provision?
3) Is the council intending to use data analytics, predictive analytics and or artificial intelligence systems to support children’s service provision?
4) Details of any briefing notes, reports, or summaries relating to the use or potential use of data analytics, predictive analytics and or artificial intelligence systems to support children’s service provision.
5) Any meeting minutes, reports or presentation materials on the efficacy or impact of data analytics, predictive analytics and or artificial intelligence systems to support children’s service provision.
6) Details of any third-party consultants or suppliers of data analytics, predictive analytics or artificial intelligence systems including any contracts, memoranda of understanding, or other agreements (which may include but not exclusively data sharing agreements)

Please note, the timeframe for questions 4-6 is indefinite.
By data analytics we mean the processing of families’ data to draw conclusions about the information it contains and to uncover patterns and insights from it. This may be via computer packages or dashboards.
By predictive analytics, we mean using families’ data to create predictive models that can be used for risk assessment, scoring systems or to inform decision-making.
By artificial intelligence/algorithmic automated systems we mean the process of using families’ data to develop systems that make decisions by automated means. This includes tasks normally requiring human intelligence, such as speech recognition and decision-making.
By children, we include all those 0-18 years old
By children’s service provision we include information relating to all services the local authority provides for children and families, including children's social care, education and learning, early years services, youth services and youth offending teams.

If it is not possible to provide the information requested due to the information exceeding the cost of compliance limits identified in s.12 FOIA, please provide advice and assistance as to how I can refine my request, as required under s.16 FOIA.

Yours faithfully,

Val Gillies

FoI Request, Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council

Dear Ms Gillies
FOI 11726
I am emailing to confirm the receipt of your recent request for
information to Wigan Council. This has been logged with reference
indicated above and will be forwarded to the relevant department for
action.
We will respond as soon as possible and in most cases no later than 20
working days after the receipt of your request i.e. by 16 April 2021.
The Information Commissioner’s Office has recognised the unprecedented
challenges all are facing during the pandemic and that people may
experience delays when making information rights requests during the
current situation.  This is because the Council’s resources are focused on
ensuring that at risk and vulnerable residents are supported at this time.
 
If you have any comments or questions in the meantime, please direct them
to [1][Wigan Council request email], or in writing to the address below.
The Council does not charge for most FOI requests, but charges may be made
for actual disbursements incurred such as photocopying, printing, postage
and packaging, and only if these charges amount to more than £20.00. If a
charge is to be made, confirmation of the payment due will be given before
the information is provided and payment may be requested prior to the
provision of the information.
Kind regards
Kath Peace
Information Governance Assistant
 
Please note that in light of Government guidance, all Legal Services staff
are currently working from home.  We have a skeleton staff attending the
office, by exception and only where absolutely necessary.  Wherever
possible, please avoid posting documents to us and use electronic
communication instead.  If you must post a hard copy document, please
email the recipient, so we can arrange for post to be collected.  In these
exceptional times please note our response times to correspondences may
increase as we continue to support the most vulnerable in society and our
frontline services.
 
Legal Services - Resources Directorate
Wigan Council
Town Hall, Library Street
Wigan WN1 1YN
 
01942 828794
 
[2]www.wigan.gov.uk
[3]www.twitter.com/wigancouncil
[4]www.facebook.com/WiganCouncilOnline
[5]https://www.wigan.gov.uk/Council/Armed-f...
 
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any response
 
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FoI Request, Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council

Dear Ms Gillies

 

I am advised by the Service that the whole request will unfortunately
exceed 18 hours to locate and retrieve the information requested.

 

Section 12 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FoIA) relieves a public
authority from the obligation to comply with a request for information
where the estimated time required to locate, review and extract the
information exceeds a certain threshold set out in Regulations. The
Freedom of Information and Data Protection (Appropriate Limit and Fees)
Regulations 2004 (SI 2004/3244) set out the rules in relation to the cost
limit (otherwise called the “appropriate limit”).  These Regulations are
published by the Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI) and are
viewable on their web site from this link:
[1]http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2004/uksi_20...

The Regulations set out the cost limit for Government departments and for
other public authorities.  For local government, Regulation 3 states that
the cost limit is £450 and Regulation 4(4) states that the prescribed
hourly rate is £25.  Regulation 4(4) further provides that where the local
authority estimates the time taken to gather the information would exceed
this limit (which based on the prescribed hourly rate, equates to 18
officer hours), it may refuse the request under section 12 of FoIA.

The Service further advises that they could provide information in
responses to Q4 –Q6 for the last 12 months, as potentially this would come
within the 18 hours, if this would be acceptable to you. Please let me
know if you wish to proceed on this basis.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Dawn Rowlands
Information Governance Officer

 

Please note that in light of Government guidance all Legal Services staff
are currently working from home.  We have a skeleton staff attending the
office, by exception and only where absolutely necessary.  Wherever
possible, please avoid posting documents to us and use electronic
communication instead.  If you must post a hard copy document, please
email the recipient, so we can arrange for post to be collected. We do not
currently accept service of any documents by DX. 

 

In these exceptional times please note our response times to
correspondences may increase as we continue to support the most vulnerable
in society and our frontline services.

 

 

Resources

Legal Services

Wigan Council
Town Hall Library Street, Wigan WN1 1YN
01942 827015

Int. 2015

 

 

 

 

 

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Dear FoI Request,

Many thanks for your update on our request and for explaining the aspect you feel is likely to exceed 18 hours. Of course, every local authority systems re different but we have generally not found the request taking that long to process as questions 4-6 are only applicable if the answer for questions 1-3 is yes. If the council cannot apply an indefinite time frame for questions 4-6 then a shorter time frame is preferable to no response at all, but given the disruptions of the last year, then a 3 year period would be better as many meetings haven't taken place in the last 12 months according to normal schedules etc. I hope that would still be within the 18-hour window.

Yours sincerely,

Val Gillies

FoI Request, Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council

Dear Ms Gillies

 

Further to previous correspondence in this matter. I am advised by the
Service that they have looked at the information that they hold in order
to respond to your request and advise unfortunately that the narrowed down
request would still exceed 18 hours.

 

Section 12 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FoIA) relieves a public
authority from the obligation to comply with a request for information
where the estimated time required to locate, review and extract the
information exceeds a certain threshold set out in Regulations. The
Freedom of Information and Data Protection (Appropriate Limit and Fees)
Regulations 2004 (SI 2004/3244) set out the rules in relation to the cost
limit (otherwise called the “appropriate limit”).  These Regulations are
published by the Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI) and are
viewable on their web site from this link:
[1]http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2004/uksi_20...

The Regulations set out the cost limit for Government departments and for
other public authorities.  For local government, Regulation 3 states that
the cost limit is £450 and Regulation 4(4) states that the prescribed
hourly rate is £25.  Regulation 4(4) further provides that where the local
authority estimates the time taken to gather the information would exceed
this limit (which based on the prescribed hourly rate, equates to 18
officer hours), it may refuse the request under section 12 of FoIA.

Yours sincerely

 

 

Dawn Rowlands
Information Governance Officer

 

Please note that in light of Government guidance all Legal Services staff
are currently working from home.  We have a skeleton staff attending the
office, by exception and only where absolutely necessary.  Wherever
possible, please avoid posting documents to us and use electronic
communication instead.  If you must post a hard copy document, please
email the recipient, so we can arrange for post to be collected. We do not
currently accept service of any documents by DX. 

 

In these exceptional times please note our response times to
correspondences may increase as we continue to support the most vulnerable
in society and our frontline services.

 

 

Resources

Legal Services

Wigan Council
Town Hall Library Street, Wigan WN1 1YN
01942 827015

Int. 2015

 

 

 

 

 

>>Corporate Logo<<
______________________________________________________________________
This email has been scanned by the Symantec Email Security.cloud service.
For more information please visit http://www.symanteccloud.com
______________________________________________________________________

References

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