Data analytics usage

The request was partially successful.

Data Justice Lab

Dear East Renfrewshire 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.

*Customer Services, East Renfrewshire Council

Thank you for your enquiry.

 

A Customer Service Officer will either answer your enquiry directly or
forward it to the appropriate Officer in East Renfrewshire Council within
the next 5 working days.

 

If your enquiry is a complaint you should receive a response within 5
working days.  If it is a Freedom of Information request you should
receive a response within 20 working days.

 

Did you know you can access a wide range of Council services online 24/7.
[1]www.eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk/doitonline

 

The council processes your personal data on the legal basis of carrying
out tasks in the public interest or for performance of a contract.  You
can find out how we use your information in our privacy statement on our
website. [2]http://www.eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk/datap...

 

Kind regards

 

Customer Services

 

 

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References

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1. file:///tmp/www.eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk/doitonline
2. http://www.eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk/datap...

*Customer Services, East Renfrewshire Council

Thank you for your enquiry.

 

A Customer Service Officer will either answer your enquiry directly or
forward it to the appropriate Officer in East Renfrewshire Council within
the next 5 working days.

 

If your enquiry is a complaint you should receive a response within 5
working days.  If it is a Freedom of Information request you should
receive a response within 20 working days.

 

Did you know you can access a wide range of Council services online 24/7.
[1]www.eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk/doitonline

 

The council processes your personal data on the legal basis of carrying
out tasks in the public interest or for performance of a contract.  You
can find out how we use your information in our privacy statement on our
website. [2]http://www.eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk/datap...

 

Kind regards

 

Customer Services

 

 

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References

Visible links
1. file:///tmp/www.eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk/doitonline
2. http://www.eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk/datap...

*Customer Services, East Renfrewshire Council

1 Attachment

Thank you for your Freedom of Information Request.

Please find attached your FOI acknowledgement letter.

Kind regards

Christina

Christina Ferguson
Team Leader
Customer First

0141 577 3001

East Renfrewshire Council - Your council, your future

www.eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk

 Please consider the environment - do you really need to print this e-mail?

Did you know that you can access a wide range of council services online, 24/7? Visit www.eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk/doitonline

East Renfrewshire Council - Working for you www.eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk Please consider the environment - do you really need to print this e-mail?

Information security classification
No marking        No special handling practices
PROTECT         Protective action required
PROTECT+       Additional protective action         DPA sensitive

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Geddes, Craig, East Renfrewshire Council

Hi

In connection with the new DPA, our research has determined that we have no such systems in relation to computerised determination of outcomes with respect to personal data.

Does this answer your enquiry? If so, great; if not, let me know what else you need.

Good luck with your research.

Yours

Craig

   Craig Geddes
   Council Records Manager
   East Renfrewshire Council
   Council HQ
   Giffnock
   G46  6UG
   (0141) 577 3059

   East Renfrewshire: Your Council, Your Future
  www.eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk

  Information Security Classification
  No marking:     No special handling practices
  PROTECT:          Protective action required
  PROTECT+:       Additional protective action required  

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