Data analytics usage

The request was successful.

Data Justice Lab

Dear Argyll and Bute 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.

Administrator, Argyll and Bute Council


Dear Data Justice Lab

Request for information: Uses of data analytics, predictive analytics, or
algorithmic automated systems

Thank you for your information request which we have logged as reference
argyllbuteir:8801.

It has been passed to the relevant service(s) for attention and you should
receive a response under either the Freedom of Information (Scot) Act 2002
or the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 by 2018-08-17
00:00:00.

Please quote the reference number above in any correspondence you may have
with the Council in regard to this request.

Regards

FOI Officer

Privacy information: Any personal information you have provided in
relation to this request will be used only for the intended purpose -
please read the full privacy notice to find out more about how your
personal information will be handled, and your rights under data
protection legislation.

Sinclair, David (Risk Management Assistant), Argyll and Bute Council

6 Attachments

Classification: OFFICIAL

Dear Data Justice Lab

 

Request for information: Uses of data analytics, predictive analytics, or
algorithmic automated systems

Reference: argyllbuteir:8801.

 

I refer to your request for information which was dealt with in terms of
the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA).

 

The Council's voice automated service uses speech analytics and algorithms
in order to estimate what the customer is asking for and to route calls
accordingly. That is based on the commercially available Nuance speech
service. Further details are available at : 
[1]https://www.nuance.com/en-gb/mobile/spee...

 

We use the Sentiment Metrics social media service which uses algorithms to
determine user sentiment about the council based on customer social media
postings. Further information is available from the company 
[2]https://www.sentimentmetrics.com/ and we have had nothing bespoke done.

 

The specifics re contracts, impact assessments, briefing notes,  reports,
training materials are as follows

 

Contracts: Both Sentiment metrics and the voice auto service form part of
a wider customer engagement solution contract with Softcat PLC who
subcontracted Oracle and Netcall for the relevant elements . The  line
items specifically for the sentiment/voiceauto are as follows:

£2295pa               Maintenance for the Netcall NPA Payments Server
(PA-DSS Compliant). Voice Automated Payments

£6315pa               Social Media Subscription is for the Social Media
element of the ContactCentre 59R ACD and allows up to 10,000 mentions on
Social Media to be accessed.  Anything else is all rolled up in the
overall amount for Netcall which includes many other services. Contract
extended from March 2018 for a further 2 years.

 

Impact assessments/Reports: We do not do specific reports or impact
assessments on Social Media or voice automated services, they are part of
wider performance and Channel shift Reporting and form line items or
sections in that. I have attached the last full year Channel Shift Report
and the last quarter performance report to our Chief Exec as examples.

 

Briefing Notes: A briefing Report on the operational division of duties re
the Sentiment Metrics service is attached.

 

Training Materials: We largely use the training guides provided by Netcall
and Sentiment Metrics – these are copyright and you should contact the
companies direct if you wish to access them. I have attached two In House
developed guides.

 

If you are dissatisfied with the way in which your request for information
has been dealt with you are entitled to request a review by writing to the
Executive Director Customer Services, Argyll and Bute Council, Kilmory,
Lochgilphead, Argyll PA31 8RT, or by email to [Argyll and Bute Council request email].

 

Your request for review must state your name and address for
correspondence, specify the request for information to which your request
for review relates and why you are dissatisfied with the response. 

 

You must make your request for review not later than 40 working days after
the expiry of the 20 working day period for response to your initial
request by the Council, or not later than 40 working days after the
receipt by you of the information provided, any fees notice issued or any
notification of refusal or partial refusal.

 

If you make an application for review and remain dissatisfied with the way
in which the review has been dealt with you are entitled to make an
application to the Scottish Information Commissioner, Kinburn Castle,
Doubledykes Road, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9DS (Tel: 01334 464610) for a
further review. You can now do this online here -  
www.itspublicknowledge.info/Appeal.

 

You must make representation to the Scottish Information Commissioner no
later than 6 months after the date of receipt by you of the notice or
decision you are dissatisfied with or within 6 months of the expiry of the
period of 20 working days from receipt by the Council of your request for
review.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

[3]David Signature

 

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