opening up government spending - was it worth it? with ben worthy

7/29/2019 Opening up government spending - was it worth it? with Ben Worthy

1/24

Opening up Government

Spending - Was is Worth it?

Ben Worthy

Birkbeck College


2/24

Methods

Focus on local government spending over 500

Requests: FOI requests to 60 authorities askingfor number of hits on spending area of the site

Survey of authorities: 10 question survey of localauthorities on the impact of the TransparencyAgenda and spending data

Interviews: with officers, innovators and experts

Media and online analysis: Use of the spendingdata


3/24

Local Spending: What Will it Do?

Financial disclosure will act as a trigger enabling localtaxpayers to see how councils are using public money,shine a spotlight on waste, establish greateraccountability and efficiency,open up new markets

and improve access for small and local business andthe voluntary sector.

It would also revolutionize local government. Localpeople should be able to hold politicians and public

bodies to account. The swift and simple changes weare calling for today will unleash an army of armchairauditors(DCLG 2012).


4/24

Local Spending: What Will it Do?

Focus on democratic aspects

1. Transparency and Accountability: challenging,holding to account and transparency. Connects

to localism2. Transparency and Participation: as spur to

involvement. Connect to localism anddevolution

3. Transparency and Informing: as a means ofdeeper understanding, choice. Connects tochoice agenda and trust


5/24

Use of the Data

60% described use aslow or very low withanother 30% notknowing

Highest use 6002 pageviews in a 28 monthperiod

Lowest 167 page viewsin a 26 month period

Supported by NAO(2012), LGA (2012) andHalonen (2012

Council

type

Numberof

pageviews

Jan-Dec 2012

District 528

City 450

District 437

District 35District 41

District 636

County 561


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Use Compared

(note visits not page views)

Site Visits per month

Police.uk 540609

Data.gov.uk 161101

TheyWorkForYou 200-300,000

WhatDoTheyKnow 100-200,000


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Why is it so low?

Presentation-often in a excel format, no narrativeand not comparable

Habits-public often used to asking a question rather

than searching Motivation-age old difficulty of involving public in

government

Not to say failed as

1. May be opinion formers2. Lead to innovations

3. Quality not quantity e.g. MPs expenses?


8/24

Who is Using the Data?

Public: few membersinterestedusualsuspects?

Media: 148 articles on

spending , encourageothers-clustered incontroversial areas orlaggards

Business: heavy use insome areas

NGOs: grassroots andhackers

Primary

Users

Number

Public 23

Media 29

Business 30

NGOs 5

Other 22


9/24

What are they looking for?

Spending data most popular of all Open Data

Research from FOI points towards micro-political or non-political use of local

information. High level including Council Tax and Business

Rates and Credit balances on NNDR accounts

Low-level or micro-political matters includingPublic Health Funeral data, car parking data,Senior Staff Salary Data, Planning Applicationsdata


10/24

Impact?

Possibility of being watched driving better

behaviour? Mixture of anticipated reactions

and professionalise.

Could it also drive poor behaviour

underground?

5 authorities identified use from within by

officials and members but most felt it was not

used internally.


11/24

Transparency and Accountability:

Use by a mix of public, media, NGOs and

hyperlocal sites

Wide mix of issues from broad (tax) to very

specific (individual payments to particular

body)

Sporadic and driven by particular

circumstances and interests

Part of rise of monitorial democracy?


12/24

Armchair Auditors: our auditor needs

Technical skills i.e.statistical, IT

Motivation to lookand search

Time

Understanding andinterest in localgovernment finance

Compare with AuditRegulations?


13/24


14/24

Armchair Auditors

Needs to link to clearand effectivemechanisms

Operates when thereis a form ofaccountabilityvacuum or failure?

Works best with othermechanisms

Example of MPsexpenses


15/24

Transparency and Participation

Aside from exception such as Barnet not led toa large push towards engagement

Lack of context or narrative to motivate?

Lack of link to other tools e.g. connect up toparticipatory budgeting, local referenda or BigSociety

Classic problem of lack of interest in localgovernment

Could be hidden use?


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Transparency and Informing

Use by media and others may filter into

discussion e.g. spending data on Southern

Cross

Enhanced by Openly Local and other

applications that allow visualizing and

understanding

Local authorities are keen to do this (but lack

resources) (LGA 2012).


17/24

Transparency and Informing: what

interests the public? (Doncaster MBC

Jan 2013)

Topic of page Visits per month

Planning 3349Bin collections 3694

Council Tax 2009

Chamber 1708Transparency 126

Procurement 88


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The Politics: local government

Local vs. central government dynamics overfinance and political control e.g. lack ofinterest due to lack of power?

Local government internal dynamics.Authorities display variety of responses fromenthusiasm to minimal compliance.

Open Data is not yet sold to those withinlocal government who can drive it-do not yetsee the benefits .


19/24

The Politics: central government

Central government sending out mixed messageson what it wants-lack of clarity. Is it economic,political or social?

Fear spending data is a political tool to portraythem as reckless spenders who were wastingmoney.

A wider concern that the Open Data may be a

Trojan horse for privatization and asmokescreen for clamping down on informationrights


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Will it be worth it? Scenario 1

The data.gov scenario (see Peled 2011)

Departmental resistance or reluctance

Lack of clarity or push Lack of public interest

Cycle of disinterest


21/24

Will it be worth it? Scenario 2

The Openly Local/They Work for You and

Communities scenario

Innovation with simple/linked interface

Either localised information or linked from

source to exact street where spent

Useful for citizen as localised information and

for authority as a policy-making tool


22/24

What does it need to be worth it?

Like FOI it requires

use (either direct or innovation)

high profile support Needs to have a narrative, context and linked

Link to clear mechanisms of accountability

and participation


23/24

Will it be worth it? Thoughts

Aims are complex and mixed-nave? Optimistic?Hidden? Open Data blurs technical and political

Makes assumptions about (i) public interest (ii)behavior

Technological solution to political problems e.g.spending, accountability and public engagement

Neutral appearance hides deep political issues

Misunderstand the internet and politics? Very early days


24/24

Thank You

What do you think?

Who can I speak to?

How can I contact Open Data users? What examples or innovations should I look

at?

Contact me [email protected]
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]

opening up government spending - was it worth it? with ben worthy

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