Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
Slides from Session 2 - Local Government Finance
Citation preview
Local Government Finance Statistics
How can we work better with our users?
Aims of the Session
The Local Government Finance Directorate produce and use a huge number of statistics. To get the most out of these statistics we need to work effectively with our users
We want the session to be…
1. An open exchange of ideas and views
2. An interesting experience that gives us some fresh perspective
3. A first step in our attempt to develop closer and more effective relationships with our key users
Structure of the Session
Session will consist of two short presentations which cover two areas where user engagement is particularly important. After each presentation we’ve allocated 20mins of time where we can discuss any related issues or ideas
The two presentations are about;
1. Data Collection Processes
2. Communicating the LGF Settlement
Before we start…
Want to thank Local Authorities for the time and effort they put into completing our returns and helping us
understand what the figures are showing!
Your support is vital in producing these important statistics which are used by a huge number of
government departments and other users
Data and Dissemination Team
Local Government Finance Directorate
Data and Dissemination Team Objective
To provide accurate, timely and reliable data, analysis and advice
on local government finance
The Data Collection Process
• Deciding the timetable• Designing the forms• Issuing, chasing and loading the forms• Validating and quality assuring the data• Publishing the data
Example – CTB1 Form 2013
Timetable • Started adapting the form in April 2013• Publication date fixed - data from CTB
form feeds into annual local government finance settlement
What could we do better?
Timetable • Does it work for you?
Example – CTB1 Form 2013
Form Design • Engaged with policy colleagues to
ensure relevant content• Invited a selection of LAs to comment• Engaged with IT suppliers• Presented to CLIP-F for approval• Piloted form
What could we do better?
Form Design • Wider consultation? • Create focus groups to help test forms?• Earlier engagement with IT suppliers?
Example – CTB1 Form 2013
Issuing, Chasing and Loading Forms • Issued excel spreadsheet on 27
September with a 2 week deadline • Followed up queries by email and
phone calls during November• Forms loaded into in-house software
‘CLASS’ for validation checks
What could we do better?
Issuing, Chasing and Loading Forms • Does the excel format present any
issues?• Do you prefer to speak to DCLG staff
when DCLG query data or prefer emails?
• Are there better solutions – online data collection?
Example – CTB1 Form 2013
Validation• Spreadsheet contained in build
validation checks• ‘CLASS’ • Comparison to other sources
What could we do better?
Validation• How can we improve data quality?• Do we need more in-form validation
checks?
Example – CTB1 Form 2013
Publication• Due to be published on 28th November• Statistical release highlights key points • Excel tables with a local authority drop
down
What could we do better?
Publication• Can the format be improved e.g. more
visuals and/or comparators• More or less commentary?
What could we do better?
Any other suggestions?
Communicating the 2014-15 Local Government Finance Settlement
Local Government Finance Directorate
Context and aims
Context • The settlement is a key business area for DCLG. Each year the challenge is to present a large volume of numerical and formulaic data clearly and helpfully • Our audience is Local Authority members and officers in England as well as MPs and representative bodies such as the Local Government Association and London Councils
Aims • To set out robust plans for communicating the settlement process - provisional and final 2014-15 settlements, and illustrative 2015-16 settlement externally and internally • To demonstrate how we have taken account of the views expressed last year and this from the sector.
How and what we communicate
• Online publications – the Local Government Finance Report, tables, guides
• Hard copy documents – the Local Government Finance Report and possibly some supporting tables
• Email to councils setting out details for each one with links • Sharing key updates with dept and other departments• Ministerial telecons with councils • Keeping councils informed through Sir Bob Kerslake letters• Meetings, where councils discuss provisional settlement with Ministers
during consultation
Data• Spending Power figures • Start up Funding Assessment, Revenue Support Grant, Baseline
Funding Levels etc• Local Government Finance Report• Other grants
Challenges and gathering views
Challenges for the department
•Providing information at the right time•Setting a clear and helpful context for data •Striking a balance on tone between detail and usability•Identifying most suitable medium and timing of communications on the settlement
What we have done to gather views
•Survey•Visits•Review of documentation•Website re-think
Survey on website
We surveyed all local authorities and asked a range of questions;•What do you use and how often?•How useful is it?
Responses were mostly from finance officers who used the website regularly – they said;•Keen on lots of data •Some difficulties around finding info and timing•Over 90% of users want a single index page and access to archive •Most reach site using email links or bookmark – only 20% use a search engine•Tables and calculation model essential for almost all (documents essential for fewer)
Also used visits and calls to a sample of authorities (met/county/district/LB).
‘Would like ‘route map’ and year on year comparisons for each authorityChallenge to government to provide single web destination for all key government grants.
External communications: proposals and outcomes
2014-15
• Move to gov.uk website• Improved presentation of tables – new titles and brief description of
content • Updated and improved simple guide to LG funding and settlement with
explanation of current settlement• Continue Brandon Lewis’s telecon, caseworker meetings and Sir Bob
Kerslake letters as required• Add to email alerts to set out key stages and next steps for authorities?
2015-16
• Close LGF website?• Explore uses by other departments to create a single web destination?• Continue the dialogue.
Local Government Finance Statistics
Looking ahead to 2014
Summary of the first break out session
Quick wins
Clear revisions - what’s changed
Online forms - mixed reviews
Be clearer on what the
data’s used for
Improving our data processing
Wider and more regular
updates
Upcoming Releases / Events
28 November Publication of Council Tax Base StatisticsPublication of Revenue Outturn Statistics
4 December Publication of Quarter 2 Revenue Collection Statistics
5 December Autumn Statement
December Provisional Local Government SettlementPublication of Audited NNDR3 Statistics
January New NNDR1 issuedCTR with additional parish validation checks issued
Plans to improve user engagement
In 2014 one of the main things we want to achieve is an improvement in our user engagement.
There are 3 projects we are undertaking to try and help us do this;
1.The Review of Evidence
2.Data visualisation in Local Government Finance
3.Local Authority visits
Plans to improve user engagementReview of Evidence
In the summer the department started a process of reviewing the way it collects and uses evidence.
The review made a number of recommendations including;
• Develop a network of external key thinkers
• Carry out a review of data collected
• Investigate the potential to use new IT more effectively
To address these recommendations we’re planning to develop closer relationships with our users.
Plans to improve user engagementdata visualisation
Historically Local Government Finance statistics have largely consisted of large complicated tables of figures about highly technical topics.
In 2014 we’re going to look into using new tools to help us communicate our statistics in more interesting ways
We have some ideas but if you have any
suggestions or particular statistics you’d like us to focus on let me know!
Plans to improve user engagementvisiting our users
Most importantly though we are planning on making more of an effort to meet our users and understand
what they want from our statistics
