eZine: April 2010

In this edition:
General (contains 18 articles)
- 1 DEC and DTF Consultation
- 2 Response to OS Consultation
- 3 Total Place: Spend Counting Analysis and Customer Insight Status
- 4 Blackpool Uses Internet to Tackle Traffic Congestion
- 5 Birmingham GIS Points Way to Polls
- 6 General Election 2010: Identifying Voters Through a Direct Property Linkage
- 7 Underpinning Transformational Government - Case Study Booklet Available
- 8 Everything Happens Somewhere
- 9 NLPG Commercial
- 10 Resellers
- 11 New NLPG Users
- 12 NLPG Licensing
- 13 VOA Matching
- 14 Intelligent News
- 15 IA Director Joins INSPIRE Experts Panel
- 16 Head of IT at Hampshire CC takes on Socitm Presidency
- 17 Andrew Lawes Memorial
- 18 Worthing BC Seek LLPG/SNN Officer
1. General

1.1. DEC and DTF Consultation

Local Government Information House seeks views on two documents which relate to the
creation, ongoing maintenance and use of the National Land and Property Gazetteer
(NLPG). These documents are:
Data Entry Conventions and Best Practice for the National Land and Property Gazetteer
(DEC-NLPG) version 3.0
Data Transfer Format 7.3 for the National Land and Property Gazetteer (DTF7.3) version
3.0
The consultation was launched on 9 April 2010 and will be open for comment by any
interested party until 5pm Monday 24 May 2010.

Further details, including the documents and method of reply can be found on the
Improvement and Development Agency [1]website.
[1] http://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=17437948

1.2. Response to OS Consultation

The recent government consultation on Ordnance Survey - which attracted an astonishing
441 responses - will have been of interest to Custodians, together with the
([1]response) that was published last month.

Parts of the report have been generally warmly welcomed, such as the well-publicised
"free data" element. There seems to be a consensus amongst hardened observers that the
consultation raises more questions than it answers and that even some of the far-
reaching conclusions need considerable further thought.

For example, the debate about Ordnance Survey's proper role, which has been argued over
for much of the past 8 years, has still not been settled with the question of "Public
Task" being set aside for the time being. Likewise matters to do with simplifying
licensing and "derived data" have been deferred until Ordnance Survey has completed
their preparations.

The government decided not to re-balance costs between the private and public sector,
which could otherwise have meant a substantial increase in cost to local government.
Closer to home - there were 189 responses to Q9 on the proposal for a single National
Address Register "with most advocating that it should be free". Government did not
comment on these responses.

The Department for Communities and Local Government also published an [2]Impact
Assessment on the government's response to the policy options which details the
estimated financial impact of their policies options for geographic information from
Ordnance Survey.
[1] http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/corporate/pdf/1528263.pdf
[2] http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/corporate/ordnancesurveyconresponse

1.3. Total Place: Spend Counting Analysis and Customer Insight Status
 Communities and Local Government has published [1]Total Place which pulls together all
delivery partners to take a joint, collaborative, look at how best to tackle major
policy. Thirteen pilots across England have looked in depth at how greater co-
ordination between partners and local leadership could help deliver better services
with the customer at the heart of their design at less cost through the whole public
resources spent in a geographical area. This research publication reports on the spend
count and customer insight elements of the pilots.
[1]
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/spendcountcustomerinsight

1.4. Blackpool Uses Internet to Tackle Traffic Congestion

An intelligent map of Blackpool's roads is using its LSG at the heart of an award-
winning project that is transforming highways maintenance and street works in the
popular seaside resort. The computer system captures and presents information about
day-to-day changes that may affect Blackpool's roads and delivers the information via
an easy to use web mapping tool to support essential decision making. For full press
release click [1]here.
[1] http://www.thensg.org.uk/iansg/document.htm?targ=646

1.5. Birmingham GIS Points Way to Polls

Birmingham City Council has adapted mapping technology to direct voters to polling
stations on election day. The council said that people who are unsure where to go to
vote on 6 May can use the My Local Information search function on its website to find
the location.

Stephen Hughes, chief executive of Birmingham City Council and returning officer for
the upcoming elections, said: "The vast majority of people know where they should go to
vote, and they are always reminded of their polling station on the ballot cards that
are distributed in the run-up to an election.

"However, it is possible that these cards can be misplaced or people are new to the
city, which means it is useful to have other ways of finding out where they can vote."

"By adding this simple feature to the council website, we are using 21st century
technology is an effective way to provide a quick and simple service to citizens, who
previously would have to call the council if they were in any doubt where to go on
election day."

My Local Information was launched in 2009 with the aim of providing residents with
information on council services, including schools, libraries and recycling.

1.6. General Election 2010: Identifying Voters Through a Direct Property Linkage
As the 2010 General Election campaign gather pace, Council held Electoral Registers are
benefitting from the National Land and Property Gazetteer (NLPG). All electors live
somewhere but historically, this information has been maintained in different ways.
Now, with thanks to the hard work and effort made by local authorities and a 2008
Directive from the Ministry of Justice, all entries in Electoral Registers are
associated with a property. This project has ensured that as many people as possible
who are eligible to vote have the opportunity to do so, together with improving the
reliability and accountability of electoral information. For more information see
 [1]here.
[1] http://www.nlpg.org.uk/nlpg/document.htm?targ=638

1.7. Underpinning Transformational Government - Case Study Booklet Available

The NLPG NSG Exemplar Awards highlight and celebrate how the NLPG and NSG initiatives
deliver better services to citizens and save money. This 72 page booklet describes the
projects of the 2009 Exemplar Awards winners and runners-up.

If you would like a hard copy of the booklet, please contact [1]ggander@intelligent-
addressing.co.uk.
[1] mailto:ggander@intelligent-addressing.co.uk

1.8. Everything Happens Somewhere

The 2010 NLPG NSG annual conference has been renamed from Underpinning Transformational
Government to Everything Happens Somewhere. The conference and exhibition will take
place on 20th October at Cutlers' Hall in central Sheffield. Details of the conference
and exhibition are being finalised and will be available imminently.

This year's Exemplar Awards scheme will be launched during June.

1.9. NLPG Commercial

IA is contracted to act as LGIH's sole agent for the commercialisation of the NLPG, and
promote its use in market sectors beyond the scope of the organisations covered by
local government's Mapping Services Agreement. To fulfil these commercial obligations
to local government, IA is appointing a range of resellers who already have existing
clients in key target markets.

1.10. Resellers
In addition to Aligned Assets, Bartec Systems and Postcode Anywhere, during March 2010,
GB Group Plc (http://www.gb.co.uk/) became the fourth commercial organisation to sign
up to the NLPG reseller program. Their plan is to make commercial sales into central
government and the utility sectors. We are undertaking a number of ongoing discussions
with other organisations that have indicated interest in signing up as resellers in the
very near future.

1.11. New NLPG Users

During March 2010 the following organisations entered into Commercial NLPG Licences
with IA considerably expanding the NLPG user base and scope of application
Department for Energy and Climate Change
Welsh Assembly Government Highway Directorate

1.12. NLPG Licensing

Currently there are three licences available to allow organisations to exploit content
in the NLPG in different ways; Reseller, Commercial business use (End User) and
Dev/Dem. All three of these licences can be accessed from the [1]NLPG website.
[1] http://www.nlpg.org.uk
1.13. VOA Matching
The current Council Tax match rate is 99.37%. All regions are now over 98% and there
are 288 authorities with a CTAX match rate above 99%, no local authorities with a CTAX
match rate of less than 90% and only 6 local authorities with a CTAX match rate of less
than 95%. The current Non Domestic Rates match rate is at an all time high of 75.67%.
There are only 152,749 records left to match for Council Tax and less than 448,853
records left to match for Non Domestic Rates.

1.14. Intelligent News

The next edition of IA's newsletter is currently at the printers and will be sent to
all Custodians and ALOs at the beginning of May.

1.15. IA Director Joins INSPIRE Experts Panel

Following a competitive process, Simon Barlow, a Director of Intelligent Addressing
Ltd, has been selected as an Expert by the EU INSPIRE team. Simon will be part of the
'Buildings' Technical Working Group (TWG), tasked with the development of the Buildings
theme data specification for annex three of the EU INSPIRE Directive. [1]here
[1] http://www.nlpg.org.uk/nlpg/document.htm?targ=640

1.16. Head of IT at Hampshire CC takes on Socitm Presidency

Jos Creese, Head of IT at Hampshire County Council has been confirmed as the new Socitm
President at the Society's AGM on April 22.

Socitm involvements prior to becoming President include chairing Socitm Insight, and
immediately before becoming President he was one of the Society's three vice
Presidents. He will hold office for one year with immediate effect. For more details
see [1]here.
[1]
http://www.socitm.net/news/article/33/jos_creese_head_of_it_at_hampshire_county_council
_takes_on_socitm_presidency

1.17. Andrew Lawes Memorial

The bench and brass plate commemorating the life of Andrew Lawes, the past Regional
LLPG Chair for Yorkshire & Humberside was officially inaugurated at the National
Railway Museum on Monday 22nd March. . Also an engine shed plate purchased by Bernard
Walker of Staffordshire Moorlands, was handed over to be mounted on the fence at the
right hand side of the bench.

Andrew, who was a life long railway enthusiast, was tragically killed in a motoring
accident while out walking his dog. The individuals in the photograph from left to
right are Bernard Walker from Staffordshire Moorlands, David Bradshaw from
Calderdale, Michael Wood from Harrogate, Allan Allott from East Riding of Yorkshire
Council, David Tester from York CC, and Marilyn George from East Riding of Yorkshire
Council (seated).

1.18. Worthing BC Seek LLPG/SNN Officer

Worthing Borough council is looking for an LLPG/SNN Officer who will develop and
maintain the Local Land and Property Gazetteer (LLPG) for both Worthing & Adur Councils
sending regular updates to the National Hub. You will assist in data matching
exercises, integrating the LLPG in other corporate systems and promoting the LLPG.

You will have knowledge of LLPG (preferably Aligned Assets Gazetteer Management
System), Access databases, SQL queries and GIS experience, preferably MapInfo.

You will be responsible for street / house naming and numbering and setting up
procedures to conform to the Mapping Services Agreement and you must be familiar with
the British Standards of Addressing.

Attractions include training and development opportunities, supportive family-friendly

policies, a final salary pension scheme, season ticket loans, flexible working
opportunities and staff discounts at leisure and arts venues.

Salary £22,221 - £26,276 p.a. Scale 6 / SO1. Subject to Pay and Grading Review. Closing
date: Tuesday 19th May 2010

For further details and to apply, visit [1]www.worthing.gov.uk or email: [2]gill.van-

eetvelt@worthing.gov.uk or phone 01903 221374.
[1] http://www.worthing.gov.uk
[2] mailto:gill.van-eetvelt@worthing.gov.uk