1. The document discusses principles of good information use in local councils, including culture, people, standards, relevance, quality, and presentation. It analyzes data from 15 councils on their progress implementing these principles. 2. Survey results show that two-thirds of council decision makers struggle to understand information, and resources like analyst time are not always used effectively. 3. The workshop portion of the document instructs attendees to assess their own council's status on each principle as underdeveloped, developing, or well developed using examples and criteria provided. It encourages participants to discuss results and get more information at an Audit Commission booth.

1. Is there something I should know
SOCITM Conference
October 2009
Andrew Ball & Natalie Penrose
Audit Commission

2. Is there something I should know
Part 1
The principles of good information

3. Relevance Quality and Presentation
In The Know (Feb 08)
• relevant for the
decision at hand
• good information
depends on good
quality data
• well presented for
accurate interpretation

4. Culture People and Standards
Councils need:
• culture that exploits the
value and power of
information
• expert, professional, well
trained people working in
effective ways
• good standards - good
quality data and information
shared effectively with
partners

5. And combined this means …
6...relevant to the needs
of the business.
5…presented in a clear, concise
and understandable way and is…
4…data quality that is appropriate to the
business requirement as a basis for
information that is…
3…standards that provide a governance structure
for the effective use of data and information
leading to…
2…people that have the competence,
capability and capacity to make it happen working to…
1. An organisation with a culture that says ‘information
matters’ and with information managed as a
corporate asset employing…

6. Most councils are starting their
improvement journey
Culture
2
13% 47%
7 6
40%
People
7
47% 3
20% 5
33%
Standards
7
47% 3
20% 33% 5
Overall improvement journey made by the 15 councils visited in fieldwork
Under developed
Developing
Well developed
Source: Audit Commission Fieldwork, Is there something I should know? (2009)

7. Two-thirds of decision makers struggle to
understand the information they receive
Interpretative skills of
29% 63% 3% 4%
members
Interpretative skills of
48% 49% 1% 2%
senior officers
Extent to which lack of interpretative skills prevent good information use (% of councils)
Does not Prevents good Totally prevents
prevent good Don't know
information use to a good information use
information use great/some extent
Source: Audit Commission Survey, Is there something I should know? (2009)

8. Resources are not used effectively
Routine performance monitoring and reporting 36%
Tasks not directly related to analytical activity 27%
Research and analysis work 15%
Short ad hoc information requests 10%
Providing information for communication material 6%
Other 3%
Consultation (including surveys and focus groups) 2%
Support for funding bids 2%
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40%
Average per cent of analyst tim e by activity
Source: Audit Commission analyst diaries, Is there something I should know?
(2009)

9. Is there something I should know
Part 2
What does this mean for my Council?

10. The workshop
• Groups explore each of the six core principles in your
councils
• A person in each group will take one principle:
• Culture • People • Standards
• Relevance • Quality • Presentation
• Each person will briefly outline to the rest of the
group how well a principle works in their organisation
• The group will agree on whether this is under
developed, developing or developing well and record
the results of the discussion in the grid provided
• There is a guide on each table to help you assess
your own Council

11. A reminder of the principles
• Culture
• People
• Standards
• Relevance
• Quality
• Presentation

12. For more information…
visit:
www.audit-commission.gov.uk/istheresomething
Or visit our stand (63) for materials or
to talk to us about what you have
heard today