Key information
Decision type: Assistant Director
Reference code: ADD2358
Date signed:
Decision by: Jeremy Skinner, Assistant Director of Strategy, Insight and Intelligence
Executive summary
Through the discovery, the GLA will look to gain a deeper understanding of the Datastore’s users and their needs. This project will also explore what additional positive contribution the Datastore could make to data sharing across London so that public servants, businesses and others can deliver better services to the public.
Decision
1. a mission and vision for the Datastore;
2. a strategy that maps out the steps needed to implement the next iteration of the London Datastore; and
3. documentation of user needs that can be translated into a list of technical requirements for use in future development.
Part 1: Non-confidential facts and advice
The London Datastore is the GLA’s data-sharing platform. The GLA and GLA Group currently have over 800 datasets published on the London Datastore which are used by over 50,000 analysts, academics, developers and policy officers every month to help deliver services, drive new research and hold the Mayor accountable.
In November 2018, the London Datastore underwent an internal review against the Local Government Digital Service Standard. This review identified several potential areas of improvement. Five years on from its last major redevelopment, we know little of whether we are meeting our users’ needs and how these needs may have evolved over time. In addition, over this time the technology landscape has changed significantly bringing new opportunities and challenges.
In the Smarter London Together roadmap the Mayor and Chief Digital Officer identify strengthening the city’s ability to work collaboratively as a mission for London’s public service. We wish to build upon the success of the London Datastore as an open data publishing platform to help deliver this vision.
We wish to commission services to deliver a discovery phase that will inform the specification for the next iteration of the London Datastore.
Following advice from the TfL Commercial team, we advertised our requirements via the Government’s Digital Marketplace. 33 completed applications were received, from which we shortlisted twelve to submit a written proposal. Submissions will be assessed by the GLA panel and a contract awarded to the supplier judged to have the experience, skills, and methodology that best meets the project requirements and can deliver on time, at a competitive price. A contract will be awarded by Friday 30 August 2019.
We have four objectives for the discovery:
• to understand the wider service that the London Datastore supports and what additional positive contribution it could make;
• to understand the needs of our users and potential users and the intersection between this and our ambitions;
• to define the mission and vision for the London Datastore; and
• to understand the steps needed to implement the next iteration of the London Datastore.
We expect the following deliverables from the discovery:
• a mission and vision for the Datastore;
• a strategy that maps out the steps we need to take to implement the next iteration of the London Datastore, including identifying the resources required to deliver it; and
• documentation of user needs that can be translated into a backlog for Alpha.
Upon assessing the risks, people with disabilities have been identified as a group who may potentially have problems using the London Datastore unless it has been designed with their needs in mind. This would essentially exclude this group from accessing the benefits of using the website. To mitigate this risk, we will liaise with the GLA’s digital team to ensure we meet the web accessibility standards set by the organisation.
The expenditure of £50,000 will be funded from the 2019-20 London Datastore budget within the City Intelligence Unit.
Signed decision document
ADD2358 London Datastore Discovery Phase