Transparency

Wednesday 24th November 2010, Central London, 09:00 - 16:15

Open Government: Balancing Transparency and Personal Privacy

Overview

"A new era of transparency in government has begun… nobody, no matter where they work or who they are, is exempt from this agenda… we are drawing back the curtains to let light into the innermost corridors of power” Francis Maude MP, Minister for the Cabinet Office, 2010

On-going action is required to promote openness and restore confidence in central and local government and the wider public sector. The coalition is committed to increase transparency within public bodies in order to promote accountability and encourage entrepreneurism. The Prime Minister recently established the Public Sector Transparency Board. Chaired by Francis Maude, the board will drive forward the government’s transparency agenda; and shape and define a set of Public Data Principles.

The Freedom of Information Act, implemented in 2005, has allowed individuals to make information requests to public bodies including central and local government, police and education institutions. Regulated by the Information Commissioner, the act has led to unprecedented access to public sector data.

In their first few months of governance, the coalition has acted decisively to drive forward the transparency agenda. Among a raft of new measures, is the requirement for public bodies to publish, in accessible format, details of expenditure, with the aim to encourage local residents to scrutinise how tax-payers money is being utilised, hold bodies to account and increase value for money.

Other measures that the coalition has announced include, an expansion in the use of open-source software to enable individuals to re-use government data and encourage innovation. The tendering and procurement process will also be opened up, with large ICT infrastructure projects broken down into individual components to allow small and medium sized businesses to compete for contracts. With several consultations currently being undertaken by the Government, a ‘Right to Government Data’ bill is expected to be published shortly.

Agenda

Timed to coincide with the fifth anniversary of the Freedom of Information Act, this forum will discuss the latest policy developments, implications for public bodies and the possibilities for the private and not-for-profit sectors. Sessions will examine the timetable for implementation, the ongoing developments in the transparency agenda and the impact of legislation including the Bribery Act. With keynote presentations from across the public sector, delegates will hear practical guidance on how they can meet the new obligations.

09:00	Registration and Coffee
09:20	Chair’s Welcome Address Chair to be announced
09:30	Opening Keynote: Opening up the Public Sector Ensuring value for money – reforming the procurement process Transparency and the Review of Fair Pay in the Public Sector Implementing Structural Reform Plans Encouraging innovation and entrepreneurism Strengthening the scrutiny powers of parliament and the public Protecting whistle-blowers in the public sector Restoring confidence through transparency Implementing the Final Codes of Practice Creating a national approach to publishing public sector data Impact of the Combined Online Information System Rt Hon Francis Maude MP, Minister for the Cabinet Office (invited)
09:50	Questions and Answers Session
10:00	Enhancing Scrutiny in the Public Sector Anthony Robinson, Director for Casework and Litigation, Equalities and Human Rights Commission (CONFIRMED)
10:20	Case Study: Challenges and Opportunities of Increasing Transparency Reform of public sector communication – increasing accountability The financial and structural challenges in making local government data public Meeting reporting requirements – local performance and service data, employment opportunities, salaries of senior staff Improving communication with local residents Utilising ICT to improve inclusion Reducing waste and increasing efficiency The role of overview and scrutiny committees Information sharing through multi-agency partnerships David Burbage, Council Leader, Windsor and Maidenhead Council (CONFIRMED)
10:40	Questions and Answers Session
10:55	Coffee Break and Networking
11:25	Public Accountability Alison Kelly, National Lead, Governance and Accountability, Audit Commission (CONFIRMED)
11:45	Increasing the Role of Citizens Transparency and delivering value for money Enabling citizens to scrutinise public sector spending Further steps to increase openness The impact of transparency on improving democracy Increasing local and national accountability Understanding published information – increasing access Improving information – offering choice in services Matt Sinclair, Director, The Taxpayers' Aliiance (CONFIRMED)
12:05	Questions and Answers Session
12:20	Lunch and Networking
13:30	Case Study – Learning Lessons – Increasing Transparency An international perspective on government transparency The move towards citizen-centered government Effective communication – comprehensive, accessible and regular up-dates Strengthening the link between individuals and local authorities Citizen power – allowing individuals to access performance data of public services Adrian Brown, Fellow, Institute for Government (CONFIRMED)
13:50	ICT in Public Services The benefits and challenges of using free and open source software Moving from paper records to online reporting Ensuring data is published in an accessible, single format Encouraging innovation through open ICT The role of the third and private sectors in creating applications How will the new procurement strategy benefit SME organisations? Creating a level playing field in ICT procurement Professor Nigel Shadbolt, Deputy Head, School of Electronics and Computer Science, University of Southampton (invited)
14:10	Working in Partnership – SMEs and the Public Sector Benefits of opening the tendering and procurement process The role of the private sector in providing public services Encouraging innovation through publishing data Accessing information about business opportunities Benchmarking procurement costs Speaker to be announced
14:30	Questions and Answers Session
14:45	Coffee Break and Networking
15:15	Transparency and Data Protection in the Public Sector The legal challenges in reforming transparency The impact of FOI on the public sector Implementing the legal right to data Balancing access to information and compliance with data protection legislation Risk management – protecting personal information Training staff in data protection Standards and procedures in data protectionThe re-use potential of public sector data Dr Ben Worthy, Research Associate, The Constitution Unit, School of Public Policy, UCL (CONFIRMED)
15:35	Closing Keynote: Freedom of Information in the Public Sector The Freedom of Information Act - 5 years on Increasing the enforcement powers of the Information Commissioners Office Regulatory framework on transparency Implementing the right to government data The FOI model publication scheme Balancing public interest and confidentiality Dawn Monaghan, Group Manager, Public Services, Strategic Liaison, Information Commissioner’s Office (CONFIRMED)
15:55	Questions and Answers Session
16:10	Chairs Closing Remarks
16:15	Close

* programme subject to change without notice

Audience

Delegates will be drawn from across central and local government, including heads of IT / IT directors, local authority corporate governance teams, heads of shared services, heads of transformation, heads of information compliance, chief technology officers, business change directors, heads of IT infrastructure, heads of information assurance, heads of disaster recovery, technical directors / managers, risk / change managers, local authority directors, e-learning managers, directors and heads of research and knowledge transfer, ICT suppliers and e-learning providers and heads of procurement, representatives from across the wider public sector, trade unions, businesses and employers, academia and legal & voluntary and all those interested in the area.