The empirical blotter

SharePoint and Office 365

2011-12-30T08:25:00.002Z

As we look for cloud solutions Office 365 seems too good to be true. £4 per month per user for hosted Exchange and SharePoint...

Found this intersting video http://www.office-outlook.com/outlook-forum/index.php/m/142886/

EU publishes draft directive for future of Public Sector procurement

2011-12-29T08:04:00.002Z

Excellent article from www.procurementleaders.com about the proposed chnages to EU legislation for public sector procurement. Could be some New Year cheer for SME's!

Reading Borough Council web site launched

2011-12-06T07:31:00.001Z

The revamped Reading borough Council web site went live last week. www.reading.gov.uk.

Councillors throwing a spanner in works of usable online services

2011-09-19T10:17:00.001+01:00

Interesting article in UKauthorITy today about the SOCITM Better Connected conference last week which I attended.Seems we all still have to have news on our home page even though the customer doesn't want it!

Top Tasks for Council Web SItes

2011-09-05T10:10:00.000+01:00

As we are currently engaged by a local authority to redevelop their web site, this article by Gerry McGovern is a timely reminder and highlights the benefits of task focussed web sites and argues 'less is better'

Our RepRap goes to Brighton Maker Faire

2011-08-30T19:40:00.000+01:00

We are taking our RepRaps (hopefully we will have two by then) to the Brighton Maker Faire. The event is on Saturday, 3RD September, at the Dome in Brighton. Hannah and Malcolm will be appearing as RepNap and have hooked up with a guy called Daniel Soltis – who has a hacked Kinect to create a system called hand:drawn. We hope to be printing out 3d letters that people have drawn in thin air in front of Daniel’s Kinect. It is an artistic endeavour especially for this MakerFaire but who knows where it will lead!

Public Sector Assets Mapped for all to see!

2011-08-05T07:40:00.000+01:00

Now you can see what land an property the public sector owns. DCLG website has a map that shows pubic sector assets including 87 Councils. The 'suggestion' from DCLG is that these might be sold to avoid cutbacks. Hmmmmm.......

Will 3D printing revolutionise manufacturing?

2011-07-29T08:30:00.001+01:00

Now the BBC pose a serious question about 3D Printing.Will it really kill off mass production? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-14282091

Getting On: A manifesto for older people in a networked nation from Raceonline 2012

2011-07-07T08:15:00.000+01:00

Great report out from Raceonline 2012. A manifesto for older people in a networked nation

Is a great read for people designing web sites that older people will use. Page 8 suggests that of the 5.7M older people that are still offline 43% are 'Traditionalists' and are unlikely to use the internet.

So what does that do to local council's channel migration plans!

17 % of the UK Population not used the Internet

2011-06-29T07:30:00.000+01:00

Helen Milner puts together a great slide show to illustrate teh digital divide in UK. Is it getting worse despite broadband!
http://www.slideshare.net/helenmilner/internet-use-in-the-uk-the-evidence-june-2011

Our RepRap gets an outing at #RDGGEEK20 night

2011-06-15T16:45:00.000+01:00

The level of interest in our RepRaP 3D printer at the Reading Geek Night event on 14 June was amazing. Malcolm and Hannah arrived at 19:00h to get set up. The printer ran continuously between 19:15 and 23:15 (when the Copa Bar shut) except for the duration of the two talks. Likewise Malcolm and Hannah were answering questions all that time- apart from during the talks. Hannah got a rest during both, Malcolm only got a rest for one…..

Quite a number of people expressed interest in building/owning a printer and at least 2 people who attended are already building their own. So, we are now looking at running a “Build your own 3D printer course” for the Thanes Valley area. The idea would be for attendees to buy and assemble their own printer as part of the course, with all components supplied as part of the cost of the course. If you are interested, contact Malcolm

Also, don’t forget our offer – if you have an original idea for a 3D print, tell us and we will print the best one for free.

Our 3D Printer gets another outing!

2011-06-06T17:45:00.000+01:00

Malcolm Napier will be talking about and showing our 3D printer at Reading Geek Night on 14th June.

NESTA call for Innovative Councils to step forward

2011-06-06T09:36:00.000+01:00

NESTA are calling for ideas from Creative Councils who see radical transformation as the way forward.

"The first stage is an open call for ideas. We want to hear from local authorities that share our ambition and have a vision for radical transformation in an area of challenge that matters to their communities."

More details at http://www.nesta.org.uk/areas_of_work/public_services_lab/creative_councils

SOCITM Plant the Flag

2011-05-31T08:17:00.000+01:00

Planting the Flag is a Local CIO Council initiative led by Socitm's Futures group. It sets out how technology can enable public service reform across the whole range of local services and deliver significant savings and better outcomes for people where they live and work.

Download the Executive Summary

Councils should be ingenious not innovate

2011-05-05T09:09:00.001+01:00

Matthew Taylor writes in The Guardian's online network about how many innovations fail and how making the best of what council's already have should be the focus.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/local-government-network/2011/may/03/big-idea-councils-ingenious?&

Our RepRap at work - 3D printing at its best

2011-04-14T08:14:00.001+01:00

See our RepRap at work. Its actually making brackets to build the next one!

These are still early days for the 'movement' but we want to see what ideas you can come up with and we will print the best one.

Contact us thorugh the web site

So are the gloves coming off?

2011-04-13T12:46:00.000+01:00

New guidance to local authorities in their dealings with the third sector is out for consultation

Also see the press release

The Big Society will only get bigger - Says Philip Blond

2011-02-04T11:13:00.000Z

A great debate of the ResPublica web site

EU Green Paper on Procurement published

2011-02-01T09:01:00.001Z

The EU published its long awaited Green Paper on procurement. Lets hope its good news for small businesses

The impact of EU procurement legislation on councils

2011-01-17T11:16:00.000Z

The Local Government Association have recently published the results of an online survey of 141 local government procurement officers about the effect that the EU legislation was having on procurement

Key points:

36% said the EU’s Remedies Directive has led to more efficient and effective procurement practice
17% had received challenges
76% rarely or never receive expressions of interest from outside the UK
So some pretty expensive procurement going on for little benefit.

But the EU publish a green paper on 26th January 2011 and are claiming to relook at procurement arrangements.

Thingomatic v RepRap

2011-01-16T13:50:00.001Z

With all the media interest this week about the 3D printer Thingomatic
I thought people might like to know we have our own! So if you want something printed in 3D let us know

This is the RepRap built by Malcolm and Hannah Napier

Procurement and the Public Sector

2010-12-14T08:22:00.000Z

The discussion about SME's and public procurement rages on at the No.10 web site.

A timely report from Networked Neighbourhoods about the use of community web sites and social media

2010-12-07T09:24:00.000Z

http://networkedneighbourhoods.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Online-Nhood-Networks-4-page-summary.pdf

Big Society

2010-12-02T12:56:00.000Z

Great 'tongue in cheek' response from the Directory of Social Change in reply to HMG invite to join the Big Society
http://www.dsc.org.uk/NewsandInformation/News/DearHMGovernmentsomefeedbackonyourBigSocietyapplication

Big Brother Watch Publish report on Councils use of CCTV

2010-12-02T11:50:00.000Z

Very interesting report on how much local authorities are spending on CCTV
http://www.bigbrotherwatch.org.uk/files/big-brother-watch-report---price-is-wrong-29-11-10-final.pdf

Efficiency Programme - 100% Risk and reward

2010-12-01T09:48:00.000Z

A sign of the times? Newport looking for partners for its effieicncy programme at 100% risk and reward model. https://www.sell2wales.co.uk/notices/display.html?NoticeId=22804&activity=NzY1OTg%3d

Councils call for local government accounts to be open data - 11/9/2010 - Computer Weekly

2010-11-25T08:19:00.000Z

Councils call for local government accounts to be open data - 11/9/2010 - Computer Weekly

How to be a radical Chief Executive

2010-11-25T08:07:00.000Z

Some home truths here for us all. Great 'tongue in cheek' article on Guardian Local Government Network, from the folks at We Love Local Government

No 10 Transparency Web Site Launched

2010-11-15T17:06:00.000Z

http://transparency.number10.gov.uk/ Now we can see what they are up to?

Watch out Watch out, there's a virus about (well nearly!)

2010-11-15T08:09:00.001Z

The BBC report on the latest telephone scam, watch out for those phone calls!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11754487

Government Business plan ICT implications discussed

2010-11-11T10:12:00.000Z

A great summary of the Government business plan and the ICT implications of this from PublicTechnology.net
http://www.publictechnology.net/sector/central-gov/government-lays-out-detailed-agenda-government

Big Society Conference in South West

2010-11-05T08:37:00.000Z

Empowerment Works in the South West. Follow the conference blog at http://empowermentworks.blogspot.com/

Big Society - New Economics Foundation publication

2010-11-04T17:44:00.000Z

Great publication from NEF setting out the aspirations and practicalities of the Big Society (oh and an explanation of why the Capital Letters!)http://www.neweconomics.org/publications/cutting-it

Freedom of Information Requests

2010-10-27T10:51:00.002+01:00

A great post from Collective Responsibility http://www.collective-responsibility.net/Latest-Stuff/official-ico-foi-league-table-how-do-you-rate-128 which highlights some of the dicrepancies between Councils views of how many complaints they receive.

Bye Bye NI

2010-10-15T08:07:00.003+01:00

Eric Pickles announces the end of the National Indicator set (and Local Area Agreements)

http://www.communities.gov.uk/statements/corporate/localgovaccountability

Local Government Association publishes 'White Paper' on Big Society

2010-10-05T12:41:00.000+01:00

The LGA has launched its 'White Paper' promoting the Big Society and local budgets. The paper claims that by developing local budgets at a community level £20bn of savings could be made over the life of this Parliament. http://www.lga.gov.uk/lga/aio/14041576

Further stimulation of the Big Society debate which may well see some more concrete notions emerging in coming months.

All this on the same day that Eric Pickles MP announced that local counclils will have to fundamently rethink their finances. Further challenges ahead...

KPMG - Dynamic technologies for smarter government

2010-08-13T15:14:00.000+01:00

KPMG have produced a good report setting out the benefits to the public sector of adopting web 2.0 technologies.

Dynamic technologies for smarter government

CCTV ANPR and all that bad press!

2010-07-09T14:36:00.001+01:00

The Enforcement Summit at Chelsea Football Club yesterday saw parking professionals from the UK debate many of the topical issues in parking. Hot topic was CCTV and the press attitude to 'Spy Cars' This web site caught my attention. http://www.bigbrotherwatch.org.uk/ Read all about the 'Beast of Basildon'. Is a Smart Car fitted with CCTV and ANPR

e-mpirical and the IRRV

2010-06-29T11:53:00.000+01:00

Having run the second workshop for the Improvement and Efficiency Academy we are off to Durham next month.

See www.irrviea.org.uk

Improvement and Efficiency Academy

2010-05-17T15:41:00.000+01:00

e-mpirical, in partnership with TheContinuous Improvement Practice are running the first Improvement and Efficiency Academy workshop for the Institute of Revenues Rating and Valuation at the Vale of Glamorgan council on 27th May. Further details are at http://irrviea.eventbrite.com/

e-learning in the NHS

2010-04-20T09:37:00.000+01:00

Working with the SHA in West Midlands and a number of trusts to develop their approach to implementing e-learning. Many are now at the point of implementing NLMS and are looking at the cultural impact of this.

Every citizen to get their own Mygov

2010-03-23T08:05:00.002Z

The Prime Minister Gordon Brown has launched a new e-government service called Mygov, allowing every person to have their own page to access government services.

See full story at http://www.publicservice.co.uk/news_story.asp?id=12491

Race Online 2012

2010-03-03T07:48:00.002Z

The race to get 1 million people online by 2012 has started. http://raceonline2012.org/

or if you are a tweeter, follow them at http://twitter.com/raceonline_2012

Digital inclusion not Digital Britain - Or is that people before technology?

2010-02-24T08:12:00.000Z

Good report from public.service.co.uk on The Business, Innovation and Science Committee report
http://www.publicservice.co.uk/news_story.asp?id=12237

recommending THe Government spnd less on broadband access and more on engaging communities.

Cant find the full report though..

Breakfast Without Borders - Data Integration 25th March 2010

2010-02-22T13:09:00.000Z

Our latest breakfast workshop is now scheduled 25th March.
Attend This Event

New Government ICT Startegy to save £3.2bn

2010-01-28T07:55:00.002Z

The newly published IT strategy will save the country millions and announces G-Cloud... Hope its easier than Gov Connect!

Full story at http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/cio/ict.aspx

Deloitte Report - Should legislation be introduced to force local government to share services

2010-01-11T08:20:00.000Z

A great post from the Great E-mancipator, commenting on the Deloitte report about shared services and whether legislation to make local government share services would be practical.

http://greatemancipator.com/2010/01/10/a-new-start/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheGreatE-mancipator+%28The+Great+E-mancipator%29

Consultation on how the proposed landline tax should be distributed

2010-01-08T09:50:00.000Z

BIS has launched a consultation at http://www.berr.gov.uk/consultations/page54155.html to seek feedback on how the proposed landline tax should be distributed.

This may be of particular interest to rural communities and other areas where low bandwidth is hindering development of digital skills.

PowerPoint eat your heart out!

2010-01-06T12:12:00.001Z

How about this for a dynamic way of illustrating a presentation... Powerpoint has got a lot to learn. The views are not those of any of the directors or staff of e-mpirical ltd.

18 Dec 2009

On 14 September 2009, Stein Ringen, Professor of Sociology and Social Policy at the University of Oxford, gave his assessment of the New Labour government and the state of the British constitution. In the first of the RSA's new animation series, visual scribe Andrew Park presents his interpretation of the event.

From the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce web site http://www.thersa.org/about-us

NDL Annual CRM Report

2009-12-18T09:24:00.000Z

NDL's annual report on CRM makes interesting reading for the public sector

http://www.ndl-metascybe.co.uk/mediacentre/crmsurvey/crmreport09-form.html

Putting the Frontline First - Smarter Government

2009-12-08T07:45:00.000Z

At last the manifesto for implementing some of the Digital Britain agenda,

http://www.hmg.gov.uk/frontlinefirst.aspx

Social Media Map of local Councils

2009-11-17T08:19:00.000Z

Check out the Social Media Map of local authorities created by Liz Azyan from LGEO Research http://www.lgeoresearch.com for her PhD research

Berkshire Digital Learning Champions go social!

2009-11-17T08:12:00.000Z

The Berkshire Digital Learning Champions kicked off at Blue Mountain Golf Club on 12th November, and launched their 'Ning' http://www.berksdlc.org.uk/

Come and Join the Berkshire Digital Learning Champions

2009-10-27T08:00:00.000Z

This project has now kicked off big time. Follow the project blog at
http://berksdlc.blogspot.com/

Sign up for the launch event on 12th November at
http://bdlc.eventbrite.com/

Digital Learning Champions

2009-10-22T08:15:00.001+01:00

Well this project really has got us busy! The work started in earnest this week, and we have had a fantastic response to our recruitment of Digital Learning Champions. Follow the project blog at http://berksdlc.blogspot.com/

We are recruiting Digital Learning Champions

2009-10-06T16:32:00.001+01:00

Come and join us to deliver the Learning Revolution in Berkshire.

Click Here to express an interest

Success! Transformation Fund

2009-09-30T11:20:00.002+01:00

It was a great privilege to work up this proposal with the support of all of the local authorities in Berkshire. I am now looking forward to the implementation phase, which I know will bring real benefit to some of the most hard to reach individuals in Berkshire.

Now that we have been told that the bid has been successful, we have to start the implementation phase

The bid, submitted to the £20m Transformation Fund, as part of the Learning Revolution www.transformationfund.org.uk will reach out to those individuals living in communities of Berkshire that are most disadvantaged and are at risk of being disconnected from the growing requirement of participation in learning and active citizenship to achieve a more productive life in terms of economic, social and digital inclusion.

The project activities can be followed on the BNLCP web site at www.bnlcp.org.uk/projects

Audit Commission publishes report on use of information in the public sector

2009-08-05T09:59:00.002+01:00

This report looks at how councils use information to make decisions. It encourages chief executives, senior officers and lead members to be more demanding about the information they seek and use when making decisions. The report also suggests ways to improve in both these areas.

http://tinyurl.com/mhbn39

Salaries for Senior Officers in the Public Sector

2009-07-16T08:00:00.001+01:00

With all of the interest in salaries, the DCLG are aout for further consultation on this emotive matter

http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/seniorofficerspayconsultation2

Local Councils are starting to Tweet

2009-07-15T07:47:00.002+01:00

The eGovernment Register has published a list of Councils using social media. London scores highly, but the use of Facebook and Twitter has not been widely accepted outside the capital.

See http://tinyurl.com/l53hvs

Digital Britain – Final Report

2009-06-26T07:54:00.002+01:00

So the final report arrives at last. http://www.culture.gov.uk/what_we_do/broadcasting/6216.aspx

Seddon for Government Tsar

2009-06-11T14:42:00.002+01:00

John Seddon has never been backward in criticising the target based mentality of Government, now he is trying a different approach

'We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to appoint John Seddon 'Public Services Tzar'

See the number 10 petition http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/PublicServices/

IDEA publish NI 14 Update

2009-05-28T12:58:00.002+01:00

The IDEA have published an update this month on NI 14 at their communities of practice http://www.communities.idea.gov.uk/welcome.do a login will be required to download the document which can be downloaded here.

CIO Council publishes third annual Transformational Government report

2009-05-19T07:50:00.002+01:00

The Chief Information Officers Council published its third annual report setting out the progress that has been made during 2008.

http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/cio/transformational_gov/annual_report2008.aspx

Government may renew data sharing plans

2009-05-14T16:50:00.000+01:00

From Kable

Justice secretary Jack Straw has said the government is keeping its options open on new legislation for data sharing

http://www.kable.co.uk/information-commissioner-s-office-jack-straw-14may09

Compex User Group

2009-05-11T14:39:00.004+01:00

Tony is speaking at the Compex User Group on 14^th May 2009 at Chiltern District Council.

'doing more with less' is the theme, and Tony will look at

Data Sharing
Improving Processes
Better Collection and
Channel Migration.

To download the IRRV article on Data Sharing click here

To download the e-mpirical white paper on data sharing click here

Councils must review web strategies in light of funding issues says Socitm

2009-05-06T09:38:00.002+01:00

From PublicTechnology.net

Socitm urge local councils to develop more self service services on their web sites and meet customer demand at a lower cost.

See http://www.publictechnology.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=19913

NI 14 Survey

2009-04-21T08:11:00.002+01:00

The Great E-mancipator http://greatemancipator.com/ is conducting another short survey. Pop along to http://surveys.tech.dmu.ac.uk/public/survey.php?name=GE1_FINAL

And complete a 5 page questionnaire.

Home Secretary to review the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA)

2009-04-20T09:03:00.002+01:00

Last week saw the Home Secretary comment on Councils use or RIPA for a range of activities such as dog fouling and schools admissions.

From the publictechnologynet web site

http://www.publictechnology.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=19744

Watch the House of Lords debate about personal data rules

2009-04-06T08:37:00.002+01:00

Watch the debate on the regulation, collection & retention of personal data

http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/VideoPlayer.aspx?meetingId=3756&st=11:36:50

9th March 2009 Data sharing clause 152 dropped

2009-03-12T15:28:00.000Z

http://e-health-insider.com/news/4640/data_sharing_clause_152_dropped
from e-health insider www.e-health-insider.com , The government has dropped its controversial plans to make it easier to share personal data across Whitehall departments.

What will this do for joint working? And how does this square with this week’s Cabinet Office Report, Working Together
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/newsroom/news_releases/2009/090310_workingtogether.aspx

NI 14

2009-02-25T07:44:00.002Z

localegov.co.uk are holding a live debate on NI 14 on 26th February. See http://www.localgov.co.uk/index.cfm?method=webinar.item&id=2

National Indicator 14 – Reducing avoidable contact (failure demand) in Sussex

2009-02-18T07:16:00.000Z

From Improvement & Efficiency South East (IESE) web site, more news about NI 14 in the South East

http://www.southeastiep.gov.uk/nlett.asp?PageRef=266

16.01.09 empirical announces next Breakfast without Borders session

2009-02-16T11:02:00.002Z

16.01.09 empirical announces next Breakfast without Borders session

Today, Tony Worsdall announced that a follow up 'Breakfast without Borders' session will be held at Reading University on 17^th March 2009. The session will focus on NI 14 implementation and involve a number of local authorities in the Thames Valley area. For further details contact Tony Worsdall on 0118 935 7370. We don't charge for this event and we even throw in coffee and breakfast! Come and share N! 14 experiences and concerns with local colleagues.

Latest Guidance on NI 14

2009-02-11T09:28:00.003Z

Latest Guidance from the Cabinet Office, published on the North West E-Government Group web site http://www.nwegg.org.uk/files/Cabinet%20Office%20NI14%20Update.pdf

NI 14

2009-01-23T07:41:00.001Z

From the Great E-mancipator http://greatemancipator.com

Behind the Vanguard
Just when you were thinking that John Seddon had been quiet for a while, up pops a paper on the topic of NI14, what more can I or anyone say, just read it -
http://www.systemsthinking.co.uk/9-nihorse.asp

Police start data matching records

2009-01-22T11:45:00.002Z

New powers will allow the poice to match DVLA records to Insurance records. See the full story http://tinyurl.com/amfwy8

Slough join Shared Services Partnership

2008-12-18T09:50:00.002Z

News from LGC...

One of England's largest shared services ventures has signalled its intention to run back office functions for another eight councils.

http://tinyurl.com/3epdbt

U.S., EU agree on data protection framework

2008-12-18T08:04:00.002Z

Data Sharing principles agreed between EU and USA.
http://tinyurl.com/4byp3j

2008-12-18T08:00:00.003Z

A great summary from the Great E-mancipator of the measures governments across the world are taking to measure e-government.
http://greatemancipator.com/2007/12/31/looking-for-a-measure/

Transformational Government in Wakefield

2008-12-17T08:28:00.003Z

So benefit clains can be processed in 25 days...

see what localgov has to say about this.

http://www.localgov.tv/cgi-bin/details.pl?action=prog&id=551

London Borough of Harrow balance collection of taxes with the downturn in the economy

2008-12-16T12:57:00.001Z

From the IDEA site

http://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=9215432

Government challenges third sector to lead the way in transforming public services

2008-12-11T12:46:00.007Z

See the latest Cabinet Office Press Release

http://tinyurl.com/57vqtd

Data sharing

2008-12-05T09:10:00.002Z

Also see what politics.co.uk has to say about this proposed legislation at http://tinyurl.com/6k7nvx

Data Sharing

2008-12-05T08:13:00.001Z

Not sure if we all realised that the Queens Speech had something on Data Sharing when all the fuss was about the DNA database. See what The Independant says about it at http://tinyurl.com/5fzlbh

Welcome to the empirical blog

2008-12-04T16:31:00.002Z

Welcome to the empirical blog. I will be posting here regularly, so come back soon.

Tony Worsdall

Managing Director