Issue - meetings

The ICT Transformation Manager presented a report in respect of the Worcestershire Office for Data and Analytics (WODA).  WODA had been formed in 2016 in response to work that had been undertaken by KPMG on behalf of partners in Worcestershire.  The main premise of WODA was to encourage partners to share information except where there was a legal or ethical reason not to do so.  The report was calling for Members to endorse the data sharing charter underpinning this data sharing arrangement.

The Worcestershire Partnership Executive Group (PEG) had initially agreed to launch a pilot.  Since then a Chief Data Officer had been appointed and six business cases had been selected as the focus for data sharing.  Further work needed to be undertaken in respect of staffing and infrastructure and all partners were being asked to provide a financial contribution to support WODA.  The financial contribution from each partner organisation varied according to size; Redditch Borough Council was being asked to contribute £10,000.  This cost would be submitted as a budget bid in the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) 2018/19 to 2021/22.

Members welcomed the report and noted that the data sharing arrangements could help partner organisations to more effectively support some of the most vulnerable members of society, such as victims of domestic violence.  The committee also welcomed the application of WODA across the county, though it was noted that the base for staff would be at County Hall.

RESOLVED that

Subject to the approval of the 2018/19 £10k budget bid by Council, the Worcestershire data sharing charter attached at Appendix 1 be noted and endorsed.