Terms of Reference for the Data Strategy Board & the Public Data
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Terms of Reference for the Data Strategy Board & the Public Data Group Including Terms of Reference for the Public Weather Service Customer Group, the Geographic Information Customer Group and the Open Data User Group March 2012 Contents 1. Data Strategy Board ................................................................................. 3 2. Public Data Group ..................................................................................... 6 3. Public Weather Service Customer Group .............................................. 8 4. Geographic Information Customer Group ........................................... 12 5. Open Data User Group .......................................................................... 16 6. Structure and Governance ..................................................................... 18 2 1. Data Strategy Board ToRs Purpose of the Data Strategy 1.5. The DSB will develop and own a new Board strategic framework to steer delivery of Government’s aims set out above. It will 1.1. The Data Strategy Board (DSB) will develop business cases in support of its seek to maximise the value of data from the recommendations to Ministers. Public Data Group (PDG) of Trading Funds for long-term economic and social benefit, Commissioner of Open Data including through the release of data free of 1.6. DSB will advise Ministers in their charge. It will act as an intelligent customer responsibility for: advising Government on commissioning and purchasing key data and services from the commissioning and purchasing data and PDG. services for free release to the public, and 1.2. The purpose of the DSB is: on behalf ensuring this represents good value for of the public sector, to steer the the taxpayer; and management of contracts with the PDG; at least an additional £7m expenditure in consider how data from the PDG might this Spending Review period for the generate economic growth; and, to work to purchase of additional data for free ensure that Ministers have appropriate advice release. efficiently and effectively to: 1.7. The DSB will advise Ministers about deliver Open Data from the PDG; what data should be made available as Open Data, considering affordability and value for provide data and services to the public money for the taxpayer, and will determine sector UK general public, including and own the strategy to increase this over services which contribute to the time, in line with the Government’s protection of life, property and UK commitments. national infrastructure; 1.8. In each subsequent Spending Review make access to data for all users easier; period, the DSB will provide advice to and Ministers to allow them to negotiate increase public access to free data over additional funding for Open Data and to time, subject to affordability and value for maximise the availability of data which is free money. for release under the Open Government Licence. 1.3. Where funding and its responsibilities to all its customers allow, the DSB will 1.9. A new Customer Group (the Open prioritise recommendations of funding for Data User Group) will be established to further commissioning of Open Data. represent the interests of other users of government data with the aim of advising the 1.4. The DSB will also promote the Open DSB in it its role of expanding the availability Data research and best practice developed of data and furthering access to free public with the PDG across the public sector, to sector data. The Chair of the Open Data advance the adoption of new approaches user group will be appointed by the MCO. ensuring Government delivers the best opportunities for development of high value data businesses. Commissioner of public sector for overall management of Crown copyright data and services and Crown database rights, the implementation of the Re-use of Public 1.10. The DSB will have responsibility for Sector Information Regulations 2005 (PSI) advising Ministers on the commissioning and and the Information Fair Trader Scheme purchasing of data and services on behalf of (IFTS). the public sector: Transparency between the PDG from the Public Data Group ensuring and the DSB continued value for money, leveraging expertise of existing customer groups 1.14. There will be a principle of (Public Weather Service Customer transparency between BIS and CO Ministers, Group and the Geographic Information the DSB and PDG in order for BIS to be in a Group) – including responsibility for position to commission Open Data existing c.£170m p.a. funding for these effectively and undertake informed data and services; negotiation regarding the DSB’s share of PDG’s ongoing dividend stream for the next of weather services and geographic Spending Review period. information required by the public sector and UK general public to deliver key 1.15. To this end the DSB will be able to public services. This will include audit PDG member accounts relating to overseeing the responsibilities from the public sector contracts. The DSB will work Public Weather Service Customer Group with central government to ensure the and the Geographic Information Group. current and new contracts between them and members of the PDG maximise the value 1.11. The DSB will advise Ministers on their for government and provide value for money. responsibility for ensuring appropriate data The DSB will work with central government quality is maintained in its contracts and in any reviews of current contracts and Open Data, and will have the right to review negotiations on future contracts. any plans by the Public Data Group which could negatively affect data quality. Governance & Membership of the Data Strategy Board Data Policy 1.16. The DSB will jointly report to the 1.12. The DSB will be an integral part of Minister for the Cabinet Office and Minister the process to review the public tasks of for Universities and Science. The DSB will be PDG members working also with the an Advisory Board, providing advice to these National Archives, both as part of an initial Ministers through its Independent Chair on review process in 2012 and in subsequent its specific areas of responsibility. The Chair reviews in the future. It will work with the will be a public appointment agreed by both PDG, its members, and The National Ministers. Archives to ensure that licences reflect the principles of the UK Government Licensing 1.17. At least 30% of members are data Framework, in particular ensuring that data users from outside the public sector, users’ views are taken into account in any including representatives of commercial re- changes and that it maximises the use of the users and the Open Data community – Open Government Licence. ensuring the widest possible user community is involved in the commissioning of data for 1.13. The DSB will work closely with The free release to the public. National Archives which has responsibility 4 1.18. It will also incorporate existing public Secretariat [The Head of the Secretariat sector customer groups who will continue to will be a full member of the DSB.] provide sector expertise around the commissioning of weather services and 1.20. The DSB will be financially geographic information for the public sector. accountable to the BIS Minister and will The Public Weather Service Customer publish regular progress updates and minutes Group, the Geographic Information Group from key meetings. It will meet at least and the Open Data User Group will become quarterly, and possibly more frequently sub-committees of the DSB. (The Terms of during the period of establishment. Reference of these Groups are attached). 1.21. The DSB will be supported by a Board membership secretariat located in BIS. The Secretariat will be responsible for supporting the DSB 1.19. The representation of around 12 and the Chair and will have the express role members plus Chair will be as follows: in providing advice on the Government’s wider policy imperatives to inform by other Independent Chair departments, local government and devolved administrations. Representative of commercial user of public data 1.22. It is intended that information flows for DSB related contracts commissioned and Representative of re-users of public data managed by BIS would operate as set out in the diagram attached. Other contracts Representative of Open Data campaign between public sector data customers will groups continue to be decided directly between the Chairs of the Public Weather Service customer and the relevant Trading Fund, Customer Group, the Geographic following prior consultation with DSB. Information Group and the Open Data Support of wider government User Group [3 seats] policy Representatives from the Devolved Administrations, [one seat shared on a 1.23. A Government Officials Group will be rotation basis] set up and jointly chaired by the Head of the Secretariat (BIS) and Executive Director, Representation from local government Transparency (CO). It will support and through the Local Government inform the Secretariat in its express role in Association providing advice on the Government’s policy imperatives to inform the Board in its advice The Government Chief Scientific Adviser to Ministers. Two public sector representatives 5 2. Public Data Group ToRs Overview improvements and innovations in public service delivery; 2.1. Alongside the November Autumn Statement, it was announced that efficiencies to realise cost savings in the Government has charged the Public Data public sector; Group with: increased economic value of the assets; the aggressive pursuit of both individual and collective