An agreement has been signed on a £52,000 project which Lichfield District Council says will allow it to improve the way resources are targeted.
The three year partnership will see the Social Progress Imperative work with a team from the local authority to “build an index based on the lived experiences of local residents”.
The council says that rather than focusing just on economic growth, the data will draw on indicators including housing, environment, education, skills and crime rates to allow it to identify what needs addressing in each of the 23 wards it covers.
Cllr Doug Pullen, leader of the council, said:
“We’re delighted to be working on this innovative approach to collecting local data.
“It will give us access to detailed information that we can use to create evidence-based polices that address the needs of our residents.
“It will also help to guide local investment, and identify priorities and challenges.”
Cllr Doug Pullen, Lichfield District Council
On top of creating the index, the three-year partnership will include subscription to the nationwide social progress digital platform, which is being developed.
This will help the council to compare local results with other authorities across the UK.
Michael Green, CEO of the Social Progress Imperative, said:
“We are very excited about this partnership with Lichfield District Council.
“This will be the first district council in the UK to adopt this tool to guide social and environmental investments.
“When you know the real needs of a community, then you can begin to create real change.”
Michael Green, Social Progressive Imperative
Not wasting £52k, on data that appears to be available via a simple internet search. Would improve my opinion of the council
I genuinely believe the Council can create its own database of local opinions for less than 52k by using the electoral roll as its base and asking these questions of the electorate directly.
I’ve worked with ‘big data’ and know how to use it and am certain this is available at a fraction of the cost of this partnership.
For starters, I’d like less house building and where it happens, green & sustainable technologies incorporated.
I’d like to see EV charging points not just installed but promoted too. I’d like incentives for people doing that, such as council tax reductions for greener homes. I’d like to see the area promoted as a destination for not just history & culture but for unique shopping, local enterprise, also modern, forward-thinking concepts around waste collection, not using private vehicles, etc.
I know Cllr Pullen promotes forward-thinking ideas more than many others and commend him on that. I do think he has much of the data he’s looking for, already at his fingertips.
Waste of money will not tell anybody what is already known. Was this project put out to competitive tender?
A good way to start, is to get involved with local organisations. BSARA held a very well attended public meeting on Thursday evening and views were being vehemently expressed on a number of topics. Let’s start by stop delaying planning approval for the Angel Croft development, a unanimous vote of residents confirmed they wanted it completed to improve that area of Lichfield City. These types of meetings can provide the perfect sounding board for residents views.
£52k to assess priorities?!?! Is this council mad?!how about stop spaffing money on pointless projects? SURELY there is already a capability within the council to do this????
All this council seems to do is throw our money at hair brained ideas. It seems that lesson of Friarsgate haven’t been learned. Anyone remember them spending money on appointing a team of advisors to come up with ideas of how the Friarsgate site could be developed?? That was about 3 years ago and, I’m pretty sure the site it STILL boarded up.
We have a Laurel and Hardy council.
I think it is very clear what Lichfield needs. What a waste of money.