Terry et al,
I am this morning in receipt of a circular from the Local Government
Association which has been sent to all Chief Executives. I'm loathe to
type the whole thing out but if you cannot trace one within your
organisation, let me know and I'll fax you one - or post it to the group.
Circular 611/00 to chief executives (local authorities), Clerks to Police,
Joint Fire and Passenger Transport Authorities, dated 31 August 2000.
Access to Data : Barriers to Data Sharing
Invites authorities to provide evidence of how barriers to gaining access
to data hinders attempts to implement the Government's modernising
agenda. All evidence to be emailed to [log in to unmask]
Contact David Maddison (020 7664 3222)
The circular briefly states the situation to date with regard to the
Counsel's advice issued by the DPR last year. It says that the LGA (via
an invitation in circular 582/99) received a great many responses
indicating the practical difficulties that arose and, as a result of these, the
LGA met with the CITU recently.
It was agreed that "...officials would only be in a position to persuade
ministers to take the matter seriously (ie to accept the need for legislative
change) when they are informed of the true scale of the problem".
"Authorities are therefore invited to provide, in the greatest detail
possible, evidence of legislation preventing local government from
operating in a coordinated and joined-up fashion."
"To clarify, this refers to any barrier not just council tax"
I suggest we all (local authorities) send as much detail as we can to the
LEA. No-one is, I'm sure, anything other than totally committed to the
principles of data protection and the citizen's right to privacy, etc.
However, it is clear a change in primary legislation is required in order to
facilitate the proper sharing of information for the govt's moderninsing
agenda to be fully implemented.
Dave Uppington
South Gloucs Council
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