LeGSB has been working closely with the Department for Communities and Local Government around the Data Interchange Hub, XBRL and an Interoperability Framework for Local Strategic Partnerships.
Data Interchange Hub
Earlier in the year, LeGSB produced a ‘Quality Assurance’ report on the proposed schemas to support the Data Interchange Hub, making 34 recommendations. The Department have now produced substantially altered schemas, addressing each of the points raised. LeGSB have now reviewed the amended schemas and produced a new QA report for the Department. The schemas are a considerable improvement on the earlier version.
LeGSB has also assisted DCLG in creating the ‘Exemplar Report’ for the Data Interchange Hub that is now being considered within the xGEA1, which should lead to wider adoption of these standards across the Public Sector.
XBRL
LeGSB is now working with DCLG to engage with CiPFA about the possible use of Standard Business Reporting and XBRL within Local Government and between Local and Central Government.
DCLG have a project called ELGAR which is looking to move the Local Government Finance Reporting away from spreadsheets to a system using eGIF standards.
During September 2008, DCLG invited LeGSB to take part in a 3day international forum on ‘Standard Business Reporting’ using XBRL2, hosted by HMRC.
The move to the use of IFRS3 for Local Government reporting may provide an opportunity to perhaps introduce XBRL as there already is a standard IFRS taxonomy which would only require the development of a UK Local Government taxonomy extension.
For more information on this please
click here
Interoperability Framework for Local Strategic Partnerships
DCLG has asked LeGSB to attend a 1 day workshop, sponsored by the department, to explore the need for information to flow across a Local Strategic Partnership to support the Local Area Agreement. The proposal centred around the notion of three hubs –Operational, Analytical, Performance. A series of pilot projects is to be established to explore each of these concepts, which will require both infrastructure and standards. LeGSB will continue to contribute to this project.