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| January 2009 Edition |

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General:

1. CORE Grant Expiry

2. CORE Matching
3. MSA Extension/RMSA
4. Location Strategy/Council
5. Inspire- Data Testing
6. Vanishing Addresses
7. Neighbourhood Statistics Data Exchange Launched
8. NLPG Helps Mobilise Surrey Fire and Rescue Service
9. Guide To FiReControl for LLPG Practitioners
10. Underpinning Transformational Government - everything happens somewhere
11. Intelligent Addressing Gain ISO 9001:2000 Certification
12. Yes, We Do Need to Focus on the 'Customer'
13. GC Awards 2009
14. Local Government PSI Support
15. Urban Atlas to be Rolled Out Across the EU by 2011
16. LGIH Case Studies
17. NLPG NSG Annual Conference 'Underpinning Transformation Government 09'
18. IDeA Wins e-Government National Award
19. IA Events Calendar
20. IA Boosts Technical Team
21. Luton Seek LLPG & RIG Dev. Officer

NLPG:

1. DTF6.3 Support
2. Local Government Review and New Unitary Status Councils
3. Forthcoming LLPG Regional Meetings:

NSG:

1. IA Appoints new NSG Custodian

2. DTF 7.1 Transition
3. NSG Uploads
4. EToN 5.0
5. NSG Ftp

-----[articles]-----

[General]
**1. CORE Grant Expiry**
A significant number of authorities have still not submitted their claims
forms
for the grants available from the Ministry of Justice to facilitate changes to
Electoral
Register Systems. MoJ is again following up the relevant authorities but as
the
forms have to be submitted by March 31st 2009, LLPG custodians are encouraged
to
ensure that their EROs are making the necessary submission. This also applies
to
the Authorities involved in the formation of new unitary authorities on April
1st
2009. The submissions must be made by the Districts this year as no forms
will
be signed off for the unitaries after April 1st.

The process is outlined on the MoJ’s website at:

[1]www.justice.gov.uk/guidance/electoral-data-standards.htm.
Specific queries about the process should be made to: Alison Franco Tel: 020
3334
3832 email: [2]Alison.Franco@justice.gsi.gov.uk.

[1] http://www.justice.gov.uk/guidance/electoral-data-standards.htm
[2] mailto:Alison.Franco@justice.gsi.gov.uk

**2. CORE Matching**

The IA Special Projects Team has received 111 files and has returned reports
on
108 of them using IA's combined software and manual matching processes. Over
6.6
million records have been processed with an average match rate of 96.90%. IA
has
matched nearly half of the authorities in the Yorkshire and Humberside Region
which
has gained a match rate of 98%. Any local authorities interested in using IA
for
their CORE data matching should contact Catherine Teare on 020 7747 3500 or
[1]core@intelligent-addressing.co.uk.

[1] mailto:core@intelligent-addressing.co.uk

**3. MSA Extension/RMSA**

As many of you will already be aware, the MSA Project Board have taken the
decision
to extend the current MSA for a period of twelve months. This is for a
variety
of reasons outlined in communications directly with ALOs by LGIH.

The upshot of this is that it is "business as usual" for another year. The new
agreement
is planned to take effect as of 1 April 2010. Any questions regarding this
should
be directed to LGIH via [1]msa@idea.gov.uk.

[1] mailto:msa@idea.gov.uk

**4. Location Strategy/Council**

The Location Council had their first meeting in November 2008. Many of you
contributed
questions and thoughts for Tim Allen, Director of Research at the LGA, to
raise
at the council. LGIH are expecting responses to these questions from the
Council
and will circulate them once they have been received.

Defra are currently working to develop a consultation document regarding the

Inspire
Directive. No timescales have been released for this. LGIH will keep you up
to
date through emails and through the IDeA Community of Practice (CoP) website,
and
will also coordinate your response on your behalf. Any questions regarding
this
should be directed to LGIH via [1]msa@idea.gov.uk.

[1] mailto:msa@idea.gov.uk
**5. Inspire- Data Testing**
The European Inspire team has released the data specifications into the public
domain.
They can be found here
[1]http://inspire.jrc.ec.europa.eu/implementingRulesDocs_ds.cfm

LGIH/LGA are working with IA and a small group of very active local
authorities
to examine the specifications. Special focus is paid to three specifications.
Namely:
Transport Networks; Addresses and Protected Sites. The goal at this stage is
to
feedback whether the data specifications are workable and whether they produce
useable
end results. There is a possibility that they might be changed as a result of
this
stage of testing.

If any of you would like to be actively involved in the data testing, please
email
LGIH via [2]inspire@idea.gov.uk. LGIH would welcome a wider group to help them
to
inform the implications report they will put together. Timescales are really
tight
as LGIH need to get this completed by early February 2009.

[1] http://inspire.jrc.ec.europa.eu/implementingRulesDocs_ds.cfm
[2] mailto:inspire@idea.gov.uk

**6. Vanishing Addresses**

You may have all seen the recent press articles about some holiday home
properties
being removed from Royal Mail's PAF product. Whilst this does not cause
problems
for LLPGs and the NLPG, where these properties will endure regardless of
whether
they are capable of receiving mail or not, there are some issues in terms of
LLPG
maintenance which will need to be considered by custodians.

Clearly service provision will still be required by local authorities and the
emergency
services to these properties and their "temporary" residents and it is
important
that all gazetteer attributes are kept up-to-date. Some guidance for
custodians
on these types of property will be included in the next revision of the DEC-
NLPG.

**7. Neighbourhood Statistics Data Exchange Launched**

The Office for National Statistics has launched the [1]Neighbourhood
Statistics
Data Exchange (NDE), a new, free of charge, online facility provided by the
Neighbourhood
Statistics Service which has been designed to make it easier for other
information
systems to interrogate and engage with the Neighbourhood Statistics website
datastore.

By using machine to machine technology to speed up and simplify data requests,

the
NDE provides direct access to over 300 geographically referenced datasets,
allowing
 more complex analysis of the wealth of information available.

The primary purpose of the new service is to improve data handling for local
authorities
and other organisations and to help ensure that decisions on resource
allocation
are based on evidence.

[1] http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/

**8. NLPG Helps Mobilise Surrey Fire and Rescue Service**

Surrey Fire & Rescue Service (SFRS) has introduced a new state of the art
command
and control system for mobilising its crews and appliances, using the NLPG as
the
primary source of property and building information. See [1]here for further
details

[1] http://www.iahub.net/docs/1232539390850.pdf

**9. Guide To FiReControl for LLPG Practitioners**

The FiReControl project (part of Communities and Local Government's (CLG) fire
and
resilience programme) aims to improve the way emergency calls are handled and
resources
are mobilised to respond to incidents by creating nine regional command and
control
centres (RCC). These will replace the existing 46 independent control rooms.

This [1]document provides a short guide to the role of the NLPG in

FiReControl
and outlines some of the benefits to local authorities.

[1] http://www.iahub.net/docs/1233139326639.pdf

**10. Underpinning Transformational Government - everything happens somewhere**

Case studies from the winners and runners-up of the 2008 Exemplar Awards have
now
been published in a 68 page [1]booklet (5.1MB pdf file) which demonstrates the
power
of the national datasets to transform business processes and enable innovative
projects
and partnership working. The booklet will be widely disseminated to decision
makers
in local and central government.

Copies of the booklet are presently being sent to every custodian and ALO. If
you
would like additional copies to give to other key people in your authority,
please
email [2]lbrown@intelligent-addressing.co.uk.

[1] http://www.iahub.net/docs/1232541532195.pdf
[2] mailto:lbrown@intelligent-addressing.co.uk

**11. Intelligent Addressing Gain ISO 9001:2000 Certification**

IA has gained ISO 9001:2000 certification, a major milestone in the company’s
ongoing
progress and expansion. Michael Nicholson, Managing Director of IA stated "The
increasing
strategic importance of both the NLPG and the NSG, de facto standards in
themselves,
encouraged us to invest in thorough and complete processes to ensure a robust
quality
 management system (QMS) which has resulted in the company gaining ISO
certification."

**12. Yes, We Do Need to Focus on the 'Customer'**

In a recent article in [1]www.publicService.co.uk, Lucy de Groot, Executive
Director
of the Improvement and Development Agency, looks at how local government is
transforming
services with an eye on the needs of the iTunes generation. In the article
Lucy
highlights the role played by the gazetteers:

"In awards hosted by the Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA) and
Intelligent
Addressing the London borough of Haringey was recognised for its work using
street
and property address sharing systems. The council's new system allows members
of
the public to pinpoint the location of reported problems on an online map.
Back-
office systems receive this data automatically, eliminating the need for data
entry
by council staff. The use of online enquiries also means fewer telephone
calls,
saving further time and resources. In addition, the use of technical skills
within
the council means that this solution was put in place at no extra cost to the
IT
services department."

[1] http://www.publicService.co.uk/feature_story.asp?id=11166

**13. GC Awards 2009**

The GC Awards, sponsored by Kable and the Guardian are now open. Now in its
13th
year, the Awards reward excellence in public sector IT. They were established
to
highlight the excellent work done by public servants across the UK, and to
disseminate
the projects' contributions to best practice.

Categories include 'Collaborative working', 'Delivering efficiency',

'Transformation'
and 'Customer Services', all areas underpinned by the gazetteers within
authorities.
Your gazetteer project could be a winner!

For more information see [1]www.guardian.co.uk/gcawards.

[1] http://www.guardian.co.uk/gcawards

**14. Local Government PSI Support**

The Department for Communities and Local Government "Timely Information to
Citizens"
project team has published an invitation, [1]under the pilot scheme tag, to
local
government bodies in England to submit funding proposals for pilot projects to
provide
better local information to citizens. The intention is to fund around 10 local
pilots.

The invitation document sets out the context for proposals which includes a
section
 titled: The role of technology and the reuse of information which states: "The
use
of new technology is becoming increasingly important as a way of both
disseminating
information and of making better use of it, by bringing different information
sources
together with geographical information in innovative ways to create powerful
new
tools for citizens. While this can be done by local authorities themselves,
some
of the best current examples have come about as a result of others – private
or
third sector organisations, or simply interested individuals – reusing
information
that they find to solve a problem or answer a question."

[1]
http://www.esd.org.uk/esdtoolkit/Communities/InformingCitizens/ContentView.aspx?
ContentType=Content-361

**15. Urban Atlas to be Rolled Out Across the EU by 2011**

By 2011 people from all 27 EU nations will be able to access [1]Urban Atlas,
which
has been produced by the European Commission and Member States with the
support
of European space technology. Compiled from thousands of satellite
photographs,
the Urban Atlas provides detailed digital mapping, ensuring that city planners
have
the most up-to-date and accurate data available on land use and land cover.

The Commission hope that the Urban Atlas will enable urban planners to better
assess
risks and opportunities, ranging from threat of flooding and impact of climate
change,
to identifying new infrastructure and public transport needs. All cities in
the
EU will be covered by the Urban Atlas by 2011.

Commission Vice-President Günter Verheugen, responsible for Enterprise and

Industry,
and Commissioner Danuta Hübner, responsible for Regional Policy, said: "The
Urban
Atlas demonstrates the benefit of an integrated European approach and is an
excellent
example of how space based applications contribute to local solutions across
Europe."

[1] http://reports.eea.europa.eu/environmental_issue_report_2002_30/en

**16. LGIH Case Studies**

Local Government Information House has recently published a number of case
studies
to promote the value of mapping, geographical and spatial information into
wider
service delivery across all aspects of local government and their partners.

LGIH does this through the key infrastructure projects and also by working
with
other public and private sector bodies to ensure this message is heard
throughout
all levels of the sector.

The latest [1]case studies from the LGIH are below:

 Fighting the flu in Swindon
Sharing the knowledge in Oxford
Bedfordshire Community Safety Partnerships – SCRIBE project
Swindon Borough Council: extra care sheltered housing programme
Cheshire County Council's roadworks webpage
Dudley's got a GIS-MO
Nottingham City Council: getting the figures right

[1] http://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=8302494

**17. NLPG NSG Annual Conference 'Underpinning Transformation Government 09'**

The date for this year's NLPG NSG annual conference 'Underpinning
Transformational
Government' and Exemplar Awards will be 25th and 26th November and will take
place
at the [1]Victoria Palace Plaza, in London. Following comments received at
last
year's event, we decided to expand the event to a two day conference, to allow
plenty
of time for presentations, networking, social events and the exhibition. We
are
presently working on the agenda of the conference and will provide further
details
in due course.

[1] http://www.parkplaza.com/hotels/gbvictor

**18. IDeA Wins e-Government National Award**

The IDeA Communities of (CoP) Practice platform has won the e-government
excellence:
professionalism and leadership category in the 2008 e-Government National
Awards.
There were 588 nominations in total for the awards and only 11 winners across
11
different categories. The e-Government awards recognise excellence in
transformational
e-government projects, and the team at CoPs are delighted to have won. IDeA
would
also like to say a big thank you to everybody involved in CoPs, whose efforts
have
created this success.

**19. IA Events Calendar**

ntelligent Addressing plan to take part or exhibit at the following events:
3-4th February: First Annual Emergency Planning Conference, Royal Armouries,
Leeds
8-11th February: Association of Electoral Administrators Conference, Hilton
Hotel,Brighton
24th February: Utility Streetworks, Institute of Engineers, London
10-11th March: LGA Annual Fire Conference and Exhibition, Bristol Marriott
Hotel
18th March: FSEC Toolkit 2009, Hinckley
22-23rd April: BAPCO, Business Design Centre London
13-14th May: HSC09, Cardiff International Arena
9-10th June: GC Live, Earls Court London

**20. IA Boosts Technical Team**

Alastair Fay has joined IA as Deputy Systems Administrator, working on the
company's
IT Systems. He previously worked in a mixed Windows/Linux environment and
does
 voluntary work providing IT support to small non-profit organisations. Among
other
sporting activities, he is a keen mountain biker - in his own words "leaning
towards
the more extreme side of the sport!" He is looking forward to competing in the
forthcoming
race series, hopefully without injury this year.

**21. Luton Seek LLPG & RIG Dev. Officer**

Luton Borough Council is looking for a new LLPG and RIG Development Officer.
The
post includes Custodianship of the database of Individuals and Groups, the LSG
and
the LLPG plus Street Naming & Numbering responsibilities. The advert, job
description
and application information are available on the LBC website [1]here.

[1] http://jobs.luton.gov.uk/Jobs.aspx?sSectorLook=628

[NLPG]
**1. DTF6.3 Support**
Authorities that are still using NLPG data in DTF6.3 are reminded that this
data
format will be not be supported from 31st March 2009 at the NLPG hub. From
1st
April 2009 all data sent from the NLPG will adhere to the requirements of BS
7666-2006
and be distributed in DTF7.3 or DTF7.4. Authorities still using DTF6.3 should
contact
their software vendor to ensure they have the capabilities of processing data
in
DTF7.x. Should you wish to upgrade your existing NLPG data supply from DTF6.3
please
contact the IA help desk.

**2. Local Government Review and New Unitary Status Councils**

On 1st April 2009 nine new local authorities will be created for the following
areas:Bedford,
Central Bedfordshire, Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, Cornwall,
Durham,
Northumberland, Shropshire and Wiltshire. The impact of this is that NLPG and
NSG
data supplies will start to reflect these new authorities, and in particular
the
new authority codes and USRN ranges, from April. Existing district and county
council
codes will no longer be used from this date. For more information please
contact
the IA helpdesk on 020 7747 3502 or email [1]helpdesk@intelligent-
addressing.co.uk.

[1] mailto:helpdesk@intelligent-addressing.co.uk

**3. Forthcoming LLPG Regional Meetings:**

West Midlands - 19th February
Yorkshire & Humberside - 11th March

Please contact your regional chair for more information.

[NSG]
**1. IA Appoints new NSG Custodian**
Simon Bailey joined IA on 19th January to take on the reins of the NSG
Custodian.
Simon and Baz are currently coordinating the development, testing and
implementation
of DTF7.1 and ETON 5.0.1 at the NSG hub ready for go live at the beginning of
March.
Simon joins IA from his previous position of Street Naming & Numbering
Officer,
LSG and LLPG Custodian at Luton Borough Council and is looking forward to
meeting
the wider LSG and NSG community over the next few months. His email address is
[1]sbailey@thensg.org.uk
and his telephone number is 020 7747 3502.

[1] mailto:sbailey@thensg.org.uk

**2. DTF 7.1 Transition**

As you are all aware, the NSG is moving towards BS7666:2006 from 2nd March
2009
with a view of publishing in the new DTF 7.1 format for April Downloads. The
team
at IA are working very hard to ensure the ease of transition for all
authorities.
Please refer to the NSG website for further information ([1]www.thensg.org.uk)
in
particular the following documents:
LGIH EToN 5.01 Implementation Letter
National Street Gazetteer Data Entry Conventions Document (DEC-NSG)
National Street Gazetteer DTF 7.1 Specification
New Unitary Authority LSG Transition Plan

[1] http://www.thensg.org.uk/iansg/link.htm?id=2008

**3. NSG Uploads**

NSG Uploads have seen a steady increase over the last few months. However,
under
a third of NSG creating authorities are still not able to submit on a monthly
basis.
The NSG team would urge all of you to upload your gazetteers in February.
There
will be a push on submissions during February in light of the forthcoming
changes
to the NSG hub. If you require any assistance with your upload during this
month
please contact the Helpdesk in the first instance on 0207 747 3502.

**4. EToN 5.0**

EToN 5.0 came into effect from 12th January 2009. Thanks to all of you that
managed
to submit your EToN 5.0 ODD files. If you have only recently upgraded your
software
and require your ODD file to be tested, submit the file with your NSG data
during
the February submission month.

**5. NSG Ftp**

ALOs and NSG Custodians will have received correspondence about the NSG Ftp
site
 earlier this week. If you have not received any information about this please
contact
the Helpdesk in the first instance.

Your February Health Check will be emailed as normal and placed on the Ftp
site
on 3rd February.