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Regional Small Area Information Project
The Regional Small Area Information Project (RSAIP) is working to create a database and website that will provide detailed and accessible information about neighbourhoods across South Yorkshire and the communities that live in them. The project is funded by the Regional Capacity Building Fund from Local Government Yorkshire and Humber.
Please click on the questions below for more information about the project.
Why do we need a small area information system?
Knowing about neighbourhoods and communities, their features, assets, strengths and any problems can help councils and their partners plan and deliver better and more appropriate services that fit the needs of areas and the people living there.
Having the information available not only helps to identify needs and potential solutions, it can also help councils and communities make a case for funding for projects or particular interventions that address local issues.
Why have a system that covers South Yorkshire?
The RSAIP system will make it possible to compare conditions, service delivery and outcomes between neighbourhoods in different parts of South Yorkshire. It will support partnership working between South Yorkshire’s local authorities and between local authorities and other public bodies. It will also support and help the planning of initiatives that cross district boundaries and will help to measure the effectiveness of those initiatives.
Why have a website?
We want to make the information accessible to as many people as possible: members of the public, community organisations, local Councillors and staff working in public sector organisations. The internet is an ideal means of giving that broad access and the information can be presented in a variety of accessible formats (maps, tables, graphs, diagrams, etc.) depending on people’s interest.
Strengthening the connections and relationship between communities and their local councils was one of the ambitions set out in the Local Government White Paper published in October 2006. One of the ways councils are expected to achieve this is by making information available to the public that will enable them to know about and influence how Councils go about their business and deliver services. The RSAIP website will be one of the ways in which councils in South Yorkshire make this information available and aim to encourage the public’s engagement with their work.
Who is involved in the project?
The project’s staff are based in the Policy Support Team in Sheffield City Council’s Neighbourhood Renewal and Partnership Service.
There is a Project Steering Group made up of representatives from the 4 South Yorkshire local authorities, a representative from an authority in each of the other sub-regions in Yorkshire and Humberside and representatives from Local Government Yorkshire & Humber who are responsible for managing the Regional Capacity Building Fund.
Researchers, data analysts and other staff from other public sector organisations (Health, Police, Fire & Rescue, Public Transport, etc) have been involved in developing and producing the specification for the system and website.
What sort of information will be in the system?
That hasn’t been finalised yet, but for every neighbourhood it will include and present information about:
- People and households (like that in the Census)
- Residents’ circumstances (employment rates, educational attainment, health, use of certain services, etc.)
- Neighbourhood conditions (the environment, housing, services available, crime rates, etc.)
- The services provided by councils and other public agencies.
Who will be able to see the information?
More or less anyone with internet access. The website is aimed at the public in South Yorkshire, elected Councillors, and officers working for public sector organisations, but will be open to anyone. The system will automatically analyse the data put into it and aggregate it to neighbourhood level. Anyone going to the website will be able to see this neighbourhood level information simply by selecting the neighbourhoods and the datasets that they are interested in.
Accredited researchers and analysts working in public agencies are likely to have access to information below the neighbourhood level to help them investigate and analyse issues that may impact on policy, strategy or service planning and provide information for managers on which they can base their decisions.
Will people be able to see my details?
No. A great deal of care and attention is paid to making sure that no personal information is put onto or is accessible through the website. There are rules that govern what information can be shared and published. These rules are designed to make sure that the individuals to whom the information relates cannot be identified either directly or indirectly.
When will the website be available?
The project team are planning to start loading data into the system in spring 2008 and, after a period of testing, the website is expected to go “live” in summer 2008.
Who can I contact about the project?
The project manager is Matthew Teale who based in the Policy Support Team. To contact him call (0114) 273 5400 or email matthew.teale@sheffield.gov.uk.
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