This week I have been thinking about the use of data to help inform and justify decision making and how it relates to trust in government.
In my role at WSP, I am often involved in supporting local authority clients to create a transport policy position, shape a programme or consult on and deliver various parking and traffic schemes. I thoroughly enjoy the variety and being able to work across many different local authorities is really rewarding.
An increasing trend I’ve noticed is Councils wanting to have data inform and lead them in their decision-making. It’s something I fully support and it makes sense. Understanding data from parking beats, traffic counts and collision statistics can help inform decisions about where to prioritise limited budgets. Insight from data around the average length of stay in a car park can help inform decisions on tariffs. All really useful and completely sensible uses of data in my opinion.
However, sometimes it seems challenging to answer the public’s questions as they increase year on year: ‘
You think it’s a good idea to put road humps in my street? Prove it!…
‘You think it will be good to charge me an extra ten pence an hour to park in the car park? Prove it!’
It would have been impossible to answer all the public questions a couple of years ago. In 2024 (and with the right budget choices), it is possible to arm up with software that makes it possible to answer the questions. Now for the councils, it’s really about being smart - are they using the correct tools and measuring the crucial data points that allow the BAU to continue while not being flooded with data requests?
There’s one more crucial factor here. I was thinking that, besides the new tools, we should also be looking at ways to increase trust between Councils and their residents. The psychological aspect of the relationship between residents and councils could be much more powerful than expected and potentially decrease the number of questions raised.
But then on the other side - maybe this lack of trust – if there is a lack of trust - isn’t altogether a bad thing if it leads Councils to make data-led decisions?
I’d be keen to know what others think. By all means, reach out at ollie.miller@wsp.com
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