Geographic Data Sharing for 2,000th Public Organisation

The 10-year agreement between government and Ordnance Survey came into effect in April 2011 and allows the majority of public sector bodies in England and Wales, regardless of size, to use centrally funded geographic datasets. It is also helping the public sector to make vital efficiencies and improvements to service deliveries such as planning, transportation management, social housing and education services.

Organisations already benefiting from the PSMA include the Environment Agency, Department for Transport, local authorities across England and Wales, health organisations and the twelve main ambulance trusts. There has also been a significant uptake to the PSMA from town and parish councils. In England, the introduction of statutory Neighbourhood Planning means that local councils can now draw up development plans to shape their area, based on geographic information which is provided by the PSMA, facilitating easier data access and data sharing between public sector bodies and local people.

The PSMA widens access to a range of highly detailed digital Ordnance Survey mapping products as well as addressing information. It replaces previous collective agreements and is already showing significant value savings. Since the agreement was launched 10 months ago, approximately GBP15 million in savings to public sector organisations have been identified to users through the use of the PSMA data. Based on these savings there is the potential to achieve major savings across the entire public sector through the use of data, increased sharing and implementation of best practice examples.

Cardiff Council, for example, delivered savings of more than GBP1.3 million from enhanced special educational needs route and vehicle management. Meanwhile, South Yorkshire Police is expected to make savings of over GBP1 million as a result of an innovative Intranet-based mapping solution, which gives police officers access to detailed, up-to-date information about communities, crime and antisocial behaviour.

Emma Coleman, Clerk at Tatenhill Parish Council, the 2000th member to join the agreement, says to believe the PSMA will make a significant contribution to understanding the rural asset locations, highways and historic buildings. The ability to share geographic information with the community will help to improve decision making for planning applications and is expected to become a visual tool to share local information more effectively.