Open ePetitions

Draft of UK ePetition Data Standards

As a first step to enabling oper interoperability between all ePetitioning systems, we are inputting to the UK working party on data standards for e-petitions that are required for councils in England and Wales by the UK Local Democracy Bill. You can comment and input to this now at http://www.futuregovconsultancy.com/index.php/2009/11/11/epetitions-update-and-call-for-comments/ The intention is to draft the standard in such a way as to be adaptable in different contexts (and it is likely to set the agenda as it’s the first one of which we are aware), so it’s a great opportunity to make sure the European dimension is considered. A copy of the of the draft (in PDF) is in the attached file. The blog entry also lists a number of questions that need to be addressed (which are also in the next folder). Closing dates for comments is 29 November 2009. If you want to discuss background, ideas etc. email Peter Cruickshank at P.Cruickshank@napier.ac.uk or Fraser Henderson at fraser.henderson@btinternet.com

Questions the UK ePetitions Data Standard needs to address

 

UK ePetition Data Standard - Final Version Aug 2010.

This set of recommended data standards has been developed by a consortium of ParticiTech, FutureGov and the Consultation Institute in consultation with the local government and technology sectors, in-line with the recommendations of the Power of Information Review. The standards aim to provide advice for UK local authorities that wish to take a consistent approach to petitions information and allow for information to be extracted from ePetitions for use elsewhere on the basis of improved interoperability. The UK Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 introduced a duty on UK local authorities to draw up a petitions scheme guaranteeing that they will respond to petitions from people who live, work or study in the area. From 15th December 2010 the duty extends to electronic petitions. The provisions set minimum entitlements that all citizens can expect but give local authorities flexibility about how they approach the duty - leaving a lot of scope for local determination. The standards guidelines for eGIF advise that data standards should be XML with a schema. In the spirit of the Local Democracy Economic Development and Construction Act itself, the intention here was to focus on the high level business requirements, ontologies and data structure, particularly reporting and data export, and to leave the detail of how data should be stored to the discretion of local authorities and their suppliers.