Defra Network Transparency Panel
This is an unofficial webpage about the work of the Defra Network Transparency Panel. I will add links to blog posts and other material going forward.
There is a hashtag for Twitter discussions about the Panel's work and related open data issues: #defratransparency
-- Owen Boswarva
Related Blog Posts by Owen Boswarva
Ordnance Survey Open Data: Back to the well ... (01/10/2014)
Latest Environment Agency open data releases (01/08/2014)
New open data releases announced by the Public Data Group (17/07/2014)
New Environment Agency open data releases (03/06/2014)
Unlocking Environment Agency flood data: a progress report (28/05/2014)
Flood Warning Data Integrity Guide (03/03/2014)
Storify: support for open release of Environment Agency flood data (02/03/2014)
UK floods and the case for opening up Environment Agency flood data (18/02/2014)
#Floodhack and opening up Environment Agency flood data (16/02/2014)
Mapping the Environment Agency's flood risk management maintenance programme with open data (15/02/2014)
Environment Agency information about hazardous landfill sites: still some questions (18/12/2013)
Evaluating the UK National Information Infrastructure (03/12/2013)
Has the Environment Agency removed information on the type of waste received at landfill sites? (07/10/2013)
I've discovered Defra's hidden stash of CAP Payments data ... (12/09/2013)
The Defra Network Transparency Panel: Open Data and a Transparency Vision (06/09/2013)
Related Blog Posts by Panel Members
Open for comment - refresh of the Defra Network Open Data Strategy (Ian Trenholm, 04/10/2013)
About the Transparency Panel
The Defra Network includes the UK's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs itself, and a wide range of executive agencies and arms'-length government bodies including (but not limited to): the Environment Agency (EA) for England, Natural England, the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA), the Rural Payments Agency (RPA), the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD), Kew, the Forestry Commission, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), the Food and Environment Research Agency (Fera), the Marine Management Organisation (MMO), and the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas).
The Defra Network Transparency Panel has been set up to support delivery of the UK Government's transparency agenda in Defra's areas of responsibility. (Similar "sector boards" have been organised by other government departments.) The overarching purpose of the Defra Network Transparency Panel is to "oversee the implementation of Defra's Open Data Strategy and to drive publication of data and information from the Defra network in line with the Government policy on increased transparency."
The Transparency Panel has terms of reference.
In June 2014 the Environment Agency announced its intention to set up a group of external users to advise on open data priorities.
Defra Network Open Data Strategy
Defra released its first Open Data Strategy in June 2012. A refreshed version of the Open Data Strategy was released in December 2013.
National Information Infrastructure
In October 2013 the Cabinet Office published the National Information Infrastructure, a list of datasets nominated by government departments as particularly important. Defra Network members contributed to this list.
Meetings
Released minutes and papers are below. The next meeting of the Transparency Panel was scheduled for 6 November 2014 but has been postponed.
Meeting 31 July 2014 Minutes not yet released
Meeting 12 March 2014 Minutes not yet released
Meeting 12 December 2013 Minutes not yet released
Meeting 10 September 2013 Minutes not yet released Attachments National Information Infrastructure (doc)
Refreshed Defra Open Data Strategy - draft (doc)
Refreshed Defra Open Data Strategy - practitioners draft with consolidated comments (doc)Source Data.gov.uk
Meeting 17 May 2013 Minutes Minutes (doc) Attachments Terms of Reference v1.0 (doc)
Defra Network Transparency Vision (doc)
The Top Ten Datasets (doc)Source Data.gov.uk
Meeting 22 February 2013 Minutes Minutes (doc) Attachments Transparency Slides (ppt)
Terms of Reference v0.6 (doc)
Defra WMS Oct_Dec 2012 v0.1 (xls)
Agenda Item 4 - Delivery of the Open Data Strategy (doc)Source Data.gov.uk
Quick Searches for Defra Network Datasets
The following links should produce listings of datasets held by Defra Network authorities (including some historical authorities such as the Sustainable Development Commission). Some of the listed datasets are available as open data; many others are not.
The Data.gov.uk pages include functionality that allows you to submit comments about each dataset, including arguments for open data release. This is one of several channels you can use to request release of datasets or highlight interest in "unlocking" public data.