OGNetworkMeetingNotes

Meeting: Meeting of OG Forum Members Date: 6th April 2017 Time: 2pm – 3:30pm Venue: SCVO, Raeburn Room, Mansfield Traquair, 15 Mansfield Pl, Edinburgh EH3 6BB

Introductions

•	The meeting opened with a brief introduction from Ruchir Shah, noting the time set aside would be used as an opportunity to focus on the wider civil society engagement around open government in Scotland to date, and to seek an aligned view for where/how/what we do next in developing the network and engagement on current and future actions plans.

Overview of OGP / Scotland’s Pioneer status

•	Andy Williamson gave an overview of the Open Government Partnership, including the rationale for why the Partnership was formed. The group was informed about the three pillars that underpin OGP – openness, transparency, accountability – and it was emphasised that OGP can only work if there is a real partnership between government and civil society. A relationship with no power imbalance would require trust from both sides to ensure government and people can work better together.

•	Doreen Grove informed the group of Scotland’s unique status as a pioneer for Open Government, having been selected by the Open Government Partnership as one of 15 Pioneer governments. Scotland’s first Open Government National Action Plan, published in December 2016, sets out the commitments the Scottish Government has pledged to deliver as Pioneers of open government.

•	The plan was by no means perfect, but the Scottish Government can learn from this. The need for real partnership was reiterated, but we are on a journey to significantly change the ways of working. Andy explained that civil society must use common sense when crowdsourcing ideas to ensure we are not wasting the time of government – editorial control of some sorts.

•	Doreen explained that an Independent Monitor had been appointed to oversee the evaluation of the Scottish Government’s progress towards implementing and monitoring the commitments.

The Civil Society Network

•	This session reviewed the efforts made so far in developing the Network and will seek to reach a consensus on next steps, such as guiding principles and structure.

•	Scope and purpose of this network cannot just be centred on national OG action plans and needs broader focus. It should focus on 1) open government as a movement and a vision (movement building) and 2) the action plans as part of a bigger structural partnership with government (capacity building)

•	Mike noted the importance of remembering that not all government is national and that the role of local government was hugely important. Doreen informed the group that a meeting between Scottish Government and COSLA was upcoming to discuss how OGP –which sits at the national level – could trickle down to the local level.

•	Andy explained that OGP is not just about national governments, and the pioneer tier was an example of how OGP have changed direction on this. People matter too – it’s not all about processes and data and that’s where OG has got it wrong.

•	Mapping of expertise and connections within Scotland’s Open Government Forum would be a good place to begin to understand what Scotland’s Open Government Network currently looks like and how that knowledge and those connections could broaden reach.

•	Network would need a point of contact to the public. Not a steering group but facilitators (act as brokerage and attend meetings). This can work in the short term but could easily be adapted to involve other groups.

•	UK Network is good practice for OGP. Steering group responsible for direction. Has worked well for three years with theme leads sitting on the steering group responsible for meeting/engaging with government counterparts. For example, Andy is responsible for Public Accountability (Parliament).

•	Scotland’s Network could take a similar approach, with thematic facilitators paired with government counterparts (currently one for each commitment). However, there needs to be consistency with who is attending meetings with civil service and ministers on behalf of the network.

•	What is the purpose of the role – it employs people to do the role. Volunteer opportunity – task to do something. Governance that sits about this.

•	Don’t want something lose that’s unstructured – not a steering group. Facilitators, Communications who play role on behalf of the network.

•	Important for any facilitators to have a two-way role in reaching out to government but also reporting back to the network.

•	How do we decide whatever this group here is in this meeting with Scottish Government?

Session 2

•	An overview of the historical context behind Scotland’s first national action plan was given. The plan consists of five things Scotland is already doing, but the first one is about keeping us in the movement and letting us move ahead.

•	Commitment on PB shows fragility of action plan. There’s been no real deep analysis of where we are with PB. There are limits to what Scottish Government can do with facilitating move towards 1% - local authorities/public bodies have a big role to play. Audit Scotland interested in impact of 1% - not 1% per local authority, it’s 1% of local authority budgets (changed subtlety in action plan

•	Audit Scotland will be looking at impact of PB – late to party but are meeting on this. Where does audit Scotland sit in this picture? Open Government Action Plan – will it change how audit Scotland look at things.

•	Anne – Commissioned for East Renfrewshire Centre for Collaborative Impact – design approach brings people together with interest in people that want to support. Directors of Health and Social Car and people, commissioning manager – job titles aren’t used. About ensuring everyone has an opportunity to take part. What would make your life a bit easier – rather than do you want to get involved in participatory budgeting. Fairer Scotland has been a route in – what do you like, what you would change, how will you help to make that change. In working in that way we change impact on people’s lives.

•	Fife – Single body. Good stuff in fife. Big profile. Willingness, but participatory budgeting is not happening. Fairer Scotland piece – fairer fife commission has pledges but how long good political commitment will last no one knows. Footprint (negative) handprint (positive). Political pressure.

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Session Three

A brief mention of upcoming opportunities to engage through SCVO channels was given however, there was not enough time to cover the following two points on agenda:

•	How will the ‘Open Government Pioneer’s Project’ position civil society and citizens to better engage with future open government action plans?

•	What other ways are we growing interest and involvement from civil society and citizens in the open government agenda?

The group was reminded of the need to act in an open and transparent way, including the process of formalising Scotland’s Open Government Network. There should be a commitment to publish as much as we can, including the big lottery funding that is difficult to find. The suggested structure for Scotland’s Open Government Network needs to be put out there for comments.