mySociety news

Transparency

FOI and the Irish border

We're all aware of the Irish border issue — but how many of us understand precisely what it entails, beyond trade and customs implications?

WhatDoTheyKnow user Jon Rush explains how he took a request to the brink of tribunal in order to have that information released to the public — and now that it has been, what it tells us about life after Brexit.

Research

Service bundles, super users and neighbourhoods

Can FixMyStreet be looked at as a number of different services — a pothole reporting site; a graffiti reporting site; a littering reporting site, etc — and if so, what does that tell us about how it's used?

That's the focus of the first in a series of research reports by Alex: in his other recent posts, you'll also find out that 0.1% of FixMyStreet users generate 16% of reports; and thoughts on the definition of a 'neighbourhood'.

Legal Information Institutes

The research team recently visited several sub-Saharan African countries to assess the impacts of LIIs — Legal Information Institutes, which exist to provide free access to the laws of the land. You can find the resulting report here.

Help keep us going

mySociety services like FixMyStreet, TheyWorkForYou and WhatDoTheyKnow are used by millions of people a year, but we receive very little funding for our core services in the UK. If you find our services useful and are able, please consider making a regular or one-off donation.

Community

Empowering residents of tower blocks

We've been working with Tower Blocks UK to explore how residents across the country could have more input into the management of their buildings.

If you live in a tower block, read our post to discover how you can help inform the services we're developing.

New FixMyStreet services

We're delighted to say that FixMyStreet Pro is now the official reporting service for both Hounslow and Westminster, the latest authorities to come on board.

Although the end result is always the same — smooth reporting for residents, and full integration with council services — the installation process is always unique. Read more about how we approached the Westminster FixMyStreet here, and how Hounslow's FixMyStreet came together here.

Events

TICTeC Local

For those using technology in local government and communities

This November, TICTeC Local comes to City Hall in London. If you use tech in communities or local government, consider submitting a proposal for a workshop or presentation. But hurry! Submissions close at midnight tomorrow.

What mySociety's reading (and listening to)

• As a General Election looks ever more likely, Newspeak House are collating this crowdsourced handbook of election tech.
• We found ourselves nodding along to Hewlett Foundation's piece on why non-profits need unrestricted grants.
• Oxfordshire County Council, a FixMyStreet Pro authority, has recruited citizen volunteers to inspect potholes and order repairs .
• When local newspapers began to publish articles online, there was a knock-on effect to privacy. This Radiolab podcast on the Right to be Forgotten was resonant (and infuriating!) for those of us dealing with similar issues here at mySociety.
• Top tip: humourous licence plates can cause financial woes. Probably best not.

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