Find out more about the projects which have won our Make it Local competition.
Make it Local aims to show how local authorities can work with digital agencies to unlock their data and provide really useful web-based services for their citizens.
Local authorities hold significant amounts of public data– such as transport, carbon emissions, population and crime data – which may help to power a range of useful, digital services.
Four forward-thinking councils were chosen after a competitive tendering process. In conjunction with a digital media business each developed an innovative web-based service using the council's publicly-owned data.
The team created 'Sutton Open Library', an online service giving residents instant access to library information such as the availability and location of books and resources held in stock.
The project developed 'Sutton Bookshare' a new resource for community borrowing. Users are given an opportunity to register books they own and offer them as a community resource, lending titles to other residents in Sutton.
The team built an online community resource called 'Who Owns My Neighbourhood?', using land ownership data, where residents can add and discuss information about their area and keep up to date with solutions to local land problems such as fly-tipping.
The site also gives locals a say in how green or redundant space can be used more effectively, making it easier for them to request space for projects such as community allotments.
The team created a 'Birmingham Civic Dashboard', a social web tool that maps where requests for council services have been made.
Residents and the council are able to use the web tool to see the themes developing from these service requests and the broader issues they illustrate such as graffiti 'hotspots'.
The team will develop two projects to link local council data to two existing national websites.
Barnet Council will unlock all data on street-based problems, such as graffiti and broken paving slabs, by linking all of their information with the current FixMyStreet national website.
This will give local residents a complete picture of all issues raised in their area. They will also develop a local government version of TheyWorkForYou, a website which lets the community to keep track of the work being done by their local MP.
Read the Make It Local blog to find latest news on the projects in development.
Our exciting showcase event explored the potential of open data. Get the full recap and videos
![Arrow icon pink square [original]](http://admin.nesta.org.uk/library/images/arrow.jpg "Arrow icon pink square [original]"){kind=icon}
We've put together 10 tips for creating online local public services using open data. Download the toolkit (Pdf)
Find out what's happening on Make it local in our project blog.
T +44 (0)20 7438 2500
F +44 (0)20 7438 2501
Nesta Operating Company, a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales with company number 7706036 and charity number 1144091. Registered as a charity in Scotland number SC042833.
