We love open data. As data analysts and technical developers, we have worked with more than 100 public and community organisations to improve services using government open data.However, open data is not enough. We have developed reusable “open data and visuals” components that help users to create social and economic value. These components underpin Community Insight tools for housing associations managing more than half a million homes (www.communityinsight.org), data observatories run by 50 Local Authorities (www.data-packs.com), toolkits for 4,000 areas doing local community planning (www.rural-evidence.org.uk), and our Numberhood local data mobile app (www.numberhood.net) with 30,000 downloads.The Innovation Voucher would be used to help us develop mapping components based on open source map technologies such as Open Street Map, TileMill and Leaflet. This would enable us to launch our tools to new areas, adding value to open data in order to improve public services.

Our project proposes a new model of connected local information systems, providing a significant improvement over existing provision, while opening up civic and commercial opportunities by: • connecting good, relevant data into local and hyperlocal media • informing and improving public discussion • tracking issues of interest (as revealed by data searches and use) to inform priority-setting in local public services.