Key information
Executive summary
In 2015 the GLA developed the London Infrastructure Mapping Application. Development of the tool was a response to calls from the infrastructure community that the GLA support coordination of infrastructure planning and delivery throughout the capital by providing improved insight into London’s growth, development and infrastructure investment pipeline.
The tool works by spatially visualising a range of infrastructure related data; sourced from utilities, boroughs, developers and the GLA Group. Data is targeted at supporting decision making and improved coordination of infrastructure investments, particularly in view of London’s growing population and economy. The tool also allows infrastructure providers to identify opportunities to deliver infrastructure jointly, reducing the potential for disruption and driving down the cost of construction.
The tool has strong support amongst stakeholders; however user feedback has highlighted a number of priorities for further developing the tool. In order to progress these, the GLA applied for grant funding from the London Lane Rental Scheme earlier this year and £248,600 was awarded with the support of London’s utilities to progress a second phase of work.
Funding secured will be directed towards undertaking a work programme that addresses functionality and data related issues – to ensure the tool meets user requirements, as well as undertaking stakeholder engagement and establishing a governance framework to position the tool for long term success.
Decision
That the Mayor:
a) Approves the receipt of £248,600 from Transport for London’s London Lane Rental Scheme Fund
b) Approves expenditure of up to £248,600 to undertake Phase 2 development of the London Infrastructure Mapping Application
Part 1: Non-confidential facts and advice
1.1. The London Infrastructure Mapping Application was developed in 2015 in response to calls from the infrastructure community that the GLA do more to facilitate improved coordination of infrastructure planning and delivery, in order to better support the ‘unlocking’ of sites for development, drive down costs of infrastructure delivery and reduce the overall level of disruption caused by construction activity.
1.2. The tool works by spatially visualising a range of infrastructure related data; sourced from utilities, boroughs, developers and the GLA Group; including information on future infrastructure investments, London’s development pipeline, and planning related information. Data has been selected with the aim of supporting decision making, investment prioritisation and identification of opportunities for infrastructure to be delivered jointly. The tool represents the first time such information has been collated into a central database.
1.3. The current version of the tool is available on the GLA website at http://maps.london.gov.uk/ima and was released in December 2015. The tool is strongly supported by stakeholders, with feedback indicating that it provides strong benefits across a number of areas. Whilst feedback has been positive to date, users have also identified a number of development priorities that would further enhance the tool; and these priorities have informed the proposed second work programme of development, targeted at improving functionality, and quality of underlying data to better support user requirements.
1.4. The GLA has successfully sourced £248,600 in funding to undertake this second work programme from the London Lane Rental Governance Committee, managed by Transport for London in accordance with Department for Transport regulations. This committee manages surplus funds generated by the London Lane Rental Scheme, and is made up of representatives from utility companies and TfL. The GLA’s application was successful due to its potential to reduce disruption and other adverse effects caused by street and roadworks in London.
2.1. Funding secured will be directed towards a programme of work designed to further develop the tool, with an aim of addressing user requirements, enhancing functionality and strengthening the quality of underlying data. Other aims include stakeholder engagement in order to inform development and promote the tool, and establishing a governance framework.
A list of objectives and expected outcomes for this phase of work is provided below:
• Objective 1: Improve user experience and the functionality of the mapping application to ensure the tool better meets the requirements of users and reduce requirement for ongoing resourcing. Work will be targeted at developing functions such as exportable data and maps, increasing the speed and loading time of the application, better organisation of information, and making the tool more intuitive.
• Objective 2: Strengthen the quality of the application database to address confidentiality issues, data gaps, errors and deliver improved insights for users. Work will be targeted at sourcing new data and resolving errors, and working with utilities to resolve confidentiality and licensing restrictions. We will also work with TfL to develop a common database that can be shared throughout the entire GLA Group, recognising the GLA and TfL both have large repositories of data.
• Objective 3: Engage with stakeholders and increase public awareness of the tool – to support ongoing refinement/shaping of Phase 2 work programme and ensure the tool is being used by stakeholders and integrated into their work activities. A first priority will be hosting a joint design thinking workshop with TfL in early July.
• Objective 4: Develop a governance framework, to set up appropriate processes for managing data, and work with utilities to share information
• Objective 5: Measure success of tool to support development of business case for long term funding with support of external stakeholders
3.1. The project will adhere to accessibility best practice for print, website and other means of communication.
3.2. The purchase and usage of data underpinning the tool will work towards advancing equality of opportunity amongst people from the eight protected characteristic backgrounds of the Equalities Act 2010. While this work does not target one particular group, by increasing the availability of infrastructure related data individuals and organisations will gain a better understanding of their communities, opportunities and development impacts in their areas.
4.1. Key risks - analysis
4.2. Alignment to Mayoral strategies
The tool was developed in response to a recommendation made in the London Infrastructure Plan
2050 that the GLA, as London’s strategic authority do more to support improved coordination of infrastructure planning and delivery. The London Infrastructure Plan 2050 is not a statutory document however it complements other statutory strategies, including the London Plan and Economic Development Strategy, and supports implementation of both of these documents.
5.1 Approval is being sought to accept secured funding of £248.6k from the London Lane Rental Scheme and for the spending of these funds towards the Phase 2 development of the London Infrastructure Mapping Application.
5.2 The estimated expenditure and funding is set out below.
5.3 It should be noted that the London Infrastructure Mapping Application - Phase 2 development is 100% grant funded and the £248.6k income from the London Lane Rental Fund has been confirmed. The overall costs of the project should not exceed the allocated funding.
6.1 The foregoing sections of this report indicate that:
6.1.1 the decisions requested of the mayor (in accordance with the GLA’s Contracts and Funding Code) fall within the GLA’s statutory powers to do such things considered to further or which are facilitative of, conducive or incidental to the promotion of economic development and wealth creation, and improvement of the environment in Greater London; and
6.1.2 In formulating the proposals in respect of which a decision is sought officers have complied with the Authority’s related statutory duties to:
• pay due regard to the principle that there should be equality of opportunity for all people (further details on equalities are set out in section 3 above) and to the duty under section 149 of the 2010 Act to have due regard to the need to eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation as well as to advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not ;
• consider how the proposals will promote the improvement of health of persons, health inequalities between persons and to contribute towards the achievement of sustainable development in the United Kingdom; and
• consult with appropriate bodies.
6.2 Officers should ensure that an appropriate agreement is put in place and executed between TfL and the GLA for the receipt of the funding, before any reliance is placed on the availability of the funding.
6.3 Where any services are required, officers must ensure that these are procured by Transport for London Procurement who will determine the detail of the procurement strategy to be adopted in accordance with the GLA’s Contracts and Funding Code. Officers must ensure that appropriate contract document is put in place and executed by the successful bidder(s) and the GLA before the commencement of the services.
The project will be overseen by a Project Manager responsible for day to day delivery. The Project Manager will be appointed on a one year basis, and will work as part of the Infrastructure & Growth team within the Economic & Business Policy Unit of the GLA. They will report to the Principal Policy Officer within the team.
Signed decision document
MD2009 London Infrastructure Mapping Application (signed) PDF