ADD2742 Elastic Platinum licence for Planning London Datahub

1.1.    The Planning London Datahub operates as the digital counterpart of the planning system for London, collecting data on both the planning process and development proposed (annually we collect data on over 120,000 developments).  This data is then used for a variety of purposes including forming an evidence base for planning policy; to model demographic changes; to support the infrastructure mapping application; and it also provides an open dataset used extensively by industry.
1.2.    The database is hosted by a third party (Venetrix) on behalf of the GLA, the cost of which and its maintenance is subject to a separate future decision. The technology that the database is operated on is “Elastic Search” which is an open-source software which is free to use.  The continued use of the paid licence will ensure increased security as well as functionality. The functionality that is key to the current operation of the Datahub is how data is accessed through connectors by other systems and services. The platinum licence enables both a Java Database Connectivity (JDBC) connector and an Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) connector which means that other systems are able to access and report on the data.
1.3.    In theory, there are alternatives to the current licensing arrangement, including building our own connector and/or extracting the data from the Datahub and publishing it in static formats. However, to set these up would cost significantly more than the licensing arrangements proposed and also be sub-optimal.  For example, the connector is used to feed data into a number of other platforms and processes that the GLA operates including:
•    the Development Monitoring Portal
•    LAND4LDN
•    the Infrastructure Mapping Application 
•    the annual Starts and Completions reporting to MHCLG on housing numbers for each financial year.
1.4.    The current contract was agreed in 2021 for a three-year period via a reseller agreement (ICT13960).
1.5.    The cost for the licence over the three-year period is £57,600.  In addition, there will be reseller fees of approximately four per cent (£2,304) which TfL Procurement have confirmed can be used again for this contract.  This will run from the 24 January 2025 until the 23 January 2028.  The cost of this would be met from the Planning Digitalisation Budget with up to £20,000 earmarked for each year.
 

2.1.    This decision will allow the continuation of the service the GLA currently provides to internal and external parties on data from the Planning London Datahub which supports a range of work and outcomes as highlighted above.   

    The GLA is subject to the public sector equality duty (PSED) under section 149 of the Equality Act (Act) 2010. The Act requires the identification and evaluation of the likely potential impacts, both positive and negative, of GLA decisions on those with protected characteristics.  The Mayor is 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. This may involve, in particular, removing or minimising any disadvantage suffered by those who share a relevant protected characteristic and taking steps to meet the needs of such people. In certain circumstances compliance with the Act may involve treating people with a protected characteristic more favourably than those without it.
3.2    The “protected characteristics” are age, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation and marriage/civil partnership status.

3.3    Whilst the direct impact of this programme in this regard is limited, it contributes in a positive way – with the availability of development data core to understanding how the city is changing, and how that is impacting different communities, including those with protected characteristics and therefore to helping address equality issues.  
 

Risks
4.1.    The key risks relating to this project include:

Links to Mayoral strategies and priorities
4.2.    The Planning London Datahub is critical in fulfilling the Mayor’s statutory functions in monitoring the impact of the London Plan, providing an evidence base for the Plan and unlocking data of importance to other initiatives including the work of the Infrastructure Co-ordination Service.
Conflicts of interest
4.3.    No one involved in the drafting or clearance of this document has any conflicts of interest to declare.
 

5.1.    Approval is requested for expenditure of £60,000 towards the three-year Platinum Elastic licence to enable the GLA and other organisations to use reporting software with the data from the Planning London Datahub.
5.2.    This expenditure will be funded from the Digitalisation budget within the Planning and Regeneration Unit’s approved budget for 2024-25 financial year.
5.3.    Expenditure of up to £20,000 per year until will be incurred over the three financial years ending 31 March 2027.