Aligned Assets Release Risk Information Module For Local Government

Gazetteer specialists Aligned Assets are pleased to announce the release of a Risk Information Module as part of their local government gazetteer management system, Symphony iManage.

Being provided as part of their continual drive to provide the highest quality in local government software, the Risk Information Module will allow councils to store data pertaining to risks against each record in their Local Land and Property Gazetteers (LLPG).

The LLPG, which all councils will maintain, acts as a central repository for all address and property data within their administrative boundaries, and is the definitive source of address data used throughout council departments. The inclusion of the Risk Information Module will now allow for risk data to also be shared throughout these departments.

Example information that can be stored in the module includes: • Risk-based such as potentially violent occupants, asbestos or dangerous dogs • Person-based to cover information such as an immobile householder or vulnerable persons • Location-based to detail and aid staff when on site-visits such as with restricted access • Licence-based to include things such as liquor licences or fireworks storage • Miscellaneous fields for anything else

In most local authorities this information will be held somewhere, but until now there has not been an opportunity to centralise this essential data and make it available to all those who could benefit from it within the local authority or partner agencies. As such, the Risk Information Module will help in protecting members of staff who perform site-visits and prepare enforcement officers before they carry out their statutory duties.

The data can be easily imported from other systems into the Risk Information Module both as csv files or from GIS layers, and because each LLPG record contains a geographical coordinate, all the risk data will become mapable and thus provide an even greater level of use and analysis.

The module will also be enhanced to enable other agencies to enter proposed location based intelligence such as risks via a web form or web services, thus maximising efficiency in the sharing of information and making it more timely.

Speaking of the Risk Information Module, Managing Director of Aligned Assets, Andy Hird, explained, “This module was built in collaboration with the fire services and police forces of Great Britain for whom risk information is essential to their day-to-day operations.

“It became clear that there was also tremendous benefit for risk data to be more widely used in local authorities and with LLPG data already integrated into so many council departments it is the perfect place for this additional data to be stored, shared and put to very valuable use.”

For more information, visit www.aligned-assets.co.uk/rim

ABOUT ALIGNED ASSETS Aligned Assets are an industry leader in AddressBase, gazetteer and address management solutions. They supply software across the public and private sectors including over 100 Local Authorities, Fire & Rescue Services and Police Forces. In addition to software and data solutions, they offer a complete range of consultancy, training, bespoke development and project management.

Aligned Assets Bring AddressBase Premium Compatibility to Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service

Gazetteer specialists Aligned Assets are pleased to announced that after a competitive tender process, Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service have selected the Symphony Bluelight corporate gazetteer management system for the management of their Ordnance Survey’s AddressBase Premium data.

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service have been using the precursor to AddressBase Premium, the NLPG, for five years and integrated it into many of their back office systems. With the phasing out of the NLPG and a desire to expand the integration into their control room setting using AddressBase Premium, they sought a new supplier that would enable them to achieve this expansion.

Symphony Bluelight, which is a range of gazetteer products designed specifically for use in the emergency services, compromises modules that will allow Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service to create, manage and enhance their address data, synchronise other systems using the UPRN (unique property reference number), and importantly to integrate AddressBase Premium into frontline and back office systems either through web services or automated exports.

This integration will be achieved using a combination of Symphony SinglePoint and Symphony Bluelight iExchange, and in addition to their Remsdaq Command and Control, integration will be initiated for their CFRMIS, IRS, Cognos and FSEC systems.

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service also host a managed service for Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Authority and the Symphony Bluelight system will allow them to hold the two address datasets separately, but manage them through the one interface. The system will also enable the data to be integrated with Bedfordshire’s frontline and back office systems, which will include the Sophtlogic MIS, hydrant management system and their Internal Home Fire Safety Check System.

Speaking of the purchase, Katy Smith, Geo Spatial Intelligence Analyst at Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service said, “We are delighted to be working closely with Aligned Assets to transition from the NLPG to Address Base Premium. With the move to Symphony Bluelight, we will be able to expand and utilise Address Base Premium to its full potential in both our control and back office environments. The move will allow the service to streamline processes and release further cost savings, while allowing us to strengthen our working relationships with our partners.”

Managing Director of Aligned Assets, Andy Hird, concluded by saying, “When fully set up and all integrations are in place, the Symphony Bluelight system will provide both Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Services with the very latest in address data and gazetteer technology.”

To find out more, visit http://www.aligned-assets.co.uk/bluelight

ABOUT ALIGNED ASSETS Aligned Assets are an industry leader in AddressBase, gazetteer and address management solutions. They supply software across the public and private sectors including over 100 Local Authorities, Fire & Rescue Services and Police Forces. In addition to software and data solutions, they offer a complete range of consultancy, training, bespoke development and project management.

ADDRESS-POINT Compatibility Still Possible Through Aligned Assets

AddressBase specialists Aligned Assets are offering a solution to both the private and public sector that will allow them to migrate to the Ordnance Survey’s new AddressBase Premium product whilst retaining compatibility with the older, soon to be discontinued ADDRESS-POINT legacy product.

With the Ordnance Survey withdrawing ADDRESS-POINT from the Public Sector Mapping Agreement (PSMA) and One Scotland Mapping Agreement (OSMA) in October 2014, this will leave many organisations, including the Police, NHS Trusts, Fire & Rescue Services and utility companies unable to update many of their frontline and back office systems as they are not compatible with the new AddressBase format.

Without the ability to update, the address data they use will quickly go out of date, particularly with regard new housing developments, resulting in errors that will affect their ability to safely and effectively carry out their operational duties.

With the Aligned Assets solution, they will be able to keep these systems updated with all new-build properties, changes to property addresses such as houses divided into flats and also those properties that have been demolished.

Available as a standalone product or as a part of the Aligned Assets corporate gazetteer system, the solution works by feeding updates to AddressBase Premium into a central database, with these updates then automatically converted into the ADDRESS-POINT format and sent out to all recipient systems.

A tried and tested solution with numerous UK implementations, this conversion process will keep an organisation’s address data accurate and up to date whilst allowing those organisations sufficient time to invest in new systems rather than be forced into rushing upgrades that can incur additional costs and sacrifice core functionality.

“AddressBase Premium is the address data of the future, with a higher level of accuracy and coverage than anything that’s come before it,” explained Andy Hird, Managing Director of Aligned Assets.

“It is clear though that many organisations are going to struggle in upgrading all their systems before the October 2014 deadline and it is our solution that can give them that precious time in order to make the necessary changes, all the while continuing ‘business as usual’.”

To find out more, visit www.aligned-assets.co.uk/iexchange

Shared Services See Cost Savings at Christchurch and East Dorset Partnership

Gazetteer specialists Aligned Assets are pleased to announce that they are now supplying a shared service gazetteer management system to East Dorset District Council and Christchurch Borough Council.

The two councils will be using Symphony iManage with its specially designed shared service module to manage all address and property data across both councils – data that is an essential component in the delivery of council services.

By having one team, working across both council areas, using a single software interface as opposed to the two that were used previously, working practices will be simplified, accessibility will be increased, time will be saved on switching between software and money will be saved on training costs. Additionally, there will be savings through reduced licence fees and moving data to a single database will enable far better data management.

Future plans involve integrating the address data into other council systems as those departments also migrate to new software packages and through the use of a single system, East Dorset data and Christchurch data can more easily be shared.

This integration will most likely be achieved through the use of Aligned Assets’ Symphony iExchange module, which is currently being assessed by the shared service team. By allowing address data to be automatically exported to other systems, departments throughout both councils will be using the most accurate and up to date addresses, which will reduce errors and de-duplicate workloads, all without requiring additional resources due to the software’s automation.

Speaking of the purchase, Andy Hird, Managing Director of Aligned Assets explained, “Christchurch was an existing Aligned Assets customer, whereas East Dorset used another supplier for their gazetteer management. We’re delighted that the partnership opted for our solutions, which we believe demonstrates that we offer the best shared service options in terms of both functionality and price.”

To find out more, visit www.aligned-assets.co.uk/imanage

ABOUT ALIGNED ASSETS
Aligned Assets are an industry leader in AddressBase, gazetteer and address management solutions. They supply software across the public and private sectors including over 100 Local Authorities, Fire & Rescue Services and Police Forces. In addition to software and data solutions, they offer a complete range of consultancy, training, bespoke development and project management.

Aligned Assets Publish Two Case Studies on Local Authority Use of Business Data

Aligned Assets are pleased to announce the publication of two new case studies that focus on the use of business data in local authorities to drive efficiencies and increase revenue.

In addition to demonstrating the councils’ own use of innovation, both involve Aligned Assets’ business database, which is widely considered to be the most detailed and accurate one currently available.

The first case study focuses on Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council and their work surrounding the Government’s business rates retention policy that sees councils now able to retain up to 50% of all business rates revenue they collect.

In addition to a review of their existing processes and a project that saw council departments sharing data more efficiently, the Aligned Assets business database has been used to identify business premises that are potentially going unbilled for business rates. The case study shows that information provided exclusively from the business database has provided an annual revenue gain of £15,021, with a total revenue gain of £70,137 when including the retrospective collection of previously owed charges.

The second case study is about the London Borough of Harrow and the work they have done to counteract the common problem of seldom having the capacity or infrastructure to process the extremely high rate of change relating to business premises and names.

The work focused on using the Aligned Assets business database to supplement their LLPG (local land and property gazetteer), which is used to feed numerous council systems and projects with the most accurate address data available. Through the use of the Aligned Assets business database, the Council saw an increase of 128% in the amount of validated business name entries and with that an inferred saving of over £25,000.

Like Barnsley Council, Harrow will also be using the business database to aid in the detection of businesses unknown to, and therefore potentially unbilled by, their Business Rates team.

Andy Hird, Managing Director of Aligned Assets explained that, “Our business database has uses across the public sector, from aiding the emergency services in mobilisation through to helping local authorities in identifying unbilled business rates.”

“These applications are only possible due to the unique way our data is sourced, including a call centre of 65 people, which shows why it’s also the business data of choice for 118 118, Bing and the BT Phone Book.”

Both case studies are available for free download from www.aligned-assets.co.uk/clients/localauthorities

ABOUT ALIGNED ASSETS
Aligned Assets are an industry leader in AddressBase, gazetteer and address management solutions. They supply software across the public and private sectors including over 100 Local Authorities, Fire & Rescue Services and Police Forces. In addition to software and data solutions, they offer a complete range of consultancy, training, bespoke development and project management.