Open Government Action Plan commitment 4: be more accountable for public services

Engage with Commitment Signatories

Met with each Signatory individually, and held collaborative workshop to build shared understandings and purpose of work moving forwards, Spring 2019

Form civil society partnerships working group

Held first meeting April 2019; workshop on co-design of citizens engagement June 2019

Commission baseline research into accountability landscape

Contracted EKOS Consultants Ltd. to conduct desk-based research to assess existing accountability bodies operating in Scotland for public services, and to assess some examples of citizens engagement in scrutiny activities to help inform best practice (if taken forward)

Conduct vulnerable citizens engagement to complement wider national engagement

CAS have been commissioned to take forward an OGP project under their consumer advocacy work-plan for 2019/20, to be conducted alongside and complementing the national engagement activities led by SG (via contractor).  Project due to conclude late November.

Conduct in-depth citizens and public bodies engagement to identify challenges and inform solutions development

Contract awarded to We Are Snook to take forward this work – plan to hold 4 public events, a national survey and interviews, a public bodies consultation event, and to establish a Citizens Panel that will lead on development of at least one solution in 2020.  Final report with recommendations for viable pilot solutions due January 2020

Hold one-off engagement w/academics and other scrutiny and accountability experts to test potential solutions under consideration

December 2019 – January 2020 (TBC)

CWG endorsement of identified pilot solutions to be taken forward

To be confirmed January – February 2020

Pilot development and implementation, working w/CWG, Citizens Panel and other relevant supporting stakeholders

February – September 2020

(*work likely to continue beyond September to ensure proper and effective implementation)