Full List of UK Councils now online (and accessible via API)
Sometimes you just have to get on with it. After adding a few more UK Local authorities to OpenlyLocal this weekend (we’ve now opened up information from over 70 councils), I bit the bullet and added basic entries for all the remaining UK local authorities.
[Props should go to Dane at the excellent eGovernment Register who gave me permission to use the basic info I got from there for open distribution, though other restrictions may apply -- the ONS info is Crown Copyright, for example.]
What use is that, if we’re not yet extracting the councillors, committees and meetings information from them?
Plenty, because it now means you can get programmatic access to the Full List of UK councils in one place, at one url: http://OpenlyLocal.com/councils/all. You can also get the data as XML or Json just by adding .xml or .json to the url.
Plus the XML and Json feeds also include extra information (all which on the HTML version is on the info page for each council):
- Basic info for the council — address, telephone number, website
- The ONS SNAC ids used by central govt to refer to Local Authorities
- The WhatDoTheyKnow id, so you can tie into Freedom of Information requests for that council
- Plus — for those councils that we’ve opened up democratic data for — councillors, committees and wards
If there are any errors (some of this info has been added by hand, after all, do let me know in the comments), and I’ll aim to get them sorted straight away .
Till then, I’ll leave you with an example of how to use this data — I’ve created a Google Spreadsheet of All UK Local Authorities from it (using the ImportXML function): http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AhOqra7su40fdFNybEV6TlFGR1hQNHY5T0hQUDduUnc&hl=en_GB
I’ve made it accessible to all, so you could just go ahead and download it to you computer, or create a copy of it on Google Spreadsheets, and use it as the basis for your hack/analysis, FoI investigation or whatever. (For those who want to understand how it works, have a look at the the functions — the main one is ImportXML, which is not well documented, but you can get by with trial-and-error and a bit of Googling).
Alternatively, have a play with the XML feed in Yahoo Pipes. Have fun.
Great resource! Thanks for pulling this together. Highly relevent to want I’m doing with the Knowledge Hub #khub
Steve Dale
September 11, 2009 at 12:25 pm
[...] Full List of UK Councils now online (and accessible via API) « countculture (tags: data localauthority local uk government gov20) [...]
FutureGov » Useful links » links for 2009-09-11
September 11, 2009 at 1:01 pm
Thanks Count. Excellent resource.
Hugh Flouch
September 12, 2009 at 11:43 pm
[...] Full List of UK Councils now online (and accessible via API) « countculture – Sometimes you just have to get on with it. After adding a few more UK Local authorities to OpenlyLocal this weekend (we’ve now opened up information from over 70 councils), I bit the bullet and added basic entries for all the remaining UK local authorities. [...]
Communities and Collaboration » Bookmarks for September 13th through September 17th
September 17, 2009 at 6:02 am
You might be interested in the OpenPSI project (http://www.openpsi.org)
You will find the Ordnance Survey Administrative Geography in a queriable service and a link to a tutorial to demonstrate how to create a data mash-up using the data services.
http://www.openpsi.org/?page_id=58
John Darlington
September 18, 2009 at 2:55 pm
[...] transparent and accountable DigigovFull List of UK Councils now online (and accessible via API) CountCultureOpening up local government information Chris Taggart’s presentation to Advisory Panel on [...]
September #5 at take21.org/blog
October 2, 2009 at 11:05 pm
[...] transparent and accountable DigigovFull List of UK Councils now online (and accessible via API) CountCultureOpening up local government information. Chris Taggart’s presentation to Advisory Panel on [...]
September #5 « take21
October 2, 2009 at 11:42 pm
This is really useful – saves us a lot of typing and checking. Dont really understand the snac_id but it appears to be unique so is acting as a useful key for us; except the ‘Greater London Authority’ doesnt have one – is it missing? or does it just not apply to this authority?
June
October 12, 2011 at 9:17 am
The snac_id is the ID given to councils by the Office of National Statistics. It’s being replaced by the GSS code. Unfortunately the ONS doesn’t issue one for the GLA, so you’re better off using the Ordnance Survey ID, or the OpenlyLocal ID if you need an ID that covers all authorities.
Glad you’re finding it useful — that’s the point — just a reminder re the Share-Alike Attribution requirements, which allow free reuse even commercially as long as you attribute as required and publish the resultant work under the same Share-Alike Attribution licence.
countculture
October 12, 2011 at 9:25 am
When I open it, every field is filled with address details – anyone know why or if there is an alternative download (i.e. like the screen shot above!)?
Spencer
February 1, 2012 at 10:15 am
Pls ignore last comment – was viewing in Basic – clicked on Full sheet! Great resources Countculture…. do you create many of these type of data sheets – other public/private sectors etc?
Spencer
February 1, 2012 at 10:25 am
Think Google spreadsheet formulas might have changed a bit. Will investigate. See also http://OpenCharities.org and http://OpenCorporates.com
countculture
February 1, 2012 at 10:37 am