Glyn Wintle, 04 March 2009
In summary, the Taskforce makes the following recommendations: Recommendation 1 Public servants should take part in online peer support forums as a matter of course. Public bodies should investigate and publish lists of the major forums in their areas of responsibility and engage with these following a published plan. A cross-governmental list and set of Departmental plans should be published by the Cabinet Office by Q3 2009 with a follow up report on progress in Q1 2010. This builds on the enabling work advised by the Taskforce on the publication of social media guidance for civil servants. Recommendation 2 Public servants will require adequate internet access to take part in social media as part of their job. The Cabinet Office should work with staff involved in setting access rules and defining standard browser capabilities and issue guidance. Recommendation 3 Unlock innovation in leading public sector sites using a 'backstage model', a standing open online innovation space allowing the general public and staff to co-create information-based public services. This capability should be a standard element of public information service design. The government should build on the new backstage service for Directgov. ... Recommendation 25 The government should bring forward a plan to work with the higher education community on an increased UK capacity and capability for data mashing, including a focal point or virtual centre of excellence. The Cabinet Office should bring forward a plan by Q3 2009.
Source: Cabinet Office
Also see these videos where Richard Allan the Taskforce Chair talks about the report. He is also on the Open Rights Group advisory council.
