Panel minutes for 3 July 2025

Minutes of the Digital Advisory Panel (DAP) Meeting

3 July 2025, 13:00 to 14:00 Virtual meeting via Microsoft Teams

Panel Members:

• Alison Pritchard (Chair)
• Christian McMahon
• Alison Pritchard
• Paul Smith
• Darren Williams

In attendance:

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Apologies: None

1. Welcome, apologies and declarations of interest

Attendees were welcomed to the meeting.

There were no new declarations of interest.

2. Minutes of previous meetings

The minutes of the last meeting were approved.

The actions from the previous meeting were reviewed.

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3. Modern Data Architecture – How can we maximise opportunity for safe use of analytical packages ?

GC officials introduced the session to DAP members.

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DAP members were provided with a presentation designed for wider Commission colleagues that outlined:

• an overview of what the Modern Data Architecture is
• the case for change (covering current hurdles and benefits it will deliver)
• a diagrammatic view of what the modern, secure data environment would look like
• the phased, low risk delivery approach being taken & next steps
• what involvement from other GC teams looks like
• generally, DAP members recommended that the vision for the work to be made clearer when being shared with wider GC colleagues.

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The Chair noted that how the programme/service is integrated will be critical.

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The GC officials noted that they liked the suggestions from DAP of ensuring that the team explain more clearly what it will look and feel like for staff and would be taking this on board.

DAP members noted that the team in the past have had good exec buy in. If any exec is sceptical then it is important that the team flesh out what will happen if the implementation doesn’t take place. Again, it was noted that this was missing from the earlier presentation. DAP also recommended that it would be useful to get this message to board level and suggested that this could be done by a DAP member.

GC officials noted that it is important for the work to touch all parts of the Commission.

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The Chair emphasised that it is important to get this part of the overall digital strategy and overarching infrastructure right and that people in digital should be named as owners if at all possible, even if they are not required to do any substantive work.

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4. ROCD - Progress update and data overview

DAP members were provided with a recap on what ROCD is and its benefits, which operators the team is working with and the proof-of-concept pilot work. The team now has a good size dataset.

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The team noted that the data could be used to better understand compliance risks and for a lot more operational purposes.

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DAP members discussed the information shared and provided their opinions:

1. DAP reflected on how great the examples provided by the team were and how good it was to see all the work coming to fruition.
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3. The team were encouraged to spend as much time as possible with users to fully understand how and when they will use the data.
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5.Skills audit review update

Time did not allow this item to be covered, so DAP members were asked to provide their feedback on the skills audit review update by correspondence instead.

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6. AOB

The Director of Research and Statistics gave a farewell tribute to the DAP Chair, celebrating the contributions she had made to the Commission both during her short term as Chair and previously as a DAP member.

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