The Enfield Observatory came about as a result of a study commissioned in 2003 to show how the Enfield Strategic Partnership (ESP) could improve the sharing of intelligence and data with respect to needs, conditions and changes in Enfield.
The study recommended that an intelligence infrastructure be created, and that became what is now called the Enfield Observatory.
Other local observatories started up before Enfield's and others will no doubt be created in the future. Whilst other online resources are becoming easier to use it was felt that there was a need to set up a local observatory which pulled in data and documents relating to Enfield to make it as easy as possible, especially for public use. A pilot project was run in 2004 leading to the launch of a restricted access website in May 2005.
By providing, up to date, high quality data and a platform for information, the Observatory assists the ESP and its partners, in working towards evidence-based strategic policy-making.
The Observatory Team also arranges supplies of data from partner organisations. The aim is to create a 'local information system' for Enfield Strategic Partnership and the public.
A considerable amount of data has been downloaded from various websites, the most notable of which are:-
www.statistics.gov.uk - the Office for National Statistics (ONS)
www.nomisweb.co.uk - a service managed on behalf of the ONS
www.lho.org.uk - the London Health Observatory
www.fti.communities.gov.uk/fti - the Floor Targets Interactive page of the Department for Communities and Local Government.
The software purchased and then developed for this Observatory is:-
e-Government Statistics Portal by Viewshed (formerly By Design) That software uses:-
MapExtreme by MapInfo
SQL Server by Microsoft
The Map Zone now connects to an Enfield Council run mapping system which uses PlanAccess by MapInfo.
The Observatory is both a staffed service and this website - the staff are employed by Enfield Council. The staff are able to advise ESP member organisations and to conduct data analyses on request, subject to priorities. A small research work programme is also carried out, approved by an ESP Management Group. To request that an issue be raised please use the Feedback form or go to the Contacts page.