Manchester Bylaws: Required Open Data Datasets

Introduction

Manchester, England requires local authorities to publish a set of core datasets under national transparency rules and council open-data practice. This guide explains which datasets are typically required by the Local Government Transparency Code, how Manchester publishes data on its open portal, who enforces publication, and what to do if a required dataset is missing. It focuses on official city and national sources and practical steps residents, businesses and researchers can use to find, request or report datasets.

Which datasets must be published

The centrepiece for required local datasets is the Local Government Transparency Code, which sets out categories councils must publish such as expenditure above a monetary threshold, contracts and procurement information, senior pay, councillor allowances, and certain asset and planning data^[1]. Manchester publishes an open-data catalogue for datasets the council makes available on its portal^[2].

• Expenditure over a specified threshold (for the Code: spending over £500).
• Contracts, tenders and procurement information.
• Senior salaries, pay bands and staff numbers by pay band.
• Councillor allowances and registers of interests.
• Local land and building assets register.
• Planning application decisions and related planning datasets.
• Parking account information and other financial flows where specified by the Code.

Penalties & Enforcement

Legal obligations to publish the Code datasets derive from central government guidance; the Transparency Code itself does not prescribe civil fines against councils for non-publication on its face. Where the Code or council pages do not state explicit monetary penalties or statutory fines, this guide records that such penalties are "not specified on the cited page" and points to the enforcing contacts for Manchester below^[1][2].

• Fine amounts: not specified on the cited page.
• Escalation and repeat/continuing offences: not specified on the cited page.
• Non-monetary sanctions: likely internal audit, ministerial challenge, publicity or directions; specific orders or seizure powers are not specified on the cited pages.
• Enforcer: Manchester City Council (data/information governance and the service area responsible for each dataset) is responsible for publication and handling requests and complaints.
• Inspection and complaint pathways: report missing or incorrect datasets via the council contact/FOI/data-request channels listed in Help and Support below.
• Appeal/review routes and time limits: specific statutory appeal periods for non-publication are not specified on the cited page; FOI request and review routes follow standard council FOI procedures (see council FOI contact page).
• Defences/discretion: the Code and council guidance allow lawful exemptions (for example, personal data or commercially sensitive information) and the council can withhold datasets where exemptions apply; exact grounds and tests are set out in FOI and data-protection rules rather than the Transparency Code text itself.

Applications & Forms

No specific centralised "open-data publication" application form is required for routine publication; publication is an internal council function. To request unpublished data you may submit an information request or FOI application under the council FOI process; if no council form is published for open-data requests, use the FOI/contact channels on the council website or the data portal contact details^[2].

Action steps: find, request or report missing datasets

• Step 1: Search the Manchester Open Data portal for the dataset by keyword.
• Step 2: Check dataset metadata for publication date, licence and contact points.
• Step 3: If missing or incomplete, contact the dataset owner via the portal contact or the council FOI/data-protection contact.
• Step 4: If the council does not respond, escalate using the council complaints procedure or submit a formal FOI request.

FAQ

Which national rule determines what local datasets must be published?

The Local Government Transparency Code sets out categories local authorities should publish; see the official Code for the precise list and thresholds.^[1]

Does Manchester publish all Code-required datasets?

Manchester publishes many required datasets on its open-data portal, but publication coverage varies by dataset and schedule; consult the portal catalogue for current availability.^[2]

What if a required dataset is missing?

First contact the dataset owner listed on the portal; if unresolved, use the council FOI or complaints process to request publication or explanation.

How-To

1. Search the Manchester Open Data portal for the dataset you need.
2. If not found, identify the council service or dataset owner from related datasets or catalogue metadata.
3. Contact the listed owner or use the portal contact form to ask for publication or clarification.
4. If there is no response within a reasonable time, submit a formal FOI request to Manchester City Council asking for the dataset or the reason for non-publication.
5. If the FOI outcome is unsatisfactory, use the council complaints procedure and, if needed, contact the Information Commissioner's Office about data-protection or FOI concerns.

Key Takeaways

• The Local Government Transparency Code defines core datasets local authorities must publish.
• Manchester publishes datasets on its open-data portal; check the portal before requesting data.
• If a dataset is missing, contact the council owner, then use FOI or complaints routes.

Help and Support / Resources

• Manchester City Council main site
• Manchester Open Data portal
• Data protection and FOI contact (Manchester City Council)

1. [1] Local Government Transparency Code 2015 - gov.uk
2. [2] Manchester Open Data portal