Stream Advisory Group 2 August Meeting Summary

We reconvened the Stream Technical Advisory Group, Co-chaired by Icebreaker One and Pennon Group.

Meeting Aims

1. Summarise Q4 outcomes and the expectations on members 
2. Members to endorse the technical requirements for website development 
3. Explore solutions to NAV boundaries development to allow for further feasibility research

It was agreed that:

• Item 4: Website technical requirements + roadmap
  • the proposed website tooling could proceed to the next stage of approval.
• Item 8: Esri AI tools  
  • ESRI’s new AI features should not be turned on at this stage.
  • if ESRI AI features are reconsidered in future, the decision should return through AG2 and steering group.

It was noted that:

• Item 3: Q3 outcomes progress
  • progress has been made on this quarter’s outcomes
• Item 4: Website technical requirements + roadmap
  • the proposed website redevelopment would move the front end to a managed WordPress setup, while keeping the existing data portal unchanged.
    • the website cost would be covered by savings from the previous ESRI renewal, with no additional cost to members. 
    • the new website would also support future communications, engagement and commercial activity beyond the data portal.
• Items 5-7: Q4 outcome proposal
  • the proposed Q4 outcomes would be revised to reflect member feedback before returning for endorsement.
• Item 9: NAV boundaries
  • the NAV boundaries dataset remains important to users, but Ofwat is no longer maintaining it in the same way.
• Item 10: Change champion request
  • members were asked to complete the endorsement form and were invited to sign up as change champions.

It was discussed that:

• Item 4: Website technical requirements + roadmap
  • the new website tools raised some issues including analytics and security considerations.
    • The issues that were discussed included:
      • Limited visibility of user activity within the existing data portal.
      • Options for embedding ESRI visualisations to provide a more seamless user journey.
      • Where supporting information for datasets should sit across the website and data portal.
      • The proposed security arrangements for the managed WordPress setup.
• Item 8: Esri AI tools
  • further work would be needed to decide whether contextual content and ESRI visualisations should sit within the website, the portal, or across both.
• Item 9: NAV boundaries
  • further options for handling NAV boundaries would need to be explored following the change in Ofwat’s approach.