11 · Decision gate

Record the governance decision

Record a proportionate, evidence-based decision. There is no automatically correct option; the decision must follow from the evidence and say what remains uncertain.

LEGAL AND REGULATORY TOUCHPOINTS

Points to raise with specialists

Equality Act 2010: the public sector equality duty requires due regard to equality before and during the use of the tool; reasonable adjustments for disabled applicants.
Public law: decisions must be lawful, rational and procedurally fair, and discretion must not be fettered by a rigid rule.
UK GDPR: the council as controller needs its own DPIA, a clear lawful basis, transparency and safeguards for automated processing.
Housing allocation and homelessness legislation and statutory guidance set out who must be given priority; the tool must not contradict them.
Freedom of information: commercial confidentiality is not an automatic exemption; public-sector algorithmic transparency standards are relevant.
These are pointers for discussion, not legal advice.

Governance Decision Record

This leads your report.

Recommendation

Reasoning (150–250 words)

Balance the benefit, the harm to affected people, the evidence available and the uncertainty that remains.

Evidence the decision relies on

What did you see, not merely what you were told?

What remains uncertain

Assumptions and evidence gaps that could change the decision

Conditions, restrictions and stop conditions

What must be true for the decision to stand?

Monitoring after the decision

Measures, thresholds, review cadence and owners

Who approves

Accountable role with authority

Review date

When the decision will be revisited

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