Read later Audio version Summary: The UK’s Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation highlights a number of barriers to continued, successful data use for local government beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted that government institutions can provide better services for citizens when they have access to, and know how to effectively use, public datasets. The response to the novel Coronavirus has been strongly supported by access to health data, data sharing, hospital data, local services data and population data (to name a few). Local government has shown that when it is given a mandate to use data more effectively, where there is a strong need, it can respond quickly. However, the progress made over the past year or so shouldn't be taken for granted, as there are a number of barriers to sustained momentum and continued progress.