(KEY DECISION)

Report No. 140/2017 from the Chief Executive was received.

Mrs Briggs – Chief Executive, introduced the report, the purpose of which was to update Cabinet on the progress made to date on the Digital Rutland project; to make a recommendation for Phase 3 to maximise the fibre deployment and superfast broadband coverage; and to consider a request for revenue funding for the associated project management, consultancy and legal support.

During discussion the following points were raised:

1. Governance arrangements for the project were in place and were working well. The Joint Project Board with BT Open Reach included the Portfolio Holder and the Chief Executive.
2. A high level of due diligence was undertaken to ensure delivery of what had been promised and to ensure value for money.
3. Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) carry out extensive assurance reviews.
4. Mrs Briggs clarified that the intervention area was the state aid approved area where no   current or planned commercial superfast broadband coverage had been notified to the Council in response to the Public Consultation which took place in April 2016; examples of areas that fall outside the intervention area in Rutland were Hambleton Peninsular and Lyddington.
5. The intervention area has been regularly updated since the start of the project to take account of commercial plans and build out under the Digital Rutland project.
6. Rutland take up was higher than the national average. If the take up continued to increase the Council would be compensated in the future through a clawback process in the contract.
7. In response to a query on commercial suppliers Mrs Briggs distinguished between Internet Service providers and Infrastructure providers. If a commercial supplier operating outside the intervention area ceased trading, it was anticipated that the liability would pass to a new provider. There were no records that this had occurred. The main concerns for residents outside the invention area appeared to be their expectations not being met by their Internet Service providers.
8. There were Government and Ofcom initiatives for the development of Wireless and 5G. A report would be provided regarding the development of these in the future; and

   ix.        Phases 1 and 2 of the Digital Rutland Project had been a success, providing fibre into hard to reach areas that other Local Authorities were still to tackle. The Council had not publicised this success story as the subject can be complex and improvement cannot be made outside the intervention area. An extensive press campaign was planned if phase 3 of the project was approved.

DECISION

1.    Cabinet NOTED the update on Digital Rutland.

2.    Cabinet APPROVED the capital funding requirement as outlined in Exempt Appendix B, Option C to Report No. 140/2017 to enable a further phase of deployment of superfast broadband coverage.

3.    Cabinet APPROVED £25k of additional revenue budget to cover project management, consultancy and legal support to implement and monitor delivery.

4.    Cabinet DELEGATED AUTHORITY to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Portfolio Holder to sign a Change Form to the existing contract to effect the further investment, subject to full project assurance, state aid approval and value for money assessments.

Reasons for Decision

1.    The recommendations would provide the maximum coverage of superfast broadband in the Digital Rutland project intervention area.

2.    To support the delivery of: the Council’s strategic aims and objectives; the Council’s Corporate plan; and Rutland’s Economic Growth Strategy.

3.    To support inclusive economic and well-being objectives.

4.    To support more effective delivery of public services.

5.    To exceed BDUK UK Superfast Broadband coverage objectives of 95%.

6.    To enable the accelerated gainshare offer by BT to be taken up and to utilise pre-approved residual capital funding.