Decision details

(1)        That a bid in the sum of £84,000 be included in the draft Capital Programme for 2015/16 to co-fund the investment in superfast broadband infrastructure and achieve 95% coverage in the District;

(2)        That a letter be written to the Chief Executive of Essex County Council to confirm the Council was minded to support the Superfast Essex broadband programme and a bid in the maximum sum of £84,000 had been provisionally agreed, subject to the approval of the Council’s budget in February 2015;

(3)        That a Technology & Support Services Portfolio Holder Advisory Group be established, with the support of officers as required, to work through the potential District priorities for this investment and recommend the Council’s preferred options, in so far as they were practical and in discussion with Essex County Council and suppliers;

(4)        That the composition of the Technology & Support Services Portfolio Holder Advisory Group be seven Members on a pro-rata basis with Group Leaders requested to make suitable nominations;

(5)        That, to inform the discussions of the Portfolio Holder Advisory Group, an exercise be undertaken to determine both the current levels of coverage and current levels and types of demand for enhanced broadband provision and access throughout the District;

(6)        That, to further inform the discussions of the Portfolio Holder Advisory Group, additional advice be sought from Essex County Council as to the likely timescales for completion of the rollout of superfast broadband and the implications for the remaining 5% of the District which would remain without superfast broadband once the 95% target had been achieved;

(7)        That the preferred options of the Portfolio Holder Advisory Group be submitted to the Cabinet for adoption, with Essex County Council to be subsequently notified of the Council’s adopted priorities for the investment of the agreed funding in the sum of £84,000; and

(8)        That the process for prioritising the investment of non-district matched funds to achieve 93% coverage across Essex be clarified with Essex County Council and opportunities to be involved in that process be identified to ensure the Council’s agreed priorities also be considered as part of that investment programme.