Agenda item

Finance and Economic Development – (C-067-2020-21) - This report on the digital  infrastructure is central to maximising the ability of the district’s residents and businesses to engage in an increasingly online world.

(1)        The Cabinet noted and endorsed the contribution of the digital infrastructure investment approach, developed and pursued by the Essex + Herts Digital Innovation Zone (DIZ) and EFDC Economic Development team, to the economic resilience of Epping Forest district and the district’s ongoing recovery response to the COVID-19 pandemic; and

(2)        The Cabinet agreed, in principle, to the potential investment of up to £35,000 of partnership funding to explore an IoT project with the Connected Places Catapult and Digital Catapult to monitor air quality at and on route to school gates, the funding to come from existing Capital Budget allocations for environmental and climate change related projects.

The Finance and Economic Development Portfolio Holder, Councillor J Philip introduced the report on digital infrastructure investment.

Epping Forest DC and Essex + Herts Digital Innovation Zone, which the council initiated, had been working, since its formation, to deliver digital infrastructure investment across the DIZ geography, including in Epping Forest District. The council, working with its partners at Essex CC and with the private sector had helped lever in approximately £24m in investment in digital infrastructure in the district. Key achievements in this work programme were set out in the report.

This investment was considered critical to current economic development and the district’s future economic resilience and was a fundamental underpinning layer to support the Council’s ongoing work to recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The infrastructure was central to maximising the ability of the district’s residents and businesses to engage in an increasingly online world whether that is through delivering goods and services online, working from home, studying from home, shopping locally using online platforms or accessing vital public services digitally.

Additionally, the DIZ has been working to build the reputation of the area as a place to invest and progress on this workstream.

Building its reputation has led to an approach from Connected Places Catapult to potentially fund an Internet of things (IoT) project focused on air quality at and on route to schools. The project would analyse and identify patterns in air quality in order to engage with, and influence the behaviour of, school children and their families in respect of healthy and sustainable travel to school. Public health was a key priority for the Council and this project would seek to enable residents to make informed decisions about how they might improve their health and living environment through the choice of alternative routes and transport. The DIZ was liaising with partners over the funding requirement for such a project and this report sought Cabinet approval in principle for the council to potentially be the single or prime funder for such a project. Approval was sought for up to £35,000 funding for this project, the funding to come from existing allocations of resources in the Capital Budget for environmental and climate change related projects.

Councillor Bedford welcomed this report especially the monitoring of contamination around school gates.

Councillor Patel also welcomed this report in preparation for when businesses started to function again.

Councillor Lion said that this gave amazing returns in investment to the council. The GP programme was moving forward and this was good to see.

Councillor C Whitbread thanked Councillor Lion for his input into these projects over the years. The value for money gained from these were superb. The important thing  learned from this was the importance of digital innovation, which the past 18months has shown and these changes would be great for our communities in the future.

Decision:

(1)        The Cabinet noted and endorsed the contribution of the digital infrastructure investment approach, developed and pursued by the Essex + Herts Digital Innovation Zone (DIZ) and EFDC Economic Development team, to the economic resilience of Epping Forest district and the district’s ongoing recovery response to the COVID-19 pandemic; and

(2)        The Cabinet agreed, in principle, to the potential investment of up to £35,000 of partnership funding to explore an IoT project with the Connected Places Catapult and Digital Catapult to monitor air quality at and on route to school gates, the funding to come from existing Capital Budget allocations for environmental and climate change related projects.

Reasons for Proposed Decision:

The DIZ is liaising with partners over the funding requirement for such a project and this report seeks Cabinet approval in principle for the council to potentially be the single or prime funder for such a project.

Other Options for Action:

A reduced maximum investment in the air quality project could be agreed. This may impact on the council’s ability to secure participation in the project. The council could also choose not to agree any funding for this project which would mean any participation would be dependent upon other organisational partners of the DIZ choosing to fund the project and locate the pilot site within the district.