Issue - meetings

Verbal update from the Head of Economy, Enterprise and Skills. 

Reports on the Connecting Devon and Somerset Broadband Programme and Mobile Phone connectivity from the March 2017 Place Scrutiny Committee meeting are attached for background.

The Head of Economy, Enterprise and Skills updated Members (following previous reports from Place Scrutiny Committee in March 2017) on the Connecting Devon and Somerset Broadband Programme (CDS) and Mobile Phone Coverage, namely:

-       Phase One:

·         BT had reported that over 282,000 premises had now been connected to superfast broadband across Devon and Somerset, which exceeded their target;

·         take up of fibre service now stood at 36% compared to 33% in March and clawback discussions would shortly take place with BT on how this funding could be applied to enhance coverage.

-       Phase Two:

·         Airband had now made superfast wireless broadband available to over 3,855 premises across the National Parks, of which 2,646 were on Dartmoor and 1,209 were on Exmoor;

·         this programme was now paused pending a change control process to enable more premises to be brought into the programme.

-       Phase Two projects:  The contract for Lot 4 had been awarded to Airband Community Internet Limited and the contract for Lot 1 would be announced shortly.

-       Voucher Scheme:  The scheme was now closed to new applicants and was under review.  The deadline to use the vouchers had been further extended to 30 September 2017.

-       Mobile Phone Coverage:  A bid submitted to the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) for additional capital funding had been approved in principle, subject to some further work. 

RESOLVED that a standing Task Group be set up comprising Councillors Ball, Bloxham, Saywell and Dewhirst to monitor the progress of the CDS Programme and mobile phone coverage improvements, reporting to the Committee.

Report of the Head of Economy, Enterprise and Skills (EES/17/3), attached.

The Committee received the Report of the Head of Economy, Enterprise and Skills (EES/17/3) summarising options, recent market developments and next steps.  A business case for investing £2.5m in supporting coverage of the not-spots had been submitted to the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and a decision was expected shortly.

The business case outlined the three options, namely Femtocell Investment; Small Cell Investment and Marco Cell Investment.  If the business case was approved, procurement for suppliers to pilot the three technologies was proposed to start in June 2017 and conclude in October 2017. 

Members noted the findings of the business case outlined in the Report and favoured its submission to the LEP to provide 4G coverage across Devon’s ‘not-spots’.  It was acknowledged that Local Member engagement would be very useful for dissemination of information if funding was confirmed.