Issue - meetings

Report of Cabinet Member for Environment, Infrastructure and Climate Change

The Committee considered a report and PowerPoint presentation of the Cabinet Member for Environment Infrastructure and Climate Change updating them on the roll-out of digital infrastructure in Staffordshire (schedule 3 to the signed minutes).

During his presentation the Cabinet Member highlighted:- (i) the recent Building Digital UK’s (BDUK) (an executive agency, sponsored by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport helping to bring fast and reliable broadband and mobile coverage to hard-to-reach places across the UK) procurement exercise which had concluded that Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent had no market interest; (ii) the other initiatives by which the Authority continued to encourage infrastructure investment in digital and connectivity; (iii) the take-up of the Gigabit Voucher scheme in remote areas of the County; (iv) the County Council’s participation in groups influencing Government policy communications and connectivity; (v) recent support given to Newcastle Town Council in the roll-out of public WiFi and; (vi) recent initiatives aimed at stimulating demand for broadband in Staffordshire.

In addition, the Cabinet Member circulated a copy of a letter dated 18 October 2022 to the Minister of State for Media, Data, and Digital Infrastructure following the above-mentioned announcement by BDUK, raising concerns about the procurement process, the impact of the decision on the delivery of broadband in the County and seeking a review of Staffordshire’s deferred status.

In the full and wide-ranging discussion which ensued, Members gave detailed scrutiny to the efforts made by the Authority in ensuring broadband connectivity across the County since their last update, asking questions, seeking clarification and raising areas of concern as necessary including:- (i) their disappointment following the decision by BDUK; (ii) disturbance to local residents arising from poorly co-ordinated infrastructure installations by suppliers; (iii) the quality of highway re-instatements by suppliers following installations and; (iv) the need for better communications with local residents regarding installations and the availability of the Gigabit Voucher Scheme.

In conclusion, the Committee were encouraged by the news that Staffordshire remained on target to deliver 100% gigabit connectivity across the County by 2030 with the majority being available by 2027.

RESOLVED – (a) That the report and PowerPoint presentation be received and noted.

(b) That the County Council’s approach to deploying the Digital Infrastructure Strategic Framework continue to be supported.

(c) That a further update be brought to the Committee in six-months time.