Issue - meetings

The Cabinet Member for the Economy, Regeneration and Skills and the Board Director, Resources, submitted a joint report concerning the Council’s involvement in the Superfast Broadband Extension Programme being promoted by the Government through its agency Broadband Delivery UK including (a) Swindon joining the Superfast Broadband Extension Programme, (b) procuring a delivery partner for the project and (c) next steps in the process.

The Chair introduced the report and referred to the fact that all commercial roll-outs have been done in Swindon now, requiring these next steps to further improve the broadband service offered in the area.

Stuart McKellar, Board Director, Resources, noted that the areas to be targeted are not yet known as this will be an on-going process.

Councillor Andrew Bennett, (Ridgeway Ward), indicated his support of the proposals and noted that BT needs to improve its infrastructure in the area.

Councillor Dale Heenan, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, Sustainability and Transport, noted that there is an aim to solve the infrastructure problems in Swindon. The proposal is to go through an ‘OJ tender’ and BT is not the default option for a provider.

            Resolved – (1) To authorise the Board Director Resources to submit a formal request for funding to Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) by 30^th June 2014 that will signal the Council’s intent to participate in the next stage of the Superfast Broadband Extension Programme.

            (2) In support of the request for funding, approve that a further £1.540m be set aside from the Infrastructure Fund established by Council in February 2014 as the Council’s match funding contribution and to cover project costs, as detailed in Table 1 of the report.

            (3) To agree that an EU compliant open tender process be entered into for this project in order to enable bids to be received for a range of possible technical solutions, as outlined in section 5 of the report.

            (4) To support on-going dialogue with Parish Councils and other stakeholders, both through a formal “open market assessment” and through other channels, to assess how they can best be involved in the programme.

            (5) To authorise the Director of Law and Democratic Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for the Economy, Regeneration and Skills and the Board Director Resources, to complete and enter into such agreements and associated documentation on such terms as he considers necessary to protect the Council’s interests in this matter.

The reasons for the decision and alternative options are as set out in this minute and the report to the meeting.