Issue - meetings

Members gave consideration to a report regarding the current position and future options for broadband provision across the district. Members were asked to agree that Officers work with BDUK and Onlincolnshire to remove the barriers to include West Lindsey as part of phase 3 and for Officers to lobby Central Government. Further recommendations were made for Members to agree that direct support was provided to local neighbourhoods for a period of 2 years and for Committee to recommend the use of the General Fund Balance for funding of the direct support to the Corporate Policy and Resources Committee.

The Chairman explained that, having further discussed the item with the Director of Resources, she was proposing that only the first two recommendations within the report be considered at this time, and that the second two recommendations be deferred and considered at the Prosperous Communities Committee meeting in October 2017. It was further proposed that recommendation (b) be amended in that it should include the lobbying of Lincolnshire County Council as well as Central Government. The Chairman advised with Committee’s agreement that recommendations (c) and (d) would then be considered in light of this additional lobbying action at a future meeting.

The Chairman also noted an email communication submitted from a fellow Member, Councillor Strange, who had highlighted concerns about the lack of broadband across rural areas of the district and the impact this had on residents. All Members agreed about the importance of this matter.  The contents of the email were shared with Committee.

Discussion ensued regarding the specifics of the provision from existing providers and the options available with a view to achieving much increased broadband coverage. The Director of Resources explained the technical aspects of the project and reiterated the need to lobby County Council and Central Government to highlight that, given the current situation, the district would not be able to achieve 100% local broadband coverage by 2020, which would be contrary to the pledge made by Central Government. A Member of Council commented that recently there had been publicity which suggested the Government had amended the timescale of this pledge with the view to achieving 100% National coverage earlier than 2020. The Director of Resources was not aware of this amended timescale and stated he would look into it further.

On that basis and in light of the discussion

It was RESOLVED that:-

a)    Officers continue to work with BDUK and On-Lincolnshire to remove the barriers in order that West Lindsey is included as part of Phase 3;

b)    Officers lobby Central Government and Lincolnshire County Council; and

c)    recommendations (c) and (d) be deferred and considered again at the committees next meeting in October.