Agenda item

To consider an update on broadband provision within the Borough

The Committee considered a report, set out in agenda pages 31 to 44, which gave an update on broadband provision within the Borough.

The report outlined the current position with regard to the existing Superfast Berkshire Broadband project, which would give broadband coverage with speeds of over 24Mbps to 98.64% of households in the Borough. The report added that a strategy was in place to increase full-fibre coverage in Berkshire to 95% by the end of 2025 from the current baseline of 13.86%. Achievement of this target would require actions to try and ensure that both commercial and subsidised provision was expedited and that investment in Berkshire’s digital infrastructure did not lag behind other parts of the country.

Stuart Munro (Executive Member for Business and Economic Development), Grant Thornton (Category Manager Economic Prosperity & Place (Interim)), Rhian Hayes (Interim Assistant Director Housing and Place), and Lynne Wilson (Project and Program Manager for Digital Projects across Berkshire) attended the meeting to answer Member queries.

During the ensuing discussions, Members raised the following points and queries:

·           How was Wokingham Borough Council (WBC) actively advertising the Gigabit voucher scheme to our rural communities and businesses? Officer response – Some residents and Town and Parish Councils had been directly written to in the past. There was a plan to promote the scheme more widely, and there was an aspiration to work with Connecting Communities Berkshire to see how they might outreach and promote this directly with the Borough’s more rural communities.

·           Was there a plan to provide the Gorse Ride regeneration homes with ultrafast broadband provision, as one of the aspirations of the overall plan was to provide social housing with ultrafast broadband. Officer response – There was an ongoing conversation taking place with the Gorse Ride steering group and local residents, as this was seen as a great opportunity to provide top class broadband to a redeveloped estate. Conversations were ongoing with the appropriate contacts about making this a trial project.

·           How much of the rollout may require public subsidy, how much might this cost, and what provisions were being made? Officer response – The primary source of finance was the Gigabit initiative from central Government. It was a Government objective, and it was down to the Government to issue the contracts which should deal with the vast majority of those people and businesses not connected commercially. Based on Government figures, 85% of properties are expected to have full fibre provision by 2025, with the further 15% to be looked at later. Berkshire’s objective is set slightly higher, at 95% coverage by 2025.

·           Members requested that information be provided when available relating to the level of grants expected and how much of a potential funding gap might need to be filled relating to full fibre rollout.

·           Recent full fibre rollout in the Winnersh area had seen an 18 month delay between laying the infrastructure and users being able to take-up the service. What would change in the future to prevent delays in take-up in other areas of the Borough? Officer response – It was accepted that there had been issues in the early years with rollout by some providers, and officers were awaiting to see who would be awarded future contracts. As the technology had developed, there was now more passive infrastructure access as well as a variety of different providers competing to carry out the work whilst using lessons learned from early rollout.

·           Was there ample provision of companies and core infrastructure across the whole country to deliver the suggested rollout to schedule? Officer response – This was an issue on the risk register, however there were now a number of providers competing for this work. The rollout was continuing to progress, but there was a risk that this issue could occur in the future.

·           What was being done to mitigate the risk of a lack of personnel to carry out the infrastructure rollout? Office response – There was an apprentice programme in place to entice people to get involved in this industry. In addition, more than one contract or sub-contract could be issued to allow a switch to a different provider if necessary. Weekly meetings were being undertaken with suppliers to highlight any potential issues.

·           There could be limitations regarding the no-dig option in addition to the available road space to lay infrastructure. Had these factors been considered? Officer response – These factors were being looked at, and work was being undertaken to try and get suppliers to share infrastructure and space. It was a priority to lay infrastructure when major roadworks were already being carried out, to reduce disruption and to streamline delivery.

·           How many houses would not have superfast broadband provision as a minimum under current delivery plans? Officer response – The specific stats would be sought and circulated to the Committee. Those properties which were not reached were likely due to wayleave refusals, and trying to setup provision for these properties in another way would cost a very considerable amount of money.

·           Was 5G being considered to ‘fill the gap’ for some properties going forwards? Officer response – 5G was being considered and looked in to. This was very new and had just been picked up, and there were a number of competing priorities. A leader in 5G would be addressing the Board in September, and it was hoped that this would assist in moving projects related to 5G forward.

·           Were suppliers aware of the demand from consumers for these services? Officer response – The Board had regular contacts with suppliers and the wider market, which allowed for feedback relating some of the issues that were occurring. Conversations were also occurring to ask suppliers what best practices that they would like to see to make Berkshire a more attractive place for them to invest.

·           What was the Berkshire ‘LoraWan’? Officer response – This was part of the smart city project, and related to the ‘internet of things’. For example, one local authority was using it to place sensors in bins to understand which bins needed more regular emptying to increase efficiencies.

RESOLVED That:

1)     Stuart Munro, Grant Thornton, Rhian Hayes, and Lynne Wilson be thanked for attending the meeting;

2)     Information be provided when available relating to the level of grants expected and how much of a potential funding gap might need to be filled relating to full fibre rollout;

3)     The specific statistics be provided relating to how many properties within the Borough would not be supplied with a minimum of superfast broadband.