Agenda item

Daniel Shamplin-Hall, Adviser, introduced the Item, whilst giving an overview of the paper to Members, which set out for approval the Digital Connectivity Working Group’s proposed Terms of Reference, membership and initial focus. 

Daniel also updated Members on how the Working Group will be resourced – which included an overview in the process of appointing officers to resources the group by the Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning and Transport (ADEPT). 

The Chairman then invited Members to comment, where the following was raised:

·         Members requested that the group be renamed to incorporate the word ‘rural’, giving more clarity for the groups focus and direction.  Members broadly agreed with the re-naming of the group, although expressed that coastal areas that were considered rural were not forgotten in the groups focus of work. 

·         Members discussed the focus areas of the group, where the following issues were raised:

o   Planning regulations and new building schemes.  Members agreed that broadband in new homes and builds were as vital as other utilities such as gas, electric and water.  Members agreed that LGA calls and the groups focus need to be strong with a clear direction, especially around certainties relating to next-generation planning. 

o   Calls for 5G mobile phone coverage, and aiming for 100 per cent coverage across the UK.  Members agreed that this was a significant challenge, but one that needed to be addressed. 

·         Members discussed mobile phone coverage outside of London.  This lead to further discussions by Members on how some rural parts of Suffolk did not have access to broadband up until 2016.

·         Members discussed ways to engage British Telecoms (BT) with this work, as well as BT’s lack of capacity in the rollout of upgrades across the country.

·         Members agreed for strong lobbying work to be planned at both local and national levels, engaging a wide range of mobile phone and broadband companies. 

·         Members expressed the need for the Group to quantify in clear terms the financial losses of lack of digital connectivity. 

·         Members also discussed how lack of digital connectivity can cause social isolation.

·         Members stated that while the paper focuses on residents, there could be more of a focus on services and work, and how this issue impacts these areas.   

·         Members agreed that the timeline of the Group should be discussed and agreed by the Group at the inaugural meeting. 

·         Members discussed digital connectivity in wider Europe, and the positives of this. 

·         Members held discussions over issues pertaining to poor-quality copper wiring and the issues this can cause whilst using broadband. 

·         Members addressed Ofcom’s available data regarding UK mobile coverage, and how this didn’t seem possible.  This included some Members raising the issue that up to 40 per cent of rural England had no 4G coverage. 

·         Members also spoke about the ways lack of digital connectivity can have a negative impact on education, to both school and university students, as well as young people’s access to work.  

Actions

·         Members agreed the Terms of Reference for the Group.

·         Officers incorporate the word ‘rural;’ in the title of the Group.

·         Officers collated the ideas gathered from the Board for the Groups areas of focus.

·         Members noted the Group’s membership, and future resourcing and delivery of the Group’s work programme.