Agenda item

Philip Clifford, Senior Adviser, introduced the paper and provided an update on the Board’s digital work over the 2022/23 cycle. He invited Cllr Mark Hawthorne, LGA Digital Champion, to discuss the digital agenda.

Cllr Hawthorne set out the following key points:

• Digital inclusion:

-        Discussions have recently taken place with Helen Milner, OBE, Group Chief Executive of the Good Things Foundation. These have focused on developing areas of joint lobbying and building a wider coalition.

-        As highlighted by research recently published by the LGA the Government’s digital inclusion strategy urgently needs to be updated to keep pace with technological and social developments.

·              Digital connectivity:

-        The Rural Connectivity Champion, recently announced as part of the UK-wide wireless infrastructure strategy, and something the LGA had long lobbied for had just been appointed and officers were in the process of arranging a meeting.

-        While the strategy outlined £40m would be provided for regions and local authorities across the UK to establish themselves as ‘5G Innovation Regions’, there were many questions left unanswered, not least the reliance on competitive bidding.

-        The LGA continued to lobby in relation to improving the measurement and reporting of mobile coverage.

-        The LGA continued to work in close partnership with the Digital Infrastructure Advisory Group.

·              Digital switchovers:

-        Following LGA presswork there had been a significant amount of recent media coverage in relation to the digital switchovers.

-        The rising concern for the sector now relates to the 2G/3G sunset. This is being explored by the LGA’s research team to ensure that potential impacts were clear and a case to government and industry could be made for action

• Stakeholder engagement:

-        The Digital Connectivity Forum had recently set up a piece of work which focused on the way in which local authorities could improve their role as connectivity enablers.

-        Industry is now calling for local government-funded digital champions.

-        The LGA had been invited to join the National Digital Connectivity Alliance through its Wireless Infrastructure Strategy to discuss connectivity matters further.

Members made the following comments:

• Concerns were raised in relation to the digital switchovers, particularly around isolating the elderly and other vulnerable people.
• The importance of retrofitting homes to support new technology and ensuring that masts were appropriately located was emphasised.
• A Member supported the view that there should be a national standard for the collection of data.

Decision:

Members noted the report.