Decision details

Sheffield City Centre Wi-Fi

Decision Maker: Co-operative Executive

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Purpose:

To seek approval to undertake a competitive procurement for a concession contract for the provision of a city centre Wi-Fi service and to enter into the contract for the provision of those services.

Decision:

8.1

The Executive Director, Place submitted a report seeking approval to undertake a competitive procurement for a concession contract, for up to 10 years, for the provision of a Sheffield city centre public access Wi-Fi service and to enter into contract with the bidder that provides the most economically advantageous tender.

 

 

8.2

RESOLVED: That authority be delegated to the Director of Creative Sheffield:-

 

 

 

(a)

In consultation with the Cabinet Member for Business & Economy, the Executive Management Team, the Director of Finance and Commercial Services and the Director of Legal and Governance to approve the final procurement strategy;

 

 

 

 

(b)

in consultation with the Director of Finance and Commercial Services and the Director of Legal and Governance to agree contract terms and enter into contracts at the conclusion of the procurement; and

 

 

 

 

(c)

in consultation with the Director of Finance and Commercial Services and the Director of Legal and Governance to take such steps as deemed necessary to meet the Fundamental Principles and achieve the Outcomes outlined in the report.

 

 

 

8.3

Reasons for Decision

 

 

8.3.1

It is recommended that SCC undertakes a competitive procurement for a concession contract for the provision of a city centre Wi-Fi service and, subject to the required objectives described in this report being met to the satisfaction of the Director of Legal & Governance and Monitoring Officer and the Director of Finance & Commercial Services, to enter into a concession contract for the provision of those services.

 

 

8.3.2

This is the preferred option because it enables the Sheffield BID and SCC to achieve its fundamental principles and outcomes sought without having to make a significant investment.

 

 

8.3.3

The Fundamental Principles that bids must comply with are:

 

·         There should be no net cost to the Council, in deployment, operation or exit;

·         There should be no or minimal legal, financial or reputational risk to the Council throughout the contract life;

·         The bid should contribute a revenue stream to the Council; and,

·           The bid should not prevent or limit the Council from being able to implement wireless communications services for its own administrative or service delivery purposes or future city centre vibrancy initiatives.

 

 

8.3.4

The Outcomes Sought from the Wi-Fi service are:

 

·         Free of charge to the user;

·         A high quality customer experience for access, registration and use;

·         A family friendly experience;

·         Good city centre coverage ideally including council owned public buildings such as the winter gardens;

·         Good performance that keeps pace with technology; and,

·      A reliable communications platform that can be used by the BID and others to increase footfall and to help local business thrive and grow.

 

 

8.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

 

 

8.4.1

A Sheffield BID and/or SCC funded public access Wi-Fi service has been considered as an option. However, the opportunity to provide a Wi-Fi service through a concession contract which requires no investment from SCC is preferable to a model requiring investment. This approach enables Sheffield BID and SCC to provide a public access Wi-Fi service and to use their limited budgets elsewhere.

 

 

8.4.2

An externally funded public access Wi-Fi service has been considered as an option. However, the funding source used to provide such services in Leeds, York and Edinburgh (the BDUK Super Connected Cities Scheme) is no longer available.

 

 

8.4.3

The European Commission has recently proposed funding community Wi-Fi schemes, which if approved by the EU Parliament, would enable the Council to apply for funding of up to 20,000 Euros in Spring/Summer 2017. Officers have evaluated this proposed scheme and have identified that this will not meet the Fundamental Principles for Sheffield City Centre Wi-Fi and that it is highly unlikely to meet the Outcomes Sought for Sheffield City Centre Wi-Fi.

 

 

8.5

Any Interest Declared or Dispensation Granted

 

 

 

None

 

 

8.6

Reason for Exemption if Public/Press Excluded During Consideration

 

 

 

None

 

 

8.7

Respective Director Responsible for Implementation

 

 

 

Simon Green, Executive Director, Place

 

 

8.8

Relevant Scrutiny and Policy Development Committee If Decision Called In

 

 

 

Economic and Environmental Wellbeing

 

Report author: Carly Stratford

Publication date: 23/01/2017

Date of decision: 18/01/2017

Decided at meeting: 18/01/2017 - Co-operative Executive

Effective from: 28/01/2017

Accompanying Documents: