Agenda item

The Sheffield City Council Digital Connectivity Strategy

Report of the Executive Director, Resources.

Decision:

8.1

The Executive Director, Resources, submitted a report seeking approval of the Digital Connectivity Strategy and, in principle, the programme of activities and projects proposed within it. These activities and projects will improve digital connectivity in Sheffield, so that coverage, choice and speed of communication stays ahead of demand; and so that connectivity enables residents and businesses to use digital solutions to improve their lives and to sustain, grow and create new business.

 

 

8.2

RESOLVED: That Cabinet:-

 

 

 

(a)

approves the Digital Connectivity Strategy and the ‘direction of travel’ set out therein; and

 

 

 

(b)

notes that the Director of Business Change and Information Solutions will seek any additional formal approvals required to implement the activities and projects described in the Digital Connectivity Strategy and summarised in this report such as the procurement of contracts for 5G, Wi-Fi and Internet of Things Networks.

 

 

8.3

Reasons for Decision

 

 

8.3.1

It is recommended that Cabinet approves the adoption of the Digital Connectivity Strategy in order to improve digital connectivity in Sheffield, so that coverage, choice and speed of communication stays ahead of demand; and so that connectivity enables residents and businesses to use digital solutions to improve their lives and to sustain, grow and create new business.

 

 

8.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

 

 

8.4.1

Do Nothing

 

The Council could choose not to adopt and implement the Digital Connectivity Strategy and to allow the market to determine the speed and coverage of next generation digital connectivity; it could choose not to work with the market to reduce barriers to investment; and it could choose not to directly intervene through, for example, concession contracts (or alternative forms of agreement).

 

 

8.4.2

However, history has shown that without public sector intervention, the market is slow to deploy infrastructure, particularly in less affluent areas of the City.

 

 

8.4.3

Public Sector Interventions since 2014 have achieved the following:

 

·         Coverage of superfast broadband has increased from 80% to over 95% and will reach 99% of premises by 2021;

·         Take-up of superfast broadband has increased from 18% to over 45%;

·         Sheffield business parks were amongst the first in the country to access full fibre, gigabit, broadband;

·         Business support programmes have helped SMEs use digital to sustain and grow their business;

·         SMEs have received vouchers for half price connection and for half price innovation projects;

·   The city centre has one of the best public access wi-fi networks in the country.

 

 

8.4.4

The do nothing option is not recommended because, were the Council to choose not to intervene, it is likely that coverage of full fibre and 5G in Sheffield would continue to lag significantly behind the rest of the country, with many other cities competing to attract the limited resources of the market to their own areas.

 

 

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

 

 

 

Eugene Walker, Executive Director, Resources.

 

 

8.8

Relevant Scrutiny and Policy Development Committee If Decision Called In

 

 

 

Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee.

 

Minutes:

8.1

The Executive Director, Resources, submitted a report seeking approval of the Digital Connectivity Strategy and, in principle, the programme of activities and projects proposed within it. These activities and projects will improve digital connectivity in Sheffield, so that coverage, choice and speed of communication stays ahead of demand; and so that connectivity enables residents and businesses to use digital solutions to improve their lives and to sustain, grow and create new business.

 

 

8.2

RESOLVED: That Cabinet:-

 

 

 

(a)

approves the Digital Connectivity Strategy and the ‘direction of travel’ set out therein; and

 

 

 

(b)

notes that the Director of Business Change and Information Solutions will seek any additional formal approvals required to implement the activities and projects described in the Digital Connectivity Strategy and summarised in this report such as the procurement of contracts for 5G, Wi-Fi and Internet of Things Networks.

 

 

8.3

Reasons for Decision

 

 

8.3.1

It is recommended that Cabinet approves the adoption of the Digital Connectivity Strategy in order to improve digital connectivity in Sheffield, so that coverage, choice and speed of communication stays ahead of demand; and so that connectivity enables residents and businesses to use digital solutions to improve their lives and to sustain, grow and create new business.

 

 

8.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

 

 

8.4.1

Do Nothing

 

The Council could choose not to adopt and implement the Digital Connectivity Strategy and to allow the market to determine the speed and coverage of next generation digital connectivity; it could choose not to work with the market to reduce barriers to investment; and it could choose not to directly intervene through, for example, concession contracts (or alternative forms of agreement).

 

 

8.4.2

However, history has shown that without public sector intervention, the market is slow to deploy infrastructure, particularly in less affluent areas of the City.

 

 

8.4.3

Public Sector Interventions since 2014 have achieved the following:

 

·         Coverage of superfast broadband has increased from 80% to over 95% and will reach 99% of premises by 2021;

·         Take-up of superfast broadband has increased from 18% to over 45%;

·         Sheffield business parks were amongst the first in the country to access full fibre, gigabit, broadband;

·         Business support programmes have helped SMEs use digital to sustain and grow their business;

·         SMEs have received vouchers for half price connection and for half price innovation projects;

·   The city centre has one of the best public access wi-fi networks in the country.

 

 

8.4.4

The do nothing option is not recommended because, were the Council to choose not to intervene, it is likely that coverage of full fibre and 5G in Sheffield would continue to lag significantly behind the rest of the country, with many other cities competing to attract the limited resources of the market to their own areas.

 

 

 

Supporting documents: