Agenda item

Rural Broadband - Connecting Sheffield's Rural Communities

Report of the Chief Executive.

Decision:

10.1

The Chief Executive submitted a report examining the issues and potential solutions to broadband connectivity in Sheffield's rural communities in response to a motion passed at Full Council in October 2012. 

 

 

10.2

RESOLVED: That Cabinet:-

 

 

 

(a)

 

recognises the importance of usable broadband access to the wellbeing of the Sheffield’s rural communities;

 

 

 

 

(b)

notes that capital investment from Sheffield City Council is unlikely to be cost effective in delivering a solution;

 

 

 

 

(c)

therefore, agrees that the City Council will support rural communities to find appropriate solutions where communities:-

 

 

 

 

 
  • Demonstrate demand;

 
  • Are willing to come together and form community groups across rural Sheffield with other rural communities with similar needs (thus making solutions viable for internet providers)

 
  • Engage with Sheffield City Council through the locality management team (subject to resources), locality lead directors and other partners in the city to devise locally-appropriate solutions

 

 

 

10.3

Reasons for Decision

 

 

10.3.1

Quantitative data from OFCOM and local anecdotal evidence from Members and the Rural Economy study indicate that some rural areas of Sheffield may have slow broadband connectivity or live in ‘notspots’ with no broadband connectivity.  Therefore, while increasing proportions of the city can access high speed broadband, some rural areas may not be able to access standard broadband or experience unusable line speeds.  Clearly, this represents a potential digital exclusion issue for city, particularly as more services become available online and business need for internet presence increases.

 

 

10.3.2

However, this does not represent a clear business case for direct intervention from Sheffield City Council. The costed estimate for extending the Digital Region network to Dungworth and Worrall was £461k which is simply not financially viable. Further, efforts to access the Government’s Rural Communities Broadband Fund in South Yorkshire were unsuccessful due to a lack of demonstrable commitment from potential households and businesses to use broadband services in the selected South Yorkshire rural areas and over-reliance on grant funding from Government to make the scheme viable.

 

 

10.3.3

The most successful solutions to broadband connectivity problems in rural areas are community-led, uniting proven local need and ingenuity to deliver affordable and technologically appropriate solutions for their communities.

 

 

10.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

 

 

10.4.1

Do nothing

Whilst our customer service and support for digital inclusion may be undermined by this option, the rapid development of new technology, resolution of take-up challenges with Digital Region and 4G spectrum auction may deliver solutions for our rural area.

 

 

10.4.2

Council funded infrastructure solution

Considering the initial costing work done for Dungworth, Worrall and South Yorkshire’s Rural Communities Broadband bid, this is prohibitively expensive and undeliverable in the budgetary climate. 

 

 

10.5

Any Interest Declared or Dispensation Granted

 

 

 

None

 

 

10.6

Reason for Exemption if Public/Press Excluded During Consideration

 

 

 

None

 

 

10.7

Respective Director Responsible for Implementation

 

 

 

John Mothersole, Chief Executive.

 

 

10.8

Relevant Scrutiny and Policy Development Committee If Decision Called In

 

 

 

Economic and Environmental Wellbeing.

 

Minutes:

10.1

The Chief Executive submitted a report examining the issues and potential solutions to broadband connectivity in Sheffield's rural communities in response to a motion passed at Full Council in October 2012. 

 

 

10.2

RESOLVED: That Cabinet:-

 

 

 

(a)

 

recognises the importance of usable broadband access to the wellbeing of the Sheffield’s rural communities;

 

 

 

 

(b)

notes that capital investment from Sheffield City Council is unlikely to be cost effective in delivering a solution;

 

 

 

 

(c)

therefore, agrees that the City Council will support rural communities to find appropriate solutions where communities:-

 

 

 

 

 
  • Demonstrate demand;

 
  • Are willing to come together and form community groups across rural Sheffield with other rural communities with similar needs (thus making solutions viable for internet providers)

 
  • Engage with Sheffield City Council through the locality management team (subject to resources), locality lead directors and other partners in the city to devise locally-appropriate solutions

 

 

 

10.3

Reasons for Decision

 

 

10.3.1

Quantitative data from OFCOM and local anecdotal evidence from Members and the Rural Economy study indicate that some rural areas of Sheffield may have slow broadband connectivity or live in ‘notspots’ with no broadband connectivity.  Therefore, while increasing proportions of the city can access high speed broadband, some rural areas may not be able to access standard broadband or experience unusable line speeds.  Clearly, this represents a potential digital exclusion issue for city, particularly as more services become available online and business need for internet presence increases.

 

 

10.3.2

However, this does not represent a clear business case for direct intervention from Sheffield City Council. The costed estimate for extending the Digital Region network to Dungworth and Worrall was £461k which is simply not financially viable. Further, efforts to access the Government’s Rural Communities Broadband Fund in South Yorkshire were unsuccessful due to a lack of demonstrable commitment from potential households and businesses to use broadband services in the selected South Yorkshire rural areas and over-reliance on grant funding from Government to make the scheme viable.

 

 

10.3.3

The most successful solutions to broadband connectivity problems in rural areas are community-led, uniting proven local need and ingenuity to deliver affordable and technologically appropriate solutions for their communities.

 

 

10.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

 

 

10.4.1

Do nothing

Whilst our customer service and support for digital inclusion may be undermined by this option, the rapid development of new technology, resolution of take-up challenges with Digital Region and 4G spectrum auction may deliver solutions for our rural area.

 

 

10.4.2

Council funded infrastructure solution

Considering the initial costing work done for Dungworth, Worrall and South Yorkshire’s Rural Communities Broadband bid, this is prohibitively expensive and undeliverable in the budgetary climate. 

 

 

10.5

Any Interest Declared or Dispensation Granted

 

 

 

None

 

 

10.6

Reason for Exemption if Public/Press Excluded During Consideration

 

 

 

None

 

 

10.7

Respective Director Responsible for Implementation

 

 

 

John Mothersole, Chief Executive.

 

 

10.8

Relevant Scrutiny and Policy Development Committee If Decision Called In

 

 

 

Economic and Environmental Wellbeing.

 

Supporting documents: