Agenda item

The Connecting Devon and Somerset programme is led by Devon and Somerset County Councils in partnership with Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset, Plymouth and Torbay Councils. It aims to provide 100% broadband coverage of at least 2Mbps with a minimum of 85% superfast broadband at 24Mbps by 2015 and superfast broadband for all by 2020.

The Economy Community Development Policy Development Scrutiny Panel is asked to note the contents of this report for information.

The Chairman invited Jeremy Smalley (Divisional Director for Skills and Employability) and Anna Garner (Principal EEB Development Officer) to introduce the report.

The Chairman invited Peter Duppa-Miller (Secretary to the BANES Local Councils Association and the Clark to Combe Hay Parish Council)  to address the Panel with his statement.

Peter Duppa-Miller asked the Panel to note that the B&NES Draft Core Strategy’s Schedule of Rolling Changes (Core Document CD6/E2.2) now contains a further “Strategic Issue in the Rural Areas”, which reads – “The urgent need to provide reliable broadband, with adequately fast speed, to every home and business.”

This addition was proposed by Peter Duppa-Miller and accepted by the Inspector at the Draft Core Strategy Examination in Public session on 24 January 2012.

Peter Duppa-Miller also asked the Panel to recognise that all the Parish Councils in the Rural Areas of B&NES are most eager, willing and able to assist the project – as a free resource.  John Wilkinson and Anna Garner have been asked to update the Parishes Liaison meeting on 17 October 2012 concerning the progress of the project.

Peter Duppa-Miller asked the following questions: Referring to paragraph 4.13 of the report to this meeting, when will the data relating to B&NES be made available?

It is understood that there are 10% (or is it 15%?) “hard to reach” areas in B&NES – where are these areas and when will they be identified?

What is the status of the relevant Local Broadband Plan (LDP)?  It is understood that the Connecting Devon and Somerset (CD&S) LDP was adopted by the CD&S Board in early 2012 – but what is the status of the “B&NES Addendum”?

The Panel made the following points:

The Panel asked about the State Aid process with European Commission and when realistically there will an announcement from Brussels considering that the resolution of the State Aid process was expected by the end of September 2012.

Jeremy Smalley responded that the Council still don't know when the resolution on State Aid will be available.  As soon as it is known it will be communicated with the Panel.

Anna garner said that there is certain information on that which does give n indication on phasing.  Following the model that Cornwall is taking announcement on delivery will not be made until 4 week in advance on going live in the area.  There are two reasons for that: to manage the expectations for the area and to assess the area in terms of how difficult is to deliver.  Because of the assessment of area uncertainty it is difficult to say what are those 'hard to reach' areas in BANES.

The Panel asked if BT is the only bidder in the area.  Businesses that are to close to telephone exchange are not scheduled to get superfast broadband.

Anna Garner said that there is some good news on that matter.  Those areas that are close to telephone exchanges will be considered along the areas that are already part of the BT Infinity project (rural areas).

It was RESOLVED to note the report and to request from officers to inform the Panel on the outcome of the State Aid process.