Agenda item

With the increased use of digital technology in our society there is a requirement to establish the network infrastructure is fit for purpose ensuring that, as a District, we are not digitally disadvantaged. Initially this work began with the Gigabit project in conjunction with West Sussex County Council (WSCC); this proposal is to further extend this full fibre network to a further 100 public sector assets within the Bognor Regis and Littlehampton areas.

Increasing the amount of gigabit capable fibre within the District will enable it to be future-ready, ensuring that it is not left behind. Signalling our commitment to full fibre is an ambition for Arun and the wider county also increasing the possibility of accelerating the investment from commercial organisations to lead to a roll-out of fibre to the premise. This would enable homes and businesses to realise the benefits of ultra-fast connectivity.

It is intended to fully fund this offer from the West Sussex Business Rate Pilot for 2019/20, approval for this is via the West Sussex Leaders’ Board meeting and the decision has now been postponed until their meeting in January 2020. However, this offer is only available until the end of December 2019, therefore requiring the costs to be initially underwritten by the Council whilst we gain approval for the external funding after the contracts have been signed.

The Cabinet

RESOLVED – That

1.    an agreement be entered into with CityFibre for an extension of the Council’s full fibre connectivity using the West Sussex County Council’s framework based on the seven year revenue model offer;

2.    authority be delegated to the Group Head of Corporate Support, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Technical Services, for final approval of sites and contract detail; and

3.    the cost of the contract be underwritten whilst funding approval be sought to meet these costs from the Business Rates Pilot for 2019/20, these costs will be up to a maximum of £1,486,000 over a seven year period starting no earlier than September 2021.

The Cabinet Member for Technical Services, Councillor Stanley, introduced this item and stated that the Council had an opportunity to expand on the original Gigabit Full Fibre Project that had previously been brought before the Council.

            Members were advised that this proposal would add approximately a further 100 public sector assets in the District to the full fibre network.  These ultrafast connections would enable the Council to support the transformation of services delivered within the District, whether that be through the delivery of traditional Council services or innovative new services to the public such as public Wi-Fi in the Town Centres and seafronts.

            This was one of several projects being considered county-wide to increase the amount of gigabit capable fibre.  It was intended that the full funding for this project would be obtained from the West Sussex Business Rate Pilot for 2019/20 and it was anticipated that approval for this funding would be confirmed at the meeting of the West Sussex Leaders’ Board in January 2020.

            Finally, Councillor Stanley outlined that as this project would show continued commitment to ensuring that the Arun District would not be digitally disadvantaged and having supported the previous item [Arun’s Digital Strategy], he urged the Cabinet to approve entering into an agreement with City Fibre for an extension of the Council’s full fibre connectivity.

The Chairman then invited the ICT and Digital Manager to provide some further detail.  He outlined that this was an exciting project that aligned with the Council’s Priorities and he explained the detail behind the proposal.  This was that the basic proposal from City Fibre was the same for several West Sussed Districts and Boroughs and would be procured under the framework already in place from the Gigabit Project.  The offer received by Arun was a joint offer with Chichester District Council and was based on the areas of Bognor Regis, Littlehampton and Chichester.  Chichester District Council had received approval from its Cabinet last week.  For Arun, the proposal was to connect a further 100 public sector assets to the full fibre network – this could include Town or Parish Councils.

            The potential benefit of the project would be 100 more sites with Ultrafast Broadband at speeds up to 25 times faster than the current average with the opportunity to use these sites to roll out further digital technologies.

            The cost of this across Arun’s two Towns amounted to approximately £1.5 m and it was anticipated that the full costs would be met from the Business Rates Pool Pilot for 2019/20. 

            In discussing the report, Cabinet confirmed that it could see no reason for not supporting the project as it would provide so many social and economic benefits to the District and would assist businesses that needed better and faster broadband speeds.

            The Cabinet

                        RESOLVED – That

(1)       Approval be given to entering into an agreement with City Fibre for an extension of the Council’s fill fibre connectivity using the West Sussex County Council’s framework based on the seven-year revenue model offer;

(2)Delegated authority be given to the Group Head of Corporate Support in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Technical Services for final approval of sites and contract detail; and

(1)         Approval be given to underwriting the cost of the contract whilst funding is sought to meet these costs from the Business Rates Pilot for 2019/20, these costs will be up to a maximum of £1,486,000 over a seven year period starting no earlier than September 2021.

The Cabinet confirmed its decision as per Decision Notice C/021/091219, a copy of which is attached to the signed copy of the Minutes.