Minutes:
* O&S 51
The Connecting Devon and Somerset Stakeholder Engagement Officer conducted a presentation to Members that covered the following key areas:-
- Who were Connecting Devon and Somerset;
- Programme Objectives;
- Investment and Funding;
- Phase 1 of the Programme; and
- Phase 2 of the Programme.
In the ensuing discussion, particular reference was made to:-
(a) a question from a Lamerton resident. Since the question had been received after the Public Forum deadline had expired, the Chairman exercised her discretion to ask the question as follows:
‘We would like superfast broadband in Lamerton. Some existing properties already get it, as do new builds. It seems unfair that some can get in excess of 30 mbps while the rest of us can barely achieve 2.
How do we get it for the whole village?
Is there a plan already in place and, if so, what time frame are we looking at?
Having first been promised in 2014, then 2016, then 2018 and now possibly 2021, why can’t we get it now?
We fully understand the issue with the cabinets 3 and 14 and we also know Airband is potentially available; however it is expensive and not available to a lot of properties, as it is out of sight of their signal mast.
In reply, the Engagement Officer confirmed his familiarity with this matter and provided some background context around the issues. The officer gave a commitment to check the infrastructure around the property owned by the questioner and reminded those in attendance that Airband was committed to providing superfast broadband to those premises that they had signed up to deliver (irrespective of how difficult this may prove to be).
Also, in the event of any of these properties not being connected upon the conclusion of the Airband contract, the officer advised that this would be a contract management issue that would need to be resolved;
(b) the target for 100% of households to be connected to superfast broadband. Whilst remaining committed to this intention, the Committee was informed that 95-96% of properties should be connected upon the completion of Phase 2 of the Programme;
(c) the economic impact of the West Devon Borough being in the bottom 10 in the United Kingdom for broadband coverage. In reply to a question, the officer stated that a report was currently being produced that would analyse the impact of Phase 2 on the Borough;
(d) the original bidding process. A Member considered it to be really poor that, during the initial bidding submission, no account had been taken of the geo-physical layout of the landscape. As a consequence, the Member advised that local public opinion had really soured towards both Connecting Devon and Somerset and Airband. The officer acknowledged the points raised and stated that, in hindsight, the criticism was fair since the original bid had not taken sufficient account of the landscape;
(e) Airband take up on Dartmoor. In reply to a question, the officer accepted that connectivity take up on Dartmoor had, to date, been disappointing. However, recent analysis had suggested that numbers were starting to increase more in line with the original projections;
(f) the recruitment of a Marketing/Communications Officer. The Committee noted that the organisation was currently looking at employing an additional resource that would support the intention to increase engagement and dialogue with both the Borough Council and local town and parish councils. At the time of this meeting, 85% of town and parish councils had not been spoken to and this was identified as being wholly inadequate.
In conclusion, it was requested that the Presentation slides be circulated to all Members of Council and the Chairman proceeded to thank the Engagement Officer for his informative presentation and detailed responses to Member questions.