Agenda item

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport.

38.1     The Team Manager Economic Development introduced the report which outlines the progress in implementing the recommendations of the Scrutiny Review. Some of the actions to implement the recommendations are dependent on the completion of Contract 2 and the commencement of Contract 3 of the Broadband Project. There has been some delay in responding to the recommendations of the Scrutiny Review due to long term staff sickness within the Broadband Team but this is now resolved.

38.2     The Scrutiny Review particularly asked the Broadband Team to look at communications and information. An information pack for Councillors has been developed and will be circulated to all Members. The Broadband Team have also revised and revamped the web site which will go live shortly. It will contain information on the project at property level rather than just at post code level. This will provide greater detail and provide further information on where businesses and residents are in the delivery plans for the project roll out.

Project Progress

38.3     The Team Manager Economic Development outlined the project progress to date. The coverage in East Sussex is currently 96% of premises have access to superfast broadband, which provides speeds of 24 Megabits per second (Mbps) or above. The take up of superfast services is just short of 50%, compared with a national average of 20% for similar broadband projects. The current Contract 2 will complete in December 2018.

38.4     Contract 3 has been let and will survey all properties that do not yet have access to superfast broadband before work commences in January 2019. This means the Broadband Team will know where work is going to take place and will also be clear about areas not covered and which will need further support. The Assistant Director Economy commented that the Team will be in a position in December 2018 to be able to say which premises will be included and when they will be worked on. The work included in Contract 3 will finish at the end of March 2020.

38.5     The Director of Communities, Economy and Transport (CET) outlined that the procurement process for Contract 3 has been quite complicated and represents the first contract of this type nationally. It is not as constrained by the requirements of Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) as the two previous contracts, but required the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to approve and assure the procurement process. The aim is to achieve 99% coverage for access to superfast broadband by the end of Contract 3.

38.6     The Committee asked if there will there be any money at end of Contract 3, generated by the higher levels of take up, which will be available to deal with 1% of premises that do not have access to superfast services. The Team Manager Economic Development responded that there may be some money available from the higher take up that can be reinvested in the project. In addition, Contract 3 has some of the best commercial terms that the DCMS have seen nationally. The Assistant Director Economy added that as the funding body, the Team want to ensure that East Sussex County Council (ESCC) is getting the most out of the funding it has in terms of value for money and achieving the project outcomes.

Scrutiny Review Recommendations

38.7     The Committee discussed the implementation of the recommendations of the Scrutiny Review. It complemented Officers on the regular updates Councillors receive which have been very good and helpful (Recommendation 1). The same information is also being sent to Parish Councils via the Sussex Association of Local Councils (Recommendation 1). The Chair drew the Committee’s attention to the Councillor Information Pack which he had seen, which he considered to be an excellent piece of work that would assist Councillors in dealing with issues related to the project (Recommendation 8). The re-designed web site will be available shortly, with enhanced features, to provide further information about the project (Recommendations1 & 8).

38.8     The Committee noted that the implementation of actions in response to recommendations 2 to 5 are dependent on the completion of Contract 2 in December of 2018, and the delivery of Contract 3. It therefore requested a further update report on the implementation of these recommendations at an appropriate time, which is likely to be sometime in the first half of 2019.

38.9     The Committee asked in relation to Recommendation 5, if individuals or businesses could also privately fund superfast broadband provision. The Team Manager Economic Development responded that this was possible currently through schemes such as the Community Fibre Partnership and fibre on demand. The Broadband Team can send further information on these schemes to the Committee Members and Councillors upon request.

38.10   The Committee asked if the Broadband Team are team getting the same level of complaints and enquiries about the delivery of the project in terms of the information provided and problems with coverage. The Director of CET responded that the Team are not receiving the same level of complaint, but there are still some issues with the level of understanding about the project from some individuals. The Director also commented that he did not believe the information provided by the Broadband Team is leading to unrealistic expectations, but there may be a few individuals who still have unrealistic expectations.

38.11   The Committee commented that as Councillors they were receiving a much lower level of complaint or enquiry, and expectations about the project appear to be more realistic. The Assistant Director Economy added that there may also be fewer complaints as the project continues to roll out and coverage increases. However, there is still some level of concern, especially in areas where it is has not yet been possible to provide access to superfast broadband. The Team will develop a communications plan to deal with expectations of the project when details of the delivery phase of Contract 3 are released, as there may be further issues at that time.

38.12   The Lead Member for Economy outlined that he and the Chief Executive have met with some of the Parishes where there are perceived concerns about the delivery of superfast services. It has been possible to convey that ESCC are committed to tackle their concerns, but this will be within the objectives and priorities of the Broadband Project, which remain unchanged. The vision is to have 99% superfast broadband coverage by end of 2020. The increased take up of superfast services is helping to fund further work and has created a huge efficiency.

Ultrafast broadband and local coverage issues

38.13   The Committee asked if ultrafast broadband provision has been an issue. The Assistant Director Economy responded that the Government focus so far had been in cities, especially for larger businesses, but is not an issue for East Sussex at present. The Director of CET outlined that the department have done some work on a local full fibre network pilot in partnership Mid Sussex Council.

38.14   The Team Manager Economic Development added that the Broadband Project is delivering ultrafast in rural communities through the use of Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) which can achieve speeds far in excess of superfast speeds of 24 Mbps. Some of the later properties to be given superfast access may have the fastest speeds due to the use of FTTP.

38.15   The Committee discussed a number of local issues. The Team Manager Economic Development confirmed that:

·          Contract 2 is shortening the length of copper telephone cables across the county, but particularly in rural Rother, Lewes and Wealden, to improve broadband speeds despite residents being told by BT that this will not be undertaken.

·          The Team are aware of perceived coverage issues in Chailey Common (New Heritage Way) and is seeing how best they can be tackled through Contract 2 or Contract 3.

·          There are issues with Internet Service Providers (ISP’s) leafleting general areas (e.g. Norton, near Bishopstone) where cabinets have been fibre enabled, but there are some properties within the postcode that will not benefit from increased speeds because they are too far away from the cabinet. The Broadband project will undertake work to reduce the length of copper cabling or look at alternatives such as FTTP to improve speeds in such areas where applicable. However, the Project cannot tackle the issue of ISP’s giving out incorrect information. ISP’s should tell potential subscribers what actual speeds they will get before accepting an order. If they are not doing so, it could be issue for Trading Standards or the regulator. Residents should be advised to check the actual speeds they will get from their ISP before placing an order.

·          The Ashdown Forest area, including the Forest Centre, is likely to be in scope for Contract 3. The Team Manager Economic Development will confirm if it is included in Contract 3, subject to survey.

Summary Comments

38.16   Officers commented that they had found the Scrutiny Review positive, helpful, and welcomed any feedback from Councillors on the Information Pack and the new website. The Committee thanked Officers for their work on implementing the recommendations of the Review and their continuing work to deliver the Broadband Project.

38.17   The Committee RESOLVED to note the progress that had been made on implementing the recommendations of the Scrutiny Review and requested a further update report at an appropriate time during 2019.