Agenda item

C Blackburn introduced a report which presented the Draft Digital Infrastructure Strategy which had been informed by the views and comments of the Board at the previous meeting. 

The Draft Strategy was presented for the Board’s consideration and comment to inform the drafting of the final version. 

The Board noted that the Draft Strategy provided the proposed strategic approach(es) to accelerating the development of a gigabit capable and 5G digital infrastructure network across the whole of South Yorkshire. 

The Strategy also included proposals for public interventions and support which would be required to achieve this overarching strategic ambition.  This would seek to put in place the digital infrastructure and connectivity ‘foundations’ to support the digital inclusive, digital skills and digital innovation and business support agendas.

The Board noted that the proposed draft Vision for the Digital Infrastructure Strategy was:

‘A Gigabit digital infrastructure that accelerates new social and economic possibilities for all the people and businesses of South Yorkshire’.

The following five key Goals were proposed to deliver this Vision:

1.      Ensure South Yorkshire’s superfast broadband and 4G success is repeated for Gigabit broadband and 5G;

2.      Support the social and economic priorities set out in the Strategic Economic Plan;

3.      Form an inclusive platform that enables better outcomes for all sections of society;

4.      Be supported by the Governance and data-driven approach needed to maximise the digital potential of South Yorkshire; and

5.      Position South Yorkshire as a centre of applied digital innovation.

C Blackburn introduced Michael Snaith representing Arcadis Consulting to the Board. 

M Snaith thanked local authority colleagues who had supported him in the work he had undertaken on behalf of the MCA.  M Snaith provided the Board with an overview of the work undertaken to explore and map the public sector assets and infrastructure available to enable improvements in fixed, mobile and wireless connectivity. 

Councillor Jones noted that there was c160,000 premises in South Yorkshire that were currently not covered by the industry’s upgrade and new digital infrastructure roll out plans.  He asked what the MCA could to do provide better digital access to these premises. 

M Snaith replied that there were three elements to address this issue.  Firstly, the MCA would need to engage with DCMS in relation to funding and leverage funding to help address those 160,000 premises who had no access to the upgrades.  Secondly, the MCA would need to undertake work to engage with the private sector market to make them aware of the opportunities available.  And thirdly, the MCA could explore opportunities to  innovative to maximise the potential of infrastructure across the area. 

Councillor Jones asked if an outline Action Plan and associated targets and timescales could be developed setting out when the Digital Strategy would be delivered in its entirety. 

C Blackburn replied that the Strategy had links to and overlapped with the digital skills and digital innovation and business support agendas.  The Digital Infrastructure Strategy was the first of these three strands to be developed but work was taking place to develop the other two elements to provide a holistic and inclusive approach to the whole digital agenda. 

C Blackburn acknowledged Councillor Jones’ suggestion to develop an outline Delivery Action Plan and associated targets and timescales and said this work would be undertaken shortly.

Councillor Jones asked if the existing SFSY Programme Team could continue to be funded, but changing the remit of their activities to focus on delivering the Draft SY Digital Strategy.

Councillor Jones commented that the draft Strategy suggested that delivering the Strategy was urgent, but suggested that delivery needed to be rapidly accelerated.

Councillor Cheetham echoed Councillor Jones’ concerns.  He added that the pace in developing the Strategy and progressing to adoption had been frustratingly slow.  Furthermore, he said that if adoption of the Strategy was further delayed then the identified opportunities may be missed, and the Strategy was likely to require a refresh at the point of adoption.  One clear example of this, was the reference to FTTP coverage which was stated as 4% in the Strategy, and it was now 23% across South Yorkshire. 

In addition, Councillor Cheetham said he disagreed with a statement in the report in relation to a potential risk around the lack of alignment and commitment from local authorities on the key elements of the Strategy.  In reality he said that there was firm commitment across the four districts to support its adoption and implementation. 

Councillor Cheetham also commented that the Strategy was still high level, but lacked a supporting and tangible Delivery Plan.  The work involved in pulling the Strategy together had identified a number of ‘no regret wins’ which were in essence the Delivery Plan.  Therefore, there was no reason as to why this could not be developed, rather than creating a further delay.

Referring to clawback spend, Councillor Cheetham said he was of the opinion that a proportion of the clawback monies should be released to support the extension of the SFSY Team in the interim period to provide the ability to deliver the Digital Infrastructure Strategy.. 

In response, C Blackburn noted that conversations were taking place in relation to resourcing the whole digital agenda, including delivery of this Strategy.  He also noted that initial work on a Delivery Plan was being considered and an update would be provided at the next meeting.  ACTION: C Blackburn

The Board asked for clarification how the draft Digital Infrastructure Strategy could be fast-tracked for approval, as they would like it to be approved as soon as possible. 

C Blackburn explained that, subject to the Board’s endorsement, the next stages would be for the draft Digital Infrastructure Strategy to be considered by the LEP Board and then the MCA for approval. 

Following discussion, it was agreed that the Board delegates authority to the Co-Chairs to agree the amendments to the Draft Strategy to reflect the comments made by the Board at today’s meeting. It was also agreed for a meeting to be arranged with the Co-Chairs and Cllr Jones and Cllr Cheetham to consider the amendments prior to reporting to the LEP Board and MCA.  ACTION: C Blackburn

RESOLVED – That the Housing and Infrastructure Board:

1.      Commented on the Draft South Yorkshire Digital Strategy;

2.      Requested that the Draft Strategy be amended to reflect the comments of this Board and a final draft version be discussed at an informal meeting prior to the Strategy being submitted to the LEP Board and MCA for approval; and 

3.      That an update be provided at the next meeting relating to delivery of the Strategy.