Agenda and minutes

Consideration was given as to who should preside over the joint meeting of the Performance Monitoring Panel and Policy Development Panel. 

AGREED:

That Councillor B Alcock act as Chairman for the duration of the joint meeting of the Performance Monitoring Panel and Policy Development Panel.  

Where a Councillor has a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest, the Councillor must declare the interest to the meeting and leave the room without participating in any discussion or making a statement on the item, except where a Councillor is permitted to remain as a result of a grant of dispensation.

There were none.

To consider South Holland District Council’s contribution to the roll out of Superfast Broadband across South Holland (report of the Executive Director Commercialisation enclosed)

Consideration was given to the report of the Executive Director Commercialisation, which asked the joint Panel to consider South Holland District Council’s contribution to the roll out of Superfast Broadband across South Holland.

The Executive Manager Growth and Prosperity provided the joint Panel with an update on the history of the issue, as detailed within the report.  He also advised that the target to bring superfast broadband to 90% of the County (a minimum of 2Mbps to UK premises) by 2015 had been met (this had only been confirmed within the last few days and was therefore not reflected within the report).

The Lincolnshire Broadband Programme Manager outlined the government imposed solution for premises with less than 2Mbps (although he did question the effectiveness of this solution).  The premises owner could apply for a subsidised satellite solution – they would be provided with a voucher which could then be used with any of seven providers.  If this opportunity was taken up, it would not preclude them from any possible upgrades when Phase 2 of the project was implemented.

The following issues were raised:

·         There were some anomalies with regard to the speed available at some properties in that although less than 2Mbps was being achieved, the provider’s records showed that a higher than 2Mbps speed was available. 

o   The Lincolnshire Broadband Programme Manager advised that even if BT was not the provider, BT’s lines were still used and therefore the speed achieved could only ever be what the line was capable of, and no more.  A snapshot of speed tests should be sent through to the Programme Manager to investigate.  It was suggested that this could be an issue for a number of people and therefore information on this should be provided on the website.

·         Within some settlements, some properties were achieving over 2Mbps speed, whilst others received sub 2Mbps.  Would the subsidised satellite solution be the only way to improve speeds?

o   Currently this was the only option.  However, Phase 2 could provide an upgrade for properties receiving sub 2Mbps speed.  The satellite solution could still be taken up even if the property was due for an upgrade in Phase 2.

·         When the original presentation had been given to the joint Panel in 2012, concern had been raised with regard to delivery of service to premises.  The Panel had requested that it be established that the service must be available to the actual premises, rather than just to the cabinet in the street.  Improvements had been seen however, there were still concerns regarding a sizeable number of people who were not able to receive speeds of 2Mbps and over.

o   Superfast broadband had been delivered to 30,000 premises, 90% of the County, and there had been a real increase in service.  Phase 2 of the project would be trying to address areas where there were any issues.  There were issues affecting service, one of them being the standard of BT’s infrastructure (which would possibly not change), and also internal  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

There were none.