Issue - meetings

To consider the joint report of the Director of City Development and the Director of Resources and Housing seeking approval to undertake a procurement exercise for a partner to build and deliver a full fibre gigabit capable network for Leeds City Council and partner buildings across the district, within a financial envelope, with the aim of using these public sector owned sites as anchors to accelerate the wider roll out of ‘fibre’ provision.  

(Please note that Appendices A and B are designated as exempt from publication under the provisions of Access to Information Procedure Rule 10.4(3))

The Director of City Development and the Director of Resources and Housing submitted a joint report which sought approval to undertake a procurement exercise for a partner to build and deliver a full fibre gigabit capable network for Leeds City Council and partner buildings across the district, within a financial envelope, with the aim of using such public sector owned sites as anchors to accelerate the wider roll out of ‘fibre’ provision.

In considering the submitted report, a Member requested that when this matter returns to the Board, the accompanying report provides details of the alternative approaches to this initiative which had been explored, why they had been rejected and why the approach being recommended was preferred.

Following consideration of Appendices A and B to the submitted report designated as exempt from publication under the provisions of Access to Information Procedure Rule 10.4(3), which were considered in private at the conclusion of the meeting, it was

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the necessary authority be provided to go through a new procurement process for a partner to build and deliver full fibre connectivity to ensure the provision of the greatest amount of coverage, coupled with the opportunity to extend connectivity further with commercial investment within Leeds City Council’s financial envelope;

(b)  That agreement be given for all budgets, where there is a connectivity requirement, to be incorporated within the ‘Full Fibre Programme’, in order to achieve a greater coverage, cost saving and benefits realisation;

(c)  That it be noted that the Chief Digital and Information Officer will be responsible for overseeing the ‘Full Fibre’ implementation, and that the Chief Economic Development Officer will take responsibility for supporting the commercial investment opportunities that this build may generate for the city.

(Under the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 16.5, Councillor A Carter required it to be recorded that he abstained from voting on the decisions referred to within this minute)