Issue - meetings

(Member lead: Cllr P Box, Director: Melanie Corcoran)

Resolved:

(i)            That the Combined Authority note the context to digital infrastructure and its alignment with national and City Region policy.

(ii)          That the Combined Authority agrees that the governance for Contract 2 and the Partnership Agreement be reviewed to ensure alignment with the Combined Authority governance model.

(iii)          That the Combined Authority agrees in principle that proposed funding applications for Contract 3 be submitted.  Officers to develop options for Contract 3 making use of the funding available and which will best achieve the Combined Authority’s objectives.  These options will be shared with Members with the final decision on the bids to be submitted delegated to the Combined Authority's Managing Director in consultation with the LEP Chair and Combined Authority’s Chair.

The Combined Authority considered a report of the Interim Director of Policy & Strategy and the Director of Delivery on the approach to digital infrastructure delivery across the City Region and funding bids for a proposed Contract 3 of the West Yorkshire and York Superfast Broadband Programme, including use of Gainshare.

Members discussed the options for digital infrastructure delivery and the key considerations for the next phase which were outlined in the submitted report. 

It was reported that there are a number of funding opportunities that can support investment in digital infrastructure in West Yorkshire and the City Region including DEFRA, the Department for Media Culture and Sport and European Funding.  There was also an opportunity to invest an element of the  Gainshare accruing from Contracts 1 and 2 of the existing broadband programme as capital match and Members discussed the range of options, the proposed West Yorkshire and Yorkshire Superfast Broadband Contract 3 and potential programme risks which were outlined in the submitted report.

Resolved:

(i)            That the Combined Authority note the context to digital infrastructure and its alignment with national and City Region policy.

(ii)          That the Combined Authority agrees that the governance for Contract 2 and the Partnership Agreement be reviewed to ensure alignment with the Combined Authority governance model.

(iii)         That the Combined Authority agrees in principle that proposed funding applications for Contract 3 be submitted. Officers to develop options for Contract 3 making use of the funding available and which will best achieve the Combined Authority’s objectives.  These options will be shared with Members with the final decision on the bids to be submitted delegated to the Combined Authority's Managing Director in consultation with the LEP Chair and Combined Authority’s Chair.