Decision details

Decision

(a)       That the creation of a full business case to accelerate the deployment of full fibre and wireless / mobile connectivity predominately in the rural parts of the Dorset Council area, be supported;

(b)       That the Dorset Council budgetary commitment of up to £1m capital (from the Ringfenced Superfast Broadband budget) and revenue implementation commitment of £285k (funded from the Dorset Council Transformation fund) to leverage in external capital and commercial investment of up to £8.9m, be agreed;

(c)        That the commencement of the required public procurements be agreed;

(d)       That authority be delegated  to the portfolio holder for Corporate Development, in consultation with the Executive Director of Place, to submit a full business case, procure and award services and enter into the necessary grant agreements to deliver this programme of activity;

(d)       That the unusually short timescales involved in developing these proposals, and the importance of responding and mobilising quickly to meet delivery deadlines to facilitate economic recovery from the impacts of the Coronavirus pandemic be noted.

Reason for the Decision

To enable the business case process to be submitted, complete due diligence and to facilitate the quickest possible deployment by March 2022.