Issue details

Decision

(a)  That the decision for contract award, following conclusion of the procurement process, be delegated to Cllr Peter Wharf as Portfolio Holder, after consultation with Aidan Dunn, Executive Director – Corporate Development.

(b)  That the decision to enter into the necessary subsequent grant agreements with Building Digital UK (BDUK), which is part of the Department for Digital, Culture Media and Sports (DCMS) to delivery this programme of activity, be agreed and delegated to Cllr Peter Wharf as Portfolio Holder, after consultation with Aidan Dunn, Executive Director – Corporate Development.

Reason for decision

To enable the GHCiRD (BDUK) project to complete due diligence, grant agreement, contract award and finalisation which will facilitate the quickest possible deployment by December 2022.

Budget Implications

Capital cost infrastructure budget implications being up to £2.5M grant funding, covered by formal grant agreement between BDUK and Dorset Council. Revenue costs to deliver the project will be managed within the Digital Place team, utilising existing transformation funding to March 2023. The ongoing revenue costs of the upgraded broadband will be met by Dorset Council for council sites and is expected to be cost neutral as IT Services will look to take advantage of the infrastructure to adopt a new approach which will be more cost effective than the current connectivity charges. Each school or other non-Dorset Council site is expected to meet the revenue costs for their site.

Reference Documents

Agenda for Cabinet on Tuesday, 27th July, 2021, 10.00 am - Dorset Council (wdwp.local)