William Eichler 22 December 2020

Invest in local digital champions, council chiefs say

Local authority leaders have called on the Government to fund local digital champions to support the broadband roll-out.

A new report by the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee has warned the Government that it risks failing to meet its revised-down target for gigabit-capable broadband in the face of considerable challenges to infrastructure roll-out.

The Government aimed to achieve nationwide gigabit-capable broadband by 2025. It has since revised its target and is now aiming for 85% coverage by that date.

The committee report says it would not be acceptable having abandoned one unrealistic target, for the Government to fail to meet a second less ambitious target through lack of effective planning or inadequate investment.

MPs also flagged concerns that only 25% of the Government’s £5bn to support roll-out to the hardest-to-reach premises will be made available during this period.

The report also found that the Government's target for majority 5G coverage by 2027 was ‘equally ambitious’, given rulings banning the use of equipment by high-risk vendors.

Commenting on the report, Cllr Mark Hawthorne, digital connectivity spokesperson at the Local Government Association, said: ‘As this report rightly recognises, councils need to have the local powers and adequate funding to help this ambition become a reality across all communities.

‘Many councils are under even greater financial pressure as a result of the pandemic and will struggle to prioritise work to remove barriers to digital roll-out over key statutory services. This could place a significant risk on the Government’s delivery timescales.

‘The Government needs to fund councils to put in place a local digital champion to help coordinate delivery locally. This would also enable them to recruit extra capacity within highways and planning teams to respond to surges in local roll out activity, such as street works permit requests or planning applications, that take place when a provider commences roll out in a specific area.

‘This will be essential to avoiding local bottlenecks and the slowing down of delivery. A local digital champion would be a central contact point for government and broadband providers to help problem solve deployment issues in the local area.’

Cllr Hawthorne added: ‘We are disappointed at the downgrading of the Government’s 100% target and agree with the committee that it must announce as soon as possible a revised timeline for reaching the remaining 15 per cent of premises that will not be served with gigabit-capable broadband by 2025.’

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Senior Practitioner - Children in Care, North Essex

Essex County Council
£46574.0000 - £56027.0000 per annum
Senior Practitioner - Children in Care, North EssexPermanent, Full Time£46,574 to £56,027 per annumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

School Crossing Patrol Officer - St John's Green Primary School

Essex County Council
Up to £13.00 per hour
School Crossing Patrol Officer - St John's Green Primary School, ColchesterPermanent, Part Time£13.00 per hour Location
Recuriter: Essex County Council

SEND Inclusion Partner

Essex County Council
£42761.0000 - £50307.0000 per annum
SEND Inclusion PartnerPermanent, Part Time£42,761 to £50,307 per annum (Full Time Equivalent)Actual Salary (22.2 hours per week) £25,657 to £30,184 pe England, Essex, Braintree
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Highways Maintenance Manager

North Yorkshire Council
£51,356 - £55,539 per annum
We are looking for an experienced Engineer to join the team as a Highways Maintenance Manager Selby, North Yorkshire
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council

Highways Maintenance Manager

North Yorkshire Council
£51,356- £55,539 per annum
We are looking for an experienced Engineer to join the team as a Highways Maintenance Manager Brompton on Swale, Richmond
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council
Linkedin Banner