Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Environment and Economy

Forward Plan Ref: 2026/178 

Key Decision

Contact: Craig Bower, Programme Director – Digital Connectivity 

Report by Director of Economy and Place (CMDEE6). 

Request to authorise delegated approval of change control to an increase the programme budget to £6.14M by change control by acceptance of £0.54M of additional grant funding and additional ringfenced Digital Infrastructure gainshare of £0.9M due to an extension of the project timelines to as a result of technical challenges which have required design changes.

The Cabinet Member is RECOMMENDED to:

a)            Approve acceptance of two additional Department for Science, Innovation and Technology grant payments for the 5G Innovations Regions Project, totalling £540,000, increasing the total grant funding for the programme to £4,340,000.

b)           Approve an additional £900,000 investment from the Digital Infrastructure Gainshare fund, increasing total Gainshare funding for the programme to £1,800,000 and the overall programme budget to £6,140,000;

c)            Delegate authority to the Director of Economy and Place in consultation with the Section 151 Officer and the Head of Legal and Governance Services to finalise the associated funding contract changes within the approved budget envelope.