Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Community & Corporate Services

Forward Plan Ref: 2023/297

Contact: Craig Bower, Programme Director

Craig.bower@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Report by Executive Director of Resources and Section 151 Officer (CA9)

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to

a)    Approve the acceptance of £3.8m of Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) 5G Innovation Region funding pursuant to Oxfordshire County Council implementing a project to be known as England’s Connected Heartland

b)    Approve the use of Gainshare funding previously awarded for Digital Infrastructure projects in the event of deliverability issues to the ‘England’s Connected Heartland’ project or to fund further development of the project.

Recommendations approved.

Cabinet had before it a report regarding the successful bid for 5G Innovation Region funding.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) was the central government department responsible for improving the nation’s fixed and mobile connectivity.  Under the broad category of the £5bn Project Gigabit, was a sub-section focussing on 5G Connectivity. As part of that, a competitive funding bid for setting up ten 5G Innovation Regions was submitted and for which Oxfordshire had been successful in being awarded the maximum grant of £3.8m.  Oxfordshire County Council would be the lead authority with Buckinghamshire, Central Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, & all Berkshire councils forming the Region. 5G Innovation Regions focus on developing innovative commercial models withing specific targeted sectors and ‘England’s Connected Heartland’ will deliver outputs in two sectors - Rail Connectivity and Research & Development/Science Parks. The project would deliver outputs described in the report.

Councillor Glynis Phillips addressed the Cabinet on this report and congratulated officers on their work in securing the funding for Oxfordshire.  She expressed concerns about the financial risks to the Council should the grant funding be insufficient to cover all the staffing costs in relation to the project and the need to understand the contributions from other partners to the Digital Infrastructure Gainshare Fund will would serve as a means of underwriting the project such that if there were to be any financial exposure that has not been forecast, the project will not require any financial support from OCC treasury.

The Director of Digital and IT explained the funding arrangements and the uses to which the Gainshare funding would be put.

Councillor Neil Fawcett, Cabinet Member for Community & Corporate Services presented the report. 

During discussion members welcomed the award of grant funding and the benefits that would be achieved for public services as a result of improved connectivity within Oxfordshire and across the country.

In response to a question, the Corporate Director: Environment & Place confirmed that there would be minimal requirements for planning permission as a result of the provision of additional 5G masts and, if these were required, planning applications would be considered by the relevant district councils.

Councillor Fawcett moved and Councillor Ley seconded the recommendations, and they were approved.

RESOLVED to

(a)            approve the acceptance of £3.8m of Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) 5G Innovation Region funding pursuant to Oxfordshire County Council implementing a project to be known as ‘England’s Connected Heartland’.

(b)            approve the use of Gainshare funding previously awarded for Digital Infrastructure projects in the event of deliverability issues to the ‘England’s Connected Heartland’ project or to fund further development of the project.