SUMMARY
This report provided background on Broadband issues effecting communities and businesses in Shropshire and outlined a suggested means of addressing them. The report explained the need for a comprehensive Broadband Strategy and action plan to provide the context and content for a bid to Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK). It explained the urgency of this due to an expected bid deadline of end of March 2011. It went on to look at a road map of what needed to be accomplished over the next to months.

It lastly provided the headings for a Broadband strategy so that what was required was more clearly understood.

Members’ agreement was sought for the submission of a BDUK Wave 2 bid and for authority to be delegated to the Corporate Director Places in consultation with the Portfolio Holders for ICT and Economy, Finance and Waste to approve the submission of the bid on behalf of Shropshire Council.

Reference was also made to the recommendations from the Scrutiny Committee and confirmation given as follows

(a) Mr Martin Taylor-Smith was the single member responsible for all aspects of Information Technology, but due to the significant importance of this issue, Mr Mike Owen was jointly helping to take the matter of "Broadband in Shropshire" forward as Portfolio Holder for the Economy.

(b) Guidance would be published on 9th March 2011, with any funding bid to BDUK needing to be submitted by the Council by the end of March.

Cabinet - 02/15/2011

Mark Pembleton - Cabinet

Recommendations:

Decisions reached: