Purpose

The Fastershire project is a jointly funded
and managed programme between Gloucestershire County Council (GCC)
and Herefordshire Council (HC) to deliver an enhanced broadband
network using public subsidy to attract investment, where
commercial providers will not invest. Capital funding is provided
by both Authorities and national Government via Building Digital UK
(BDUK), the Government sponsoring body for broadband infrastructure
delivery.

In September 2024 a request was made to the Fastershire Project
Board which comprises of representatives of GCC, HC and BDUK to
mutually terminate the remaining Fastershire delivery contracts
with delivery ceasing on the 31 October 2024. This request was
agreed by members of the Board, but this requires formal approval
through the respective authorities before it can be enacted.

For those premises that have not had their Broadband upgraded by
the 31 October 2024 they will either move to BDUK’s Project
Gigabit, have their broadband updated by Gigaclear as part of their
commercial programme or have no clear delivery route for their
broadband upgrade. Options for those premises with no clear
delivery route will be considered as part of
Gloucestershire’s new Digital Delivery strategy which is
expected to be agreed in 2025/26.

This report formalises these arrangements and ensures that the
partnership agreement with HC is in place to oversee the closedown
of the Fastershire project.

Decision

That the Cabinet Member for
Environment, Economy and Planning rejects the alternative options
and takes the recommended decision to approve:
 

The following
variations to the remaining Fastershire Project regional contracts
between Gloucestershire County Council and Herefordshire Council
and Gigaclear Ltd for the delivery of broadband infrastructure
services (that were awarded as part of Stage 3 of the Fastershire
delivery programme described in paragraph 4 in this
report):

 
a)   
A variation to the regional contract relating to the
provision of the above services in the Gloucestershire west of the
River Severn locality (under Lots 2-3c of the contract) for the
purpose of descoping premises (i.e., they will be removed from the
Fastershire project, and their respective broadband upgrade will be
delivered through an alternative process as described in Table C of
this report) and ceasing the delivery of the above services with
effect from 31st October 2024.
b)   
A variation to the regional contract relating to the
provision of the above services in the south Gloucestershire
locality (under Lot 3e of the contract) for the purpose of
descoping premises (i.e. they will be removed from the Fastershire
project, and their respective broadband upgrade will be delivered
through an alternative process, as described in Table C of this
report) and ceasing the delivery of the above services with effect
from 31st October 2024.
 

A one-year extension
(until 31 March 2026) to the term of the Fastershire Partnership
Agreement between Gloucestershire County Council and Herefordshire
Council. The proposed one-year extension will ensure that shared
officer resource remains in place to manage the closedown of the
Stage 3 of the Fastershire delivery programme described in
paragraph 4 in this report.

 
For the reasons set out in the
report.