Issue - meetings

It was resolved to:

A    approve the new Digital Connectivity Strategy 2025-2029

A    approve the new Digital Connectivity Strategy 2025-2029

[unanimous]

To provide an update on the progress of the current Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Digital Connectivity Strategy delivery between April 2023 and March 2024 and seek approval of the revised Digital Connectivity Strategy 2025 to 2029.

RESOLVED: (UNANIMOUS)

A.    To note the contents of the report and Appendix A.

B.    To recommend to the Combined Authority Board to approve the new Digital Connectivity Strategy 2025-2029.

Ceren Clulow, Programme Director of Connecting Cambridgeshire introduced the report which provided an update on the progress of the current Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Digital Connectivity Strategy delivery between April 2023 and March 2024 and sought approval of the revised Digital Connectivity Strategy covering the period from 2025 to 2029.

During discussion, the following points were noted: 

a.    The officer highlighted that the Strategy aligned with the broader goals of economic growth Net Zero commitments, and local priorities such as the Government’s “levelling up” agenda. 

b.    Members praised the progress of the strategy but emphasised the importance of continued focus on digital connectivity for economic growth and the issue of mobile connectivity in rural areas.  

c.     The challenges in reaching the ‘very hard to reach areas’ were acknowledged but the Strategy included measures to address this. 

d.    The inclusion of social housing in the 85% full fiber target was being reviewed and more information on this would follow. 

e.    Project Gigabit’s social value outcomes included digital skills training and job creation and there was close monitoring of contract fulfilment. 

f.      Business cases for pilot projects would be developed to ensure commercialisation and scalability. 

g.    The resilience of digital infrastructure remained an important consideration, and central government policies would guide this aspect. 

h.    There was ongoing collaboration with transport teams to ensure that both transport and digital connectivity strategies were aligned and this included such things as public Wi-Fi services on buses. 

RESOLVED (Unanimous) 

On being proposed by the Chair and seconded by Cllr Wakeford, the Transport and Infrastructure Committee unanimously resolved to:  

A.    To note the contents of the report and Appendix A. 

B.    To recommend to the Combined Authority Board to approve the new Digital Connectivity Strategy 2025-2029