Decision details

Councillor Barry Rawlings Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Resources & Effective Council introduced the report.

Following discussion, the Chair moved to vote on the recommendations.

DECISION:

It was RESOLVED that Cabinet:

1.    Approved the creation of a new ‘Connected Places Transformation Programme’, as set out in Figure 2, and the allocation of the required budget as set out in the exempt appendix.

2.    Agreed that the Chief Finance Officer approves allocation of £2.35m of prudential borrowing towards the creation of a new ‘Connected Places Transformation Programme’ in line with the 2023/24 Treasury Management Strategy Statement.

3.    Delegated authority to the Executive Director for Assurance to revise or vary the proposed CCTV fibre network contract with BT to include the deployment of a boroughwide Public Wi-Fi network, provided that the cost of such deployment to the council is broadly in line with the terms as set out in the exempt report.

4.    Approved the development of an outline business case for consideration by Cabinet, relating to deployment of an Internet of Things (IoT) Network across the borough, including exploration of potential commercial and service innovation opportunities by public sector and commercial partners.

5.    Delegated authority to the Director of Highways, or any Director/Assistant Director with responsibility for the relevant asset, to:
(a) define the corporate requirements for, and
(b) to grant any subsequent required permission/authorisation to, attach connectivity-related equipment orinfrastructure onto council assets such as street furniture and buildings.

6.    Delegated authority to the Assistant Director for Resident Experience and Digital to develop and consult with partners and residents on draft proposals for a data ethics framework that will support and inform data  protection compliance and provide oversight arrangements for new and emerging uses of data, including how emerging sources of data can be used and/or shared within the council and partners, to enable a more data informed and holistic approach to service transformation, that will support resident needs. The framework proposals will to be brought back to Cabinet for approval.

The report set out the options considered, if any, and the reasons for the recommendations and the decision.