Agenda item

A report is attached presenting an update on recent activity on the following:

·         Financial Planning Task Group

·         Military-Civilian Integration Partnership Task Group

·         Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership Task Group

·         MyWiltshire System Task Group

·         High Speed Broadband Project Board member – Cllr George Jeans

And to receive a verbal update on the resolution from the meeting on 10 October 2016:

To investigate establishing a task group to engage with the Wiltshire One Public Estate programme to support the identification and delivery of savings across the public sector in Wiltshire.

The One Public Estate (OPE) programme is a Cabinet Office programme to help rationalise the public sector estate and help organisations work together to make the best use of their assets in order to deliver integrated services. Having been successful with earlier bids, the council has submitted a bid for Round 4 of the OPE funding.

Written updates were provided from the Management Committee Task Groups, along with verbal updates as follows:

Financial Planning Task Group (FPTG)

The recent work of the FPTG scrutinising the Medium Term Financial Plan was noted, and consideration was given to the approved recommendation of the Task Group to investigate establishing a Task Group to specifically focus on the One Public Estate Programme, which involved partners working together to maximise the efficient use of their capital assets, from which significant savings had been predicted.

The Committee discussed the most appropriate level of scrutiny involvement, taking into account the nature of the programme involving multiple external partners and the closeness to the unitary elections in 2017, as well as the possibility of establishing a Task Group or Rapid Scrutiny at a later date if appropriate, with a scrutiny member on the programme Project Board able to update the Committee moving forward, while not providing the same level of scrutiny as a Task Group at this stage.

After debate, it was,

Resolved:

To seek expressions of interest from all non-executive members to serve on the Project Board for the One Public Estate programme, and delegate the appointment to the Chairman and Vice-Chairman.

Military Civilian Integration Partnership Task Group (MCIP)

It was stated the 5^th Battalion, The Rifles (5 Rifles) had completed their transfer to Wiltshire from Germany, involving approximately 670 soldiers with approximately 475 spouses and children. The amount was significant although a minority of the total planned numbers, and would be used to assess how well the transfers were planned and lessons to be learned.

Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership Task Group (SWLEP)

It was noted that the Task Group had taken some while to begin proper scrutiny work but that work was now progressing and the Director of the SWLEP had praised the role of the Task Group and was keen for it to continue in its role post May 2017.

MyWiltshire System Task Group

Task Group members expressed some concern that it was intended a contract be awarded for the progression of the MyWiltshire System within a few months, but the Task Group would continue to comment and challenge the work as appropriate. It was raised that it was presently unclear which Cabinet Member had overall responsibility for the development of the system.

Resolved:

To note the updates from the Task Groups

High Speed Broadband Project

A report was received from Councillor George Jeans, Scrutiny member on the High Speed Broadband Project Board, as detailed in agenda supplement 1. Contributions were also made by Councillor John Thomson, Deputy Leader of the Council.

Details were provide on current uptake levels, discussions with British Telecom (BT) to embed a BT staff member with the council to deal with customer complaints, and a £3.3million underspend due to good management of phase 1 of the project, which would be reinvested into the later phases. Comments in discussion included whether BT acknowledged adequate Broadband as an essential service, and the expectation 95% coverage for the county would be achieved.

The Committee drew particular attention to the report that BT were willing to commit to provide infrastructure for high speed broadband for all developments over 30 houses, should the developers request this, and requested a briefing note be prepared to that effect.

Resolved:

To note the update.