Telford & Wrekin Council to bid for superfast broadband funding
A scheme which will deliver superfast broadband to 96 per cent of premises in Telford and Wrekin is set to move a step nearer.
Telford & Wrekin Council’s cabinet is likely to give the all clear for a £2m funding request to be submitted to national body BDUK when it meets on July 24.
The rollout of superfast broadband infrastructure across the UK will see speeds of more than 24 megabits per second to business and residential premises.
Superfast broadband is seen by the government as a key driver for enterprise and growth, offering significant benefit for business productivity through the development of new and more efficient business models.
The £2m funding allocation needs to be match funding with public sector money. The council has already identified £1.4m of this through a proactive approach to budget management from last financial year.
The total costs of delivery are estimated to be £200,000 so the council’s total contribution if successful would be £2.2m.
The council will submit a bid for the balance of funding to the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership, although a decision is not expected for several months.
If the bid is unsuccessful, the council will either ask for the amount it is able to match fund or borrow the rest. Cabinet is being asked to approve that borrowing if it is needed.
Councillor Charles Smith, cabinet member for Development, said: “This is a much better scheme than the one announced by the government in 2011.
“It will deliver much better value for money for the taxpayers of Telford and Wrekin and it will help businesses and residents reduce operational costs and access the fastest available broadband.
“This will encourage greater e-commerce and interaction through digital communications, which have expanded significantly since the 2011 programme.”
