Agenda item

(To receive a report from Mark Popplewell, Head of Finance – Children's Services, which provides the Forum with an overview of the current schools broadband services for all Lincolnshire schools (including academies) to October 2022, and to outline the direction of travel for securing schools broadband services from November 2022)

The Chairman invited Mark Popplewell, Head of Finance – Children's Services, to present the item, which provided the Forum with an overview of the current schools broadband services for all Lincolnshire schools (including academies) to October 2022 and to outline the direction of travel for securing schools broadband services from November 2022.

The Forum was provided with background information relating to the current broadband arrangement, which had been entered into in November 2012, details of which were shown on pages 41 to 43 of the report.  The Forum noted the operational broadband service benefits for Lincolnshire schools through the contract; these were listed on page 43 of the report.  It was highlighted that nearly 300 Lincolnshire schools receive the consolidated broadband offer through the central contract with the remaining Lincolnshire schools contracting with an alternative IT provider directly.

It was reported from November 2022, Lincolnshire would not be able to retain a central budget for schools broadband services in accordance with the schools funding reforms.

The Forum noted that the government's direction of travel was for schools to have a direct relationship for school related costs rather than it being contracted centrally by a Local Authority.  The Forum noted further that going forward schools would have a direct relationship with an IT provider and that the cost of this would be met from their delegated budgets.  It was highlighted that from November 2022, all schools would be expected to meet the full cost of broadband services.

It was reported that the Local Authority was keen to support Lincolnshire schools to continue to have high quality, affordable network provision; and as a result the Local Authority had established a Wide Area Network Advisory Board to help govern this process.  The Local Authority was also currently engaging with the sector to understand schools future intentions, to either seek service continuity or to procure alternatives.  It was highlighted that the Local Authority considered that a sector solution and unified approach provided all schools with the optimum outcomes of cost and service performance, by ensuring quality and secure broadband provision was sustained and value for money continued to be achieved.

To ensure a smooth transition for schools (if required), a diagram on page 44 of the report provided details of the planned timeline for securing service continuity; and page 45 provided the key activities required by stakeholders to enable the transition to happen.

In conclusion, the Forum noted that feedback from schools would enable the desire of service continuity to be understood by the Local Authority and to enable modelling of future indicative costs, which would aid financial planning within schools.  It was highlighted that the final price would be dependent on the procurement solution for schools.

Details of the risks and impact analysis relating to future procurement were shown on page 46 of the report.

During discussion, the Forum raised the following points:

·       One member inquired as to how many schools had responded.  The Forum noted that this was unknown at this stage as the survey had only concluded the day before the meeting, but the Local Authority would endeavour to get full coverage from as many schools as possible, as potential participants.  The Forum were reminded of the operational broadband service benefits for Lincolnshire through the existing contract (as listed on page 43 of the report);

·       The planned timeline for securing service continuity, and when the indicative costs would be known.  The Forum was advised that once the procurement had been completed, indicative costs could be available for December 2021.  Some concern was expressed that without cost implications it was difficult to say whether schools would remain; and

·       Whether any lessons had been learnt from the current contract with East Midlands Public Sector Network (EMPSN).  The Forum noted that the service provided by EMPSN achieved significant economies of scale, value for money and provided a resilient, secure and quality broadband service for all schools in delivering the schools educational goals.  It was highlighted that the retention rate had been good with just short of 300 schools being in receipt of consolidated broadband offer.  It was highlighted further that schools needed to carefully consider all the risks associated with entering into a contract with a new provider.  Some members highlighted that schools were unable to assess the impact of the proposed new procurement until indicative costs were known.  Some members highlighted that schools needed to make an informed decision of the full package if entering into a contract with a different provider; and not to be guided by just the price of a lower priced contract.  A number of members commented on the positive service they received through the current contract, and the importance of Lincolnshire schools working together to obtain the best offer. 

RESOLVED

1.    That the update on Schools Broadband Services be noted.

2.    That support be given to the direction of travel of the Local Authority in securing continued access for Lincolnshire schools to high quality, affordable network provision and management services from November 2022.