Agenda item

Stuart Whitfield (Digital Programme Manager) to present the report.

1.     That the Board approve the Business Justification Case for the LPWAN project and authorise the Portfolio Director, in consultation with the Chair, Vice-Chair, Section 151 Officer and the Monitoring Officer to procure and establish the required frameworks for the delivery of the project, subject to the Portfolio Management Office addressing the outstanding issues set out in section 7.1 of the report.

2.     That the Board note the process for accessing funding through the frameworks will involve the submission of a delivery plan for each local authority area and delegate authority to the Portfolio Director in consultation with the Lead Member for the Digital Programme and the Digital Programme Board to approve the delivery plans and delegate solely to the Portfolio Director the subsequent allocation of funding through the frameworks.

3.     That the Board note that the LPWAN Business Justification Case is a sub-set of the larger Connected Campus project from which funding will be allocated and agree to the principle that any underspend within the LPWAN project budget is ringfenced to the Connected Campus project in the first instance.

 

The report was presented by the Digital Programme Manager.

 

DECISION

 

1.      To approve a Business Justification Case for the LPWAN project and authorise the Portfolio Director, in consultation with the Chair, the Vice Chair, the Section 151 Officer and the Monitoring Officer, to procure and establish the required frameworks to carry out the project, subject to the Portfolio Management Office dealing with the ongoing issues as set out in Section 7.1 of the report.

2.      That the Board note the process for accessing funding through the frameworks will involve the submission of a delivery plan for each local authority area and delegate authority to the Portfolio Director in consultation with the Lead Member for the Digital Programme and the Digital Programme Board to approve the delivery plans and delegate solely to the Portfolio Director the subsequent allocation of funding through the frameworks.

3.      Noting that the LPWAN Business Justification Case is a sub-series of the larger Connected Campuses project from which the funding will be allocated and agrees to the principle that any underspend in the LPWAN project budget is earmarked to the Connected Campuses project in the first instance.

 

REASONS FOR THE DECISION

 

To seek the Board's approval of the Business Justification Case for the LPWAN Project.

 

As a project delivered by Ambition North Wales, approval was required by the Board to establish the frameworks that will deliver the project. Due to the nature and value of the project, in line with the Better Business Case guidance, a Business Justification Case is presented that requires only a single approval from the Board. ⁠

 

DISCUSSION

 

It was explained that the use of the Internet of Things (IoT) - a network of devices and sensors that can collect and share data with people or other devices, and operate in accordance with the information - had grown rapidly in use and diversity since 1999. It was confirmed that there were around 950 gateways to the Internet of Things over Britain. It was elaborated that these advances in high-quality data collection allow users to make informed decisions. Details were given that this was possible as users received detailed information about an asset at different scales, distances and frequencies, through a medium that disposes of the overall challenges of data collection. It was explained that a number of private Internet of Things Networks already exist in Britain such as smart meters and environmental monitoring systems. ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠

 

It was noted that the Internet of Things were used in Britain and globally to deliver economic benefits across the public and private sectors. It was confirmed that the aim of this project was to expand the use of the Internet of Things, which had wide applications in the region, using the public sector as an anchor user to support wider accessibility to the private sector. ⁠

 

It was reported that the LPWAN project had four main expenditure objectives, namely:

 

1.     Delivering affordable and easy-to-use, LPWAN connectivity to priority locations in the region's counties by 2027 (enabling efficiency across public services and supporting innovation in both the private and public sectors).

2.     Supporting the adoption of the new 10-20 LPWAN technology programmes across the public and private sectors in the region by 2032.

3.     Supporting between £0.1m and £0.5m investment in the region by 2032.

4.     Supporting the creation of 20 jobs in the region by 2032.

 

It was confirmed that LPWAN networks were designed for Internet of Things applications and servicing with low data rates, long-life batteries and can operate in remote and hard-to-reach locations.

 

It was explained that several technologies were to be used as part of the LPWAN scheme, including LTE-M and NB-IoT. It was noted that these are used in association with mobile phone networks and detailing that it would be possible to integrate the LPWAN network with existing mobile base stations (telephone masts). Using these as part of the network was considered suitable as they had been optimised for very long battery life and could cope with higher data rates because they are usually allowed to provide a service to users for a monthly fee in accordance with the provider company's management. ⁠ ⁠

 

It was elaborated that LoRa technology was also used within the LPWAN scheme. It was explained that this was an open-source technology using a spectrum-free licence. It was noted that it was an effective method of providing a good service with very low transmission power while also allowing the construction of an end-to-end private solution. ⁠ ⁠⁠ ⁠

 

It was recognised that receiving access to the LPWAN network could be challenging for small businesses due to the required initial investment, particularly where they had not trialled the network's use to their business before committing financially. However, attention was drawn to areas where the use of the LPWAN network had been a success such as: improving fertiliser use and monitoring soil conditions in the agricultural area as well as monitoring parking bay use and visitor numbers in buildings within the tourism area. ⁠

 

It was declared that there were currently around 100 gateways to the network over the North Wales region and it was noted that the project would fill the gaps currently seen in the system by developing more gateways to the network. It was hoped there would be around 250 gateways to the network as the project develops. Conwy County Borough Council was congratulated on successfully implementing LPWAN over a large portion of the County, but it was explained that these gateways will ensure network access across the region in line with requirements to fill in the gaps. ⁠ ⁠

 

It was mentioned that the first phase of the scheme would be to develop the initial mapping of the best possible gateway locations. It was explained that Ambition North Wales will acquire the portals giving local authorities the opportunity to invest in those portals. It was confirmed this will ensure that the framework remains intact and has the same management across the region. It was elaborated that the second phase of the scheme secured the use of sensors to show applications and benefits across the services. It was explained that this would lead to the third phase of the scheme calling on local authority Leaders to promote it and stimulate the ability to add additional users to the network. ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠

 

It was stressed that set dates for joining the network would be given for a period of three years once the local authorities had provided a list of sites for the required gateways. It was elaborated that the authorities would be asked to report on the benefits they had seen after they use the network as well as monitoring the numbers who adopt the network from the private sector. ⁠

 

It was stated that the business justification case had been reviewed and that strategic, economic, commercial, and financial feedback had been received. Further details were given of the managerial feedback received and it was confirmed that a part-time project manager would be appointed in September to oversee the updates. It was noted that officers would also update the risk register and keeping in constant contact with local authorities to be aware of their network requirements. ⁠ ⁠

 

It was recognised that there were some risks to the scheme including:

·     Revenue Funding - It was noted that the local authorities were meeting the revenue costs in supporting the additional capacity and carrying out activities to promote moderate demand over a three-year period. It was noted the councils' local delivery plans would confirm the use levels that can be coped with, and it was stressed that the authorities had provided positive feedback that the increase in use costs was not a cause for concern. ⁠ ⁠

·     Public sector adoption - It was mentioned that if councils fail to identify productive programmes that could lead to benefits, there was a risk that extended gateway services could become unsustainable. It was explained that the risk could be managed through local use plans to commit the councils to an acceptable level of capable use and the network would grow in response to demand. It was emphasised that the key mitigation approach was intensive promotion and reviewing opportunities within local authorities and public bodies before and while it is in use. ⁠ ⁠ ⁠

·     Private sector adoption – It was confirmed that should the level of commitment from the private sector be limited, the wider indirect benefits associated with innovation, growth and employment would not be realised. The importance of local promotion activities was stressed. It was noted that Ambition North Wales will also work with stakeholders already promoting the Internet of Things to raise awareness and receive further funding to extend engagement. ⁠ ⁠ ⁠

 

Promoting the network with the private sector was seen as key to the success of the scheme within the region. It was hoped that a bespoke promotional programme would be developed to ensure that this risk was addressed as well as promotion activities. The details of the anticipated promotion scheme were given and it was noted that it included workshops, seminars and sharing information on the internet. It was emphasised this would be the responsibility of the local authorities and the project manager. ⁠ ⁠ ⁠

 

It was reported that it was hoped that Local Use Plans would be approved within the local authorities by March 2025 with the first activities to promote demand taking place in spring 2025. Project spending had been confirmed to be approximately £1.1m. ⁠