THAT:

(a)                Herefordshire Council’s capital contribution to the project be increased to £10,100,000 (from current allocation of £6m) to match fund BDUK’s contribution to the deployment of broadband to Herefordshire premises through the proposed contract with the Bidder and via a bursary scheme to the value of £350,000 as part of the match funding required by BDUK;

(b)                Cabinet note the terms of contract negotiated to date, the risks identified in this and the exempt report and the outstanding contractual issues;

(c)                The Director for Places and Communities in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Education and Infrastructure and the statutory officers be authorised to conclude a contract with the remaining Bidder SUBJECT TO

(i)           the agreement of Gloucestershire County Council certified in writing by its Chief Executive;

(ii)       this being satisfied that the mitigation of the outstanding risks as identified in this report are the best that can reasonably be achieved;

(iii)      the deal represents value for money, having particular regard to the payment mechanism controls and premises cap referred to in these reports;

(iv)      the conclusion of a suitable partnership agreement with Gloucestershire County Council;

(d)            The Director for Places and Communities be authorised to negotiate and conclude a partnership agreement with Gloucestershire County Council for the governance of the project, the terms of which are to be subject to the approval of the Statutory Officers;

(e)            Cabinet note the content of the accompanying exempt report.