Agenda item

The Leader of the Council submitted a report updating Members on the progress on the West Essex and Eastern Herts Digital Innovation Zone and the associated draft strategy.  The Head of Communications, Strategy and Policy provided an overview of the report and introduced Mr John Houston, Director of One Partnership and Councillor A Lion, (of Epping Forest District Council), Chairman of the DIZ. 

Mr Houston explained the background to the development of the DIZ which covered a geography of around 49,000 business and 454,000 residents in over 212,000 households.  He explained that the DIZ was established by 10 partner organisations including local government, social care, strategic health partners and the private sector to leverage the advances of digital technologies and the growth of the digital economy to create a better place to live, work study and di business.   Mr Houston explained that the digital revolution would impact on all aspects of life, both individually and collectively and that it was important to ensure that the challenges and opportunities (both negative and positive) were faced to future proof economic prosperity and work together to deliver more public services jointly.   Mr Houston explained that the study (Essential Reference Paper “B”) had cost £70,000 funded by 12 different organisations.

Councillor L Haysey explained that it was a vision which looked at the next 50 years to future proof such issues as heath care and cited by example, Uttlesford District Council’s smart house which enabled an elderly disabled gentleman to live independently.

The Chairman sought and was provided with assurances about potentially conflicting technology Fibre or 5G especially in relation to security risks of WIFI. 

Councillor M Stevenson sought and was provided with assurances that advice was being sought from Europe and beyond in relation to smart systems and of the 70 different organisations which partnered to the DIZ. 

In response to a query from Councillor H Drake, Epping DC, Councillor A Lion explained how negatives could be turned into positives from the viewpoint of the High Street and changing shopping patterns and offering a different services to maintain its vibrancy. 

The Leader urged Members to review YouTube to see what was happening in Ocado, Hatfield Park, and Milton Keynes.

Councillor N Symonds explained that it was important to ensure that social housing providers were on board in the provision of appropriate broadband cabling. 

From the viewpoint of shared resources, Councillor A Lion thanked Mr Houston and his team who had done 99.9% of the work so far.  He hoped that partner organisations could support greater sharing of resources and that partner organisations could lead on some projects. 

The Chairman sought clarification on the how data on energy usage (gas / electric) could be used to better effect.  Mr Houston explained that data was the new “oil” and data mining needed to be used sensitively to reflect needs.

The Chairman, on behalf of Members, thanked the Mr J Houston and Councillor A Lion for their detailed and exceptional report.  It was moved by Councillor M Allen and seconded by Councillor B Deering that the recommendation to Council to approve the Digital Innovation Zone Strategy be supported.  After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, the recommendation was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED – that Council be advised that Overview and Scrutiny Committee support the adoption of the Digital Innovation Zone Strategy.