Broadband in Temporary Accommodation
North Lanarkshire Council · 10 May 2023
Back to Housing Committee — 10 May 2023 and its agenda
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North Lanarkshire Council Report Housing Committee Does this report require to be approved? ☒ Yes ☐ No Ref SL/JB Date 10/05/23 Broadband in Temporary Accommodation From Stephen Llewellyn, Chief Officer, Housing Management E-mail Llewellyns@northlan.gov.uk Telephone 01698 274162 1. Background 1.1 Approval was granted at the Transformation and Digitisation committee on 14th December 2021 to award, through a framework agreement, the contract for Provision of Digital Connectivity Services. 1.2 The framework will see high-capacity fibre being installed across the council area. During the Covid 19 pandemic there was a need for home schooling, and it became apparent very quickly the infrastructure to support this was not easily or readily available within our temporary homeless accommodation units and homeless dispersed properties, therefore putting the residents and their children at a disadvantage. 2. Report 2.1 Currently there are over 500 temporary homeless accommodation properties across North Lanarkshire. These are a combination of self-contained units and dispersed properties which are used to provide emergency homeless accommodation for those Executive Summary The purpose of this report is to approve the installation of broadband into the portfolio of homeless accommodation properties throughout North Lanarkshire enabling residents living in these properties access to the internet Recommendations It is recommended that the Housing Committee: (1) Approve the installation of broadband into temporary accommodation properties. The Plan for North Lanarkshire Priority Improve economic opportunities and outcomes Ambition statement (12) Ensure our residents are able to achieve, maintain, and recover their independence through appropriate supports at home and in their communities
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who have no home or unable to remain within their home. Within the last year approximately 2000 people have been accommodated through temporary accommodation with around 400 of these being families with children. Whilst these properties are furnished, not being able to access online services and potential support is a barrier at a time when this is needed the most. 2.2 As digital methods become the preferred way of communicating, accelerated by the pandemic, those who do not have access to the internet face challenges in accessing the support and services when they are needed most making them feel digitally excluded. 2.3 Residents within temporary accommodation will benefit from the installation of reliable broadband by being able to access the internet allowing them to feel digitally included and by being readily able to: • Access their DWP journal allowing them to maintain their claim, search for work, communicate with job coach if they have one and keep their details up to date, • Access online services such as GP appointments and support services, • Keep in contact with friends as family, • Allow children to access educational resources. 2.4 Financial Implications The cost of providing this service would be an initial one-off cost of £200,000 for the installation of fibre to the initial 500 properties and an ongoing cost per property of £20 to £25 per month. This may vary over the year due to turnover of properties. The costs can be met through the current capital and revenue budgets. 3. Measures of success 3.1 Success will be measured by the installation of broadband into temporary accommodation and improved digital skills and outcomes for residents within North Lanarkshire. 4. Supporting documentation 4.1 No appendices Stephen Llewellyn Chief Officer, Housing Management
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5. Impacts ( http://connect/report-template-guidance ) 5.1 Public Sector Equality Duty and Fairer Scotland Duty Does the report contain information that has an impact as a result of the Public Sector Equality Duty and/or Fairer Scotland Duty? Yes ☒ No ☐ If Yes, please provide a brief summary of the impact? If Yes, has an assessment been carried out and published on the council’s website? https://www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk/your-community/equalities/equality- and-fairer-scotland-duty-impact-assessments Yes ☐ No ☒ 5.2 Financial impact Does the report contain any financial impacts? Yes ☒ No ☐ If Yes, have all relevant financial impacts have been discussed and agreed with Finance? Yes ☒ No ☐ If Yes, please provide a brief summary of the impact? Ongoing revenue costs per annum will be managed from the current homelessness budget within the General Fund. The one off capital costs will be managed within the Housing Revenue Account capital programme 5.3 HR policy impact Does the report contain any HR policy or procedure impacts? Yes ☐ No ☒ If Yes, have all relevant HR impacts have been discussed and agreed with People Resources? Yes ☐ No ☒ If Yes, please provide a brief summary of the impact? 5.4 Legal impact Does the report contain any legal impacts (such as general legal matters, statutory considerations (including employment law considerations), or new legislation)? Yes ☐ No ☒ If Yes, have all relevant legal impacts have been discussed and agreed with Legal and Democratic? Yes ☐ No ☒ If Yes, please provide a brief summary of the impact? 5.5 Data protection impact Does the report / project / practice contain or involve the processing of personal data? Yes ☐ No ☒ If Yes, is the processing of this personal data likely to result in a high risk to the data subject? Yes ☐ No ☒ If Yes, has a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) been carried out and e- mailed to dataprotection@northlan.gov.uk Yes ☐ No ☐ 5.6 Technology / Digital impact
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Does the report contain information that has an impact on either technology, digital transformation, service redesign / business change processes, data management, or connectivity / broadband / Wi-Fi? Yes ☒ No ☐ If Yes, please provide a brief summary of the impact? Installation of broadband to a number of temporary accommodation properties as part of the Provision of Digital Connectivity Services contract. Where the impact identifies a requirement for significant technology change, has an assessment been carried out (or is scheduled to be carried out) by the Enterprise Architecture Governance Group (EAGG)? Yes ☐ No ☒ 5.7 Environmental / Carbon impact Does the report / project / practice contain information that has an impact on any environmental or carbon matters? Yes ☐ No ☒ If Yes, please provide a brief summary of the impact? 5.8 Communications impact Does the report contain any information that has an impact on the council’s communications activities? Yes ☐ No ☒ If Yes, please provide a brief summary of the impact? 5.9 Risk impact Is there a risk impact? Yes ☐ No ☒ If Yes, please provide a brief summary of the key risks and potential impacts, highlighting where the risk(s) are assessed and recorded (e.g. Corporate or Service or Project Risk Registers), and how they are managed? 5.10 Armed Forces Covenant Duty Does the report require to take due regard of the Armed Forces Covenant Duty (i.e. does it relate to healthcare, housing, or education services for in-Service or ex- Service personnel, or their families, or widow(er)s)? Yes ☐ No ☒ If Yes, please provide a brief summary of the provision which has been made to ensure there has been appropriate consideration of the particular needs of the Armed Forces community to make sure that they do not face disadvantage compared to other citizens in the provision of public services.