Agenda item

[To receive an update from the Member Champion for Digital]

The Board welcomed Cllr Beverley Momenabadi, Digital Champion, Charlotte Johns, Director of Strategy and Heather Clarke, Digital Co-ordinator.

Cllr Momenabadi explained how the pandemic had changed the Council’s approach to digital with the sole aim being ensuring that nobody was left behind. The digital inclusion work had started prior to lockdown. In the first wave it was recognised that there was a need for digital devices and connectivity so that children didn’t miss out on their education. The Council worked closely with the Department for Education (DfE) to reduce the digital divide by distributing over 1000 4G devices and routers to schools across the City but gaps were already starting to be identified where the scheme wasn’t meeting the needs of all of our school children. In some cases, the DfE devices were taking too long to reach children in schools, many schools then gave work on paper to the children, but this was not ideal. In some other cases children did not qualify under the Government’s scheme. In some other cases the Children had the devices but not the WIFI or the connectivity to be able to use them.  Some parents also lack the digital awareness or competency to help their children with the online access and learning. Due to this the Council launched the WV online project to tackle some of these issues. The project achieved the following:

•        520 digital devices distributed to children and young people during the pandemic

•        60 care homes supported to request IPads to enable residents to connect with family and friends.

•        195 devices lent via a network of trusted partners helping residents get online to access learning, employment support, services and reduce isolation.

•        Upskilling residents to enhance digital literacy - including the launch of a family literacy training designed to improve digital literacy skills of parents to support children access remote learning

•        Providing support to schools to deliver remote learning to pupils.

Master classes and CPD courses were also provided for teachers as it was recognised how important it was to not only support the children and parents but the teachers as well. There were also a number of sessions and courses for parents so ensure that they had the skills to support their children through home learning.

The WV online lending scheme was considered a great success and devices were loaned to trusted partners in the City to enable their customers and service users to access online services such as online bereavement counselling and applying for jobs. The Panel watched a video of the work done in some schools.

The board noted the dashboard that was available to show where and how many devices had been provided to schools.

Other achievements included:

•        Supporting the commercial rollout of full fibre broadband to residents and businesses across the city filling the gap in connectivity in the City Centre, a former not spot. 

•        5G being rolled out across the city.  A proactive approach has accelerated rollout by 6 months.

•        7703 streetlights upgraded to Smart LED

•        WM5G’s Citizen Wellbeing use cases around prevention, early diagnosis, emergency response and managing long-term conditions including:

•      5G Care Home Project: connecting GP’s and care homes to offer both video consultation, diagnostic tools & capturing vital sign information to allow for early identification of issues.

•      Pilot capsule endoscopy pilot at The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust

The Board noted the use of the Digital Wolves Website and the Wolves Tech Aid Scheme which also linked into the Council’s Green Agenda.

Wolves Tech Aid supported the digital inclusion agenda whilst reducing waste, it sought to provide equipment (desktop computers, laptops & tablets) and connectivity to school children having to learn at home to stop children losing out on education. Wolves Tech Aid sought donations from individuals and businesses of unused devices to be recycled and distributed to children.

The Council supported this through the provision of drop off points.

Next steps included:

·       To continue with the implementation of the Wolverhampton Digital Partnership, bringing together the Council, Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust and University of Wolverhampton to provide an oversight of the digital agenda.

·       A revised digital strategy was under development building on Wolverhampton Digital Infrastructure Strategy to encompass innovation, inclusion, economy and skills.

·       Further development of the digital inclusion approach including scaling up Wolves Online in terms of number of devices and trusted partners targeting areas with greatest levels of exclusion through place-based approach.

·       To continue to build on opportunities such as recently the launched 5prinG Application Accelerator in Wolverhampton to help facilitate collaboration between businesses, entrepreneurs and local authorities in helping to solve problems and explore exciting, commercially scalable opportunities using 5G.

The Board thanked Cllr Momenabadi for an excellent presentation.

Resolved:     That the update be received and noted.