DEP - Flood Risk Assessment & Strategic Flood Risk Assessment Third-Party Model Review

Description

As part of the Authority’s Gigabit Bristol (GB) programme, bidders are required to provide and supply a concession to operate a duct within Bristol City Council boundaries. To encourage development, start ups and new business within Bristol, commercial duct availability will enable existing, new and yet undeveloped businesses/sites to connect to a wide range of communication services. The duct will be operated as a concession on the basis that a concession offers more flexibility to the Council, reduces the need for management of the duct by the Council and will offer the operator of the duct an incentive to increase use of the duct. Through our business networks, we have considerable evidence that Bristol’s key growth industries are facing challenges in terms of securing ultrafast broadband at prices that are affordable for SMEs. This issue is becoming increasingly concerning to us as it is inhibiting competitiveness, growth and the kind of inter-company collaborations and supply-chain interactions that we believe are critical for these key sectors. We also have an in-depth understanding of issues affecting key growth sectors within Bristol and aim to address these with a range of interventions underscored by gigabit connectivity, such as Bristol Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone. It is envisaged that the contracts will run for 20 years and it is anticipated that it will start from Sept 2015.