Category: Wokingham and West Berkshire Issues

On Friday I was the guest of the Wokingham Conservative Lunch Club. I gave them a talk about the prospects for the new government of Theresa May, discussing the potential for the economy, industry and home ownership. I also talked about how Brexit should be handled to avoid economic damage. We are leaving the EU, not Europe, and wish to keep a wide range of contacts, trade, investments, collaborations, tourism and other  joint activities.

More than 80 people came, and asked a wide range of questions, from the future of the Hinkley project through to how Article 50 of the EU Treaties operates.

The latest figures for the number of people out of work and claiming benefits shows 377 in Wokingham , or 0.7% of the potential workforce. This remains well below the country as a whole. It is good news that generally the UK economy continues to create more jobs for those needing them, and that businesses in the Wokingham area are still offering employment to most people.

On Thursday afternoon I visited Pinewood Judo Club, at the invitation of Wokingham constituents who go there. We were primarily there to celebrate the success of the UK Judo team, which includes local  Ben Fletcher, who started at the Pinewood Club.

I was given some insight into how top Judo fighters go about their task, and learned more of the background to the British team. I wish all our representatives well in Rio.

I became a trainee dragon yesterday afternoon,  hearing the NCS Group draft presentations of money for charity to allow them to help people with dementia.

The Group did a good job explaining what they wished to do to help elderly people in a local Home. They were also full of what they had learned from their NCS course so far this summer. They were positive about the opportunity it gives to young people to learn about team working, self reliance, taking responsibility for your own day to day living, and helping the wider community.

I am grateful to the organisers and wish the young people well with their project and with their move to the next stage of their education.

I have received this news release from Sharon White, Chief Executive of Ofcom.  I am aware that some of my constituents are experiencing great difficulty in accessing superfast broadband from BT Openreach as well as complaints of poor customer service.  There have been numerous calls for its break-up and in light of this Ofcom announced plans which will ensure that Openreach acts more independently from the BT Group, and takes decisions which will benefit its customers and the wider telecoms industry.  This should result in greater accountability as well as a much improved quality of service and better broadband and mobile coverage for homes, schools and businesses.  If this cannot be achieved, Ofcom will reconsider whether BT and Openreach should be split into two entirely separate companies, under different ownership.

I would be grateful if you would get in touch with me if you are experiencing difficulty in accessing superfast broadband for your home or business.

Dear Mr Redwood,

Ofcom has this morning announced detailed plans to make digital communications work for everyone.

In February, Ofcom outlined measures to help make the UK a world-leading digital economy over the next ten years and beyond by delivering a step-change in telecoms services for everyone. These plans focused on a more independent Openreach; greater choice of broadband networks, including fibre connections to homes and offices; better quality of service across the whole industry; and better broadband and mobile coverage for people and businesses.

Ofcom has today announced progress in these areas.

Openreach

In February, Ofcom said that Openreach must become more independent from BT. Today we have set out how this should work. Ofcom’s proposed model is for:

• Openreach to become a distinct company. Openreach should be a legally separate company within BT Group, with its own ‘Articles of Association’. Openreach – and its directors – would be required to make decisions in the interests of all Openreach’s customers, and to promote the success of the company.
• Openreach to have its own Board. The new Board should have a majority of non-executive directors, including the Chair. These non-executives should not be affiliated to BT Group in any way, but would be appointed and removed by BT in consultation with Ofcom.
• Executives accountable to the new Board. Openreach’s Chief Executive should be appointed by, and accountable to, the Openreach Board – not BT Group. The Chief Executive would then be responsible for other executive appointments. There should be no direct lines of reporting from Openreach executives to BT Group, except where this is appropriate for good corporate governance. Where this is the case, it will be agreed with Ofcom.
• Greater consultation with customers. Openreach would be obliged to consult formally with customers such as Sky and TalkTalk on large-scale investments. There should be a ‘confidential’ phase during which customers can discuss ideas without this being disclosed to BT Group.
• Staff to work for Openreach. Ofcom’s principle for the new model is that people who work for Openreach should be employees of the new company, rather than BT Group. This would prevent any real or perceived conflict of interest, and allow Openreach to develop its own distinct organisational culture.
• Openreach to own assets that it already controls. Openreach should own its physical network. This would allow the Openreach Board to make decisions that depend on investing in, and looking after, Openreach’s assets. There may be costs in transferring assets or people to Openreach, which would need to be mitigated.
• A separate strategy and control over budget allocation. Openreach should develop its own strategy and annual operating plans, within an overall budget set by BT Group.
• Independent branding. Openreach should have its own brand, not affiliated with BT Group, to help embed the organisational culture of a distinct company.

This model would provide Openreach with the greatest degree of independence from BT Group that is possible without incurring the costs and disruption – to industry and consumers – associated with separating the companies entirely.

It is designed to ensure that Openreach acts more independently from BT Group, and takes decisions for the good of the wider telecoms industry and its customers. If it cannot achieve this, Ofcom will reconsider whether BT and Openreach should be split into two entirely separate companies, under different ownership.

We are seeking views on the plans outlined today by 4 October.

BT has notified plans to Ofcom to deliver changes to Openreach’s governance, to make it more independent and accountable to its customers. We welcome BT’s acknowledgement of the need to reform Openreach, and elements of BT’s proposal. However, there remain important areas where it does not fully address our concerns. For example, the need for Openreach to be a legally separate company, and for Openreach to have confidential discussions with its customers without oversight by BT.

Boosting investment in fibre networks

In February, Ofcom committed to make it easier for telecoms providers to invest in advanced, competing infrastructure by improving access to Openreach’s network of telegraph poles and its ‘ducts’ – the underground tunnels that carry telecoms cables.

This would make it possible for competitors to connect their own fibre optic cables directly to homes and businesses, delivering more choice for people and businesses over the next decade, while reducing the UK’s reliance on the Openreach network.

The plans include making Openreach provide an online database showing the physical location and characteristics of its ducts and poles – a ‘digital map’ of the UK. Last week, the company demonstrated how this will work.

BT has already started trials of new, simpler processes for sharing its network, working with five other telecoms companies. Ofcom welcomes this progress, and will set out further detail on improved duct and pole access in the autumn.

On Sunday (31 July), new rules come into force that will give telecoms providers further rights to access physical infrastructure. These measures are designed to reduce the cost of deploying broadband networks, by sharing access to infrastructure across different sectors.

A number of companies are continuing to roll out ultrafast fibre networks.

A step-change in quality of service

In February, Ofcom also announced a range of measures designed to ensure that all phone and broadband companies provide service quality that customers expect.

Since then, Ofcom has taken significant steps to improve services, as well as boosting coverage – including:

• Automatic compensation. We have begun discussions with industry to require telecoms companies to provide automatic compensation to customers when their service falls short.
• Easier mobile switching. We have also published proposals for making it simpler and speedier for mobile customers to switch network.
• Advanced coverage checkers. These interactive mobile and broadband coverage maps allow people to check what services are available in their area, and whether they are receiving what they should be.
• Supporting a legal right to decent broadband. We have gathered evidence for Government on how its planned universal broadband service should be designed. Ofcom believes that all homes and offices should receive at least 10 Mbit/s – enough to stream TV, make video calls or hold virtual meetings – and this minimum should increase over time.
• Improving business lines. We have introduced new rules to require BT to provide access to its fibre network of high-speed business lines to competitors.
• Text to opt out of nuisance calls. Ofcom and the Telephone Preference Service have launched a ‘text-to-register’ service, enabling mobile users to add their number to the UK’s official ‘do not call’ database.

In the coming months, Ofcom will carry out further work on:

• Tough performance rules on Openreach
• Performance tables on communications providers’ quality of service
• Coverage checkers by address

If you have any questions, please get in touch.

Kind regards,

Sharon White

Chief Executive, Ofcom

 

 

 

 

I held a meeting today at Wokingham Council offices with representatives of Highways England and the Borough. I asked them to find a solution quickly to the problems created on the A 329 M by HE’s recent project to restrict through capacity on the motorway.

After long exchanges, Highways England’s consultants agreed that traffic had not flowed in the ways predicted by their models. They are now working on short term improvements to the motorway to help deal with congestion, and longer term capacity issues  which will  become more severe as more homes are completed, and more business locates at Winnersh Triangle.

I have recently received a paper from Highways England which details the work they intend to undertake to improve noise barriers on the M4 junctions 3 to 12 smart motorway.

I am pleased to see that Highways England intends to extend the length of noise barriers in Winnersh, Lower Earley, Sindlesham and Emmbrook.

The document is available here: M4 Junction paper.

I have received the press release below from Wokingham Borough Council on the progress of the construction of the new Bohunt School.  The new school building is due to be finished September 2017.  While the construction is ongoing, the 100 plus students who will join the school this September will use the present buildings on the former Arborfield Garrison site.

New BOHUNT School WOKINGHAM celebrates topping out ceremony

363 people are out of work in Wokingham, or 0.7%. That includes 60 people under the age of 24. I wish them success in finding work , at a time of continuing jobs growth generally.

Nationwide unemployment fell last month to 4.9%, down from 7.9% in 2010. Employment hit a new high of 31.7 million or  74.4%.

Zoe Clark, the local organiser of the National Citizen Service for 16-17 year olds came to see me to tell me how well it is doing. Apparently 220 young people have enrolled for this summer to gain experience of independent living, networking and presenting. The aim is to do enjoyable things and to gain new skills and self confidence.

I wish them all well, and will provide an update on their progress if I am sent reports.