Agenda item

The presentation sets out the Council’s proposed approach to addressing digital exclusion in the Borough.

Mike England presented the Council’s proposed approach to developing a Digital Inclusion Strategy for Hammersmith & Fulham. Digital exclusion affected some of the most vulnerable and socially disadvantaged people. Whilst there was a good range of wi-fi provision in the centre and south of the borough, communities in the north particularly within College Park and Old Oak and Wormholt and White City wards were less well served.

The Council provided access to online PCs in public buildings across the borough. The level of access to the People First website had grown quite rapidly.

The Council’s Housing Services had appointed an Inclusion Officer to further digital inclusion for tenants. The Council was committed to providing broadband internet access across the whole of the housing stock.

The Council had set up a Cabinet Member Social Inclusion Forum, a cross-departmental “social inclusion unit” to provide a co-ordinated Council wide response to social inclusion issues across the Borough and a Digital Inclusion Working Group was being put together by the Forum to take things forward and develop the H&F Digital Inclusion Strategy. The Group would map local needs and there would be input from the local voluntary sector and businesses.

Simi Ryatt and Phil Storey, H&F Citizens Advice Bureau tabled a summary report ‘Learn My Way’. 40 volunteers had been identified for training as Digital Champions. Their role would include assessing individuals’ skills and the support required. Fairly intensive support tended to be required initially. The report set out the potential partners in the borough.

Olex Stepaniuk, H&F Age UK stated that many older people had never accessed digital communications during their working life and it could be confusing. In addition, they could not justify the cost, resulting in lost opportunities and increased social isolation, and possibly even unplanned emergency hospital admission.

Ms Stepaniuk considered that the H&F Age UK cyber café was a good model to assist older people to become digitally included. The café was open from 10am to 4pm, Monday to Friday. Volunteer tutors were available and people could also bring their own laptop or tablet.

Ms Stepaniuk suggested that digital inclusion needed: the right infrastructure (the right equipment including tablets, and not outdated equipment, compatible with equipment used elsewhere and wi-fi); and the right leadership (paid tutors to support and also for outreach and community engagement, special skills were needed to teach older people and they needed to visit people at home).  

Councillor Chumnery stated that Old Oak Community Centre had an IT site, offering free broadband and the trainer was excellent. The facilities were open from 9am to 5pm, and would possibly be extended. In addition, there were five schools, which allowed use of their IT facilities.    

Councillor Fennimore responded that the most vulnerable in the community were the first priority. Extensive work around all areas of exclusion was ongoing, and internet access would be a stepped process. Working with schools would bring intergenerational opportunities in sharing skills. Online applications could be essential in supporting people into work.  

Mr McVeigh stated that Action on Disability had recently secured funds to deliver a peer–supported project to increase disabled people’s skills in the use of digital technology and their confidence to engage in online facilities.

Councillor Carlebach suggested that current broadband coverage needed to be known in order to understand the problem, and that it might be possible for a company to fund this work as a piece of academic research. There was a fear of crime on the web, but it was also a powerful tool to promote inclusion.

Louise Raisey stated that the Council’s website was being rebuilt to make it more user friendly. Mr McVeigh referred to the People First website and suggested that the Council might be being too ambitious in having two websites. Ms Raisey responded that the websites had been moved apart because there was a big demand for information by older and disabled people.

Councillor Vaughan asked the expert witnesses if they would like to make a final comment.

Ms Stepaniuk commented on the complexity of the issues and the resources needed.

Mr Storey stated that the Citizen’s Advice Bureau provision of digital inclusion at Avonmore Library was the only such facility in the borough. Ms Ryat emphasised the need for fibre broadband coverage in the north of the borough.

Councillor Vaughan summarised the discussion. There was a clear need to increase internet access and digital inclusion for a number of reasons, including employment opportunities and age related social isolation. The PAC supported the measures to provide broadband coverage for social tenants, and would like further information on how this policy would relate to housing association tenants. There were a number of key points and recommendations:

1.    The current broadband coverage in the borough should be mapped.

2.    There were a number of ways of access, such as cyber cafes and improved access in libraries and other public places.

3.    There was a need to offer training and education to ensure that people currently excluded were confident to access online services.

4.    An update report should be brought to a future meeting.

Councillor Vaughan thanked the expert witnesses.