Agenda and minutes

None.

Members are asked at this stage to declare any interests that they may have in any of the following items on the agenda. The Code of Conduct for Members requires that declarations include the nature of the interest and whether it is a disclosable pecuniary interest.

None.

To better understand how Mobile Network Operators intend to meet the challenges that poor mobile signal has on local communities, particularly centred around defibrillator codes and access to emergency calls.

The Chair introduced the item and the representatives attending the meeting, Gareth Elliott, Mobile UK, Director of Policy and Communications, and Menekse Meech, BT Business, Field Account Manager.

Cllr Gray thanked them both for attending and asked Mr Elliott what Mobile UK’s latest assessment was for outdoor voice calling on the network. Mr Elliott introduced himself and explained he represented the three main Mobile Network Operators (MNOs): Virgin/O2, Vodafone/Three and EE. He subsequently informed the committee that regrettably he could not provide data on individual operator’s plans. This was due to commercial sensitivity and confidentiality. Mr Elliott encouraged the Committee to engage with the MNOs directly to gain an insight into the requested information.

Mr Elliott explained that the MNOs were regulated to provide data to Ofcom which was available through the Map Your Mobile service. He was aware there were concerns about the veracity of that data and highlighted that the previous Minister, Sir Chris Bryant, updated the threshold for what would be deemed a good mobile signal, from a download speed of 2.5MB per second to 5MB per second. He did advise that it was a predicted signal coverage. MNOs could not provide a live coverage checker: it was a wireless signal, with many variables such as weather, trees, buildings and coastal location that could affect a reading from one day to the next.

As an organisation, Mobile UK had some reservations about how Streetwave data was collected, mainly in that it was only collected on roads that bin lorries could access and was a snapshot of signal strength at the time it was taken and not over a sustained period.

Mr Elliott said there was some good news on the investment that was coming in the next few years. All three MNOs were investing heavily in their networks. They had a commitment, with Government, for 5G standalone by 2030, with 90% of all populated areas to be covered. Vodafone/Three had a target to have 99.95% coverage by 2035 when they committed £11 billion of investment by 2030. Virgin/02 were investing around £700 million annually to extend their 5G network: at this time they are estimated to have 60% population coverage. EE are moving very quickly to invest by that same 2030 target.

It was explained to the Committee that, as 2G and 3G services are switched off and as those were upgraded into 5G, that would see a much-improved service, expected to be completed by 2033. By the end of the 1^st quarter of 2026 all three MNOs were expected to have switched off their 3G networks.

It was noted that, through Mobile UK, the three MNOs were keen to work with NNDC to talk about their specific plans for the district.

Cllr Gray asked if the public could help, for example with crowdsourcing apps, in reporting areas of poor coverage and was it helpful for the Council to encourage the use of such technology.

Mr Elliott explained that the MNOs knew their networks and have  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36.

To receive questions / statements from the public, if any.

None received.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on the 10^th of December 2025.

The minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 10^th December 2025 were approved as a correct record.

To determine any other items of business which the Chairman decides should be considered as a matter of urgency pursuant to Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972.

None.

To consider any petitions received from members of the public.

None received.

To consider any requests made by non-executive Members of the Council, submitted to the Democratic Services Manager with seven clear working days’ notice, to include an item on the agenda of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

None received.

To consider any responses of the Council or the Cabinet to the Committee’s reports or recommendations:

None received.

To consider draft budget proposals for 2026-2027, as Pre-Scrutiny, and give feedback to Cabinet, if needed, ahead of the Budget setting process.

Cllr Shires introduced the report in which she explained they had achieved a balanced budget which was to be celebrated. It was proposed local members, through a Local Members’ Fund, could apply for grants for their local communities and they would add further detail once it was agreed at Full Council. She suggested a cross-party working group would be formed to determine the purpose and governance around the grants award, and that final control would be exercised through a four person panel consisting of two members, a legal officer and finance officer who would meet monthly.

It was highlighted by Cllr Shires that they did not have a list of savings to consider as efficiency was interwoven into every decision they made and not something they considered just once a year.

Cllr Shires explained, as with all Norfolk Councils, they had to budget as if the council was continuing but asked the Committee to note they had created a reserve for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR). It was also noted that, despite the additional pressures of having to provide food waste collections, no additional grant was received for new burdens funding even though this was a scheme introduced by Government.

It was also brought to the attention of the Committee that the overall share NNDC received from council tax had reduced to 7.4% last year from 8% the year previously. Until everyone sets their budgets, they wouldn’t know how that adjustment was going to look and whether they would continue to see a 7.4% share of the overall council tax bill.

The Chair invited members to ask questions.

It was queried by Cllr Hankins how the draft budget ended up being seen at such short notice at today’s meeting for pre-scrutiny when it was originally in the work programme to be seen in February as a scrutiny item and, if they saw the budget at this meeting, would there be any need to discuss it again in February.

The Chair explained that it had been suggested, by the Chief Executive and Cllr Shires, that it would be prudent to allow the Overview and Scrutiny committee an early sight of the report so the Committee could feedback into the budget setting process before going to Cabinet the following week. Cllr Shires queried whether this was the reason for the report coming to the Committee at short notice, but said it was always her preference to have pre-scrutiny, to get the Committee’s input before it went to Cabinet in case there were any adjustments that needed to be made. Cllr Shires thanked officers for turning the papers around quickly so it could make the meeting. The Chair outlined that the pre-scrutiny would be for information and the Committee would need to see it again in February before it went to Full Council.

Cllr Toye wished, as a cabinet member, to reinforce what Cllr Shires also said, that it was very useful to Cabinet for O&S to look at the budget as a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 43.

To note the upcoming Cabinet Work Programme.

No comments

To receive an update from the Scrutiny Officer on progress made with topics on its agreed work programme, training updates and to receive any further information which Members may have requested at a previous meeting.

The DSGO gave an update on recent answers received in response to the O&S Action Tracker and outlined the Committee work programme The Committee Agreed that a scoping session to determine the next focus of the Committee should be convened at the earliest opportunity.

To pass the following resolution, if necessary:

“That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph _ of Part I of Schedule 12A (as amended) to the Act.”