Minutes of meeting of Newham Online Steering Group - 9th. Mar ‘99

Present:

Danny Budzak (DB), Gill Davies (GD), Loraine Leeson (LL), John Lock (JL), Michael Mulquin (MM),
Adrian Norman (AN), Gavin Sealey (GS), Richard Stubbs (RJS)

Apologies

Richard Steel, Nigel Worthington, Rik Lewis

  1. Newham Online Steering Group minutes & matters arising not on agenda
    1. The minutes of the meeting of 11th. January were agreed.
    2. RJS apologised for not calling a meeting of the Project Sub Committee and would do so.
    3. Gavin reported on the Newham Netstorm event that had been devised by him, JL and RJS. The model had worked well but there had been a poor attendance. Initial results had been posted to a list managed by Gavin and set up for the purpose (learners@newham.org.uk)
    4. The draft letter of thanks to Marconi was agreed .
  2. Gateway & Extranet Project Report
    1. RJS presented the project report.
    2. Although we had previously noted the revised project output requirements agreed with GOL we had not agreed a revised timetable for the interim targets needed to achieve these outputs. The following revised project timetable was agreed:-

 

      Review of legislative issues

      April'99
      Business model for local ISP & independent service provider

      April'99
      Start eCommerce project

      April'99
      Formation of network company

      June'99
      Completion of extranet

      June'99
      Gateway site operational

      July'99
      Marketing and promotional materials completed

      August'99
      Public launch of gateway, extranet and local ISP

      Sept'99
      Project report including impact assessment

      June 2000


    1. RJS to liaise with AN with regard to eCommerce project and NCFE.
    2. JL queried the effect of the Oftel decision on development of the extranet. RJS said that the current priority was to connect organisation and this was being done using IR laser and microwave links. This was too expensive for deployment to SMEs and homes so DSL was very important in the medium term
    3. AN said that the Telecommunications Act had originally be envisaged as a way of supporting the development of local Telecommunications Operators it would be good to see this eventually happen..
  1. Ownership, control and participation
    1. This issue had proved very difficult to pin down and the report gave a comprehensive overview of the current position.
    2. The role of newham.net was discussed. It was agreed that its role should be focused on connectivity and access to content and not provision of content. Hence it would have control of the Gateway and directories underpinning communication and access to content but would not develop content itself.
    3. The A4 summary of ownership, control and participation in Newham Online was adopted as a coherent statement of where we are on these matters.
  2. Search Engine for Newham Gateway
    1. DB had produced a detailed report on search engines
    2. No search engine met the specification of what we wanted
    3. Excite was free but it was not thought reliable and was not a proper search engine
    4. Ultraseek powers Infoseek but is a proprietary system that could not be tailored to our needs
    5. Htdig was free and the source code was available. It was used by NASA and Oxford University and could be put into use immediately.
    6. Agreed that we would install and evaluate Htdig it should be placed on Computer Access server for experimentation. RJS to liase with DB on this.
    7. Gavin Sealey and Peter Chauncy to organise evaluation
    8. Agreed that we should priotise development of capability to search lists
    9. LL stressed importance of multi-language searching. This was agreed
    10. AN said we needed to understand IPR position re developments made to the system. DB, AN and RJS to liase on this and potential developments needed to meet our requirements.
  3. Business Case
    1. RJS presented a report and explained that the main driver for registering a company was to put in place a company capable of managing and developing the Brassett Point Network. This would also need to register as a regional Public Telecommunications Operator as it was envisaged that more than 20 separate premises would be linked via the network once developed. The DTI had advised that such an application would probably succeed.
    2. Agreed that we should aim to achieve registration of Newham.net Ltd by 31st. May
    3. Agreed to allocate up to 1,000 pounds for legal advice on registration.
    4. Agreed Newham.net should be able to operate in Newham and adjacent boroughs, this was necessary to include UeLs Barking Precinct could also be issue of link to Telehouse.
    5. Agreed existing owners of BPN, Aston and Computer Access should be involved as well as owners of WANs. It appeared probable that newham.net could achieve considerable savings on local telecommunications costs particularly with respect to the owners of existing WANs.
    6. We discussed the public benefits aspect of the organisation. In order to be a PTO and benefit from Oftel protection it would trade commercially. There would be a tension between the owners maximising the benefits to the individual owner organisations through cheaper pricing of infrastructure and raising a profit that could support development of content and people. The most tax efficient method would probably be for newham.net to covenant a proportion of its profits to a local charity established for the purpose.
    7. RJS to research legal options that would meet objectives. Agreed that RJS should act as Company Secretary of Newham.net to ensure a close relationship between Newham Online and newham.net
  4. AGM
    1. Agreed that the AGM should be postponed to middle to end of June. By this point we were aiming to have newham.net registered and the extranet operational.
    2. It was decided to seek a volunteer AGM organiser. RJS to draft description of what needed to be done
  5. A.O.B
    1. The Newham 2010 Conference was on 5th June and was aimed at attracting 300 members of the public and 200 staff. We should aim to use this event to publicise our AGM. And work in general.
    2. RJS meeting Brixton and Brent to discuss working together on April 23rd.
  6. Next Steering Group Meeting
    1. The next Steering Meeting date to be fixed online. RJS to circulate suggestions.

 

 

Summary of actions

Richard Steel

Circulate info on LBNs plans for Internet based telephony. (prior)

Report back on visit to Knowsley (prior)

Contact Arthur Anderson re suggestions for twinning (prior).

Richard Stubbs

Liase with Roger Whiteman re design & production of promotional leaflet (prior)

Call a meeting of the Project Sub Committee (prior)

Meet with Roger Card to discuss Gateway (prior)

RJS to work with Marconi in developing the business case.(prior)

Liase with AN with regard to eCommerce project and NCFE.

RJS to liase with DB re installation ht:\\Dig on Computer Access server

Call meeting with AN and DB re Ht:\\Dig developments and IPR

Research legal options for newham.net

Consult solicitors on establishment of newham.net

Circulate brief for AGM organiser

Circulate suggestions for next Steering Committee meeting

Danny Budzak

DB to call meeting with Roger Card re Gateway site. RJS to go others as available (prior)

DB to liase with RJS re installation ht:\\Dig on Computer Access server.

Liase with Peter Chauncy re Ht:\\Dig evaluation

Meet with AN and RJS re Ht:\\Dig developments and IPR

Michael Mulquin

Follow up IBM contact re involvement in Newham Online (prior)

Gavin Sealey

Organise user evaluation of Ht:\\Dig once installed

Adrian Norman

Call meeting to discuss business networking. AN to call the meeting via core in liaison with RJS. (prior)

Liase with RJS with regard to eCommerce project and NCFE.

Meet with DB and RJS re Ht:\\Dig developments and IPR

Nigel Worthington

Work with RJS in developing the business case.(prior)

 

 

 

 

 

Minutes by Richard Stubbs