Minutes:
The Deputy Leader advised that the latest Cabinet Forward Plan had been published on the Council’s website.
Further to this the Deputy Leader advised that the next meeting of the Cabinet originally scheduled for 11 December 2019 was to be postponed until Friday 20 December due to the forthcoming parliamentary elections.
In relation to the change in date of the December meeting the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Board expressed concerns with regards to the timing of the publication of the Cabinet agenda and requested that consideration be given on this occasion to publishing the Cabinet agenda early to enable more time for consideration by the Overview and Scrutiny Board. In relation to this the Deputy Leader requested that the Chief Executive consider a way in which to increase the time between the Overview and Scrutiny Board meetings and the Cabinet meeting at which the Overview and Scrutiny recommendations are being considered in order to allow for proper review in-between.
Prior to closing the meeting the Deputy Leader invited the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Board to present the recommendations not otherwise included within the Cabinet agenda. In doing so the Deputy Leader advised that future agendas would include a standing item to deal with such matters.
The Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Board presented the following recommendation from the Overview and Scrutiny Board meeting held on 11 November 2019.
Overview and Scrutiny Board Agenda Item 5 – Call for Evidence – 5G Connectivity
The Overview and Scrutiny Board resolved:
(a) That Cabinet be asked to consider equitable ways to involve the public more in the consultation around the planning implications of the implementation of 5G technology, particularly with regard to the siting of masts.
(b) That if Cabinet is minded to approve the deployment by the Council of 5G connectivity as part of the Lansdowne Digital Pilot continuous monitoring takes place to ensure that the levels of radio wave emissions fall within the internationally recognised limits, and the findings be reported back to the Overview and Scrutiny Board.
(c) That the Board agrees that all information submitted in its call for evidence in relation to 5G connectivity be passed to Public Health England to consider for inclusion in future reviews.
(d) That a framework be established for feedback to be provided to the Council in relation to the call for evidence information passed to Public Health England.
Note: In discussing this item, the Chairman agreed on behalf of the Board to request through Cabinet that the Council contacts other relevant local authorities with regard to their work in this area, including those who have agreed to be Government funded test bed areas and those who have declared a moratorium.
The Deputy Leader thanked the Overview and Scrutiny Board for their recommendation and acknowledged the requirement for consideration of this matter to take place by Cabinet within two months which would mean a report being presented to Cabinet by the January meeting.
Further to this Councillor Butler present at the meeting requested permission to address the Cabinet on this matter making the following statement;
“The roll out of 5G would affect everyone – blanket coverage with no individual opt out. If BCP Council are truly concerned about the health of the environment and humans the ‘Precautionary Principle’ is needed to identify health and hazards of 5G prior to any installation or activation.
This requires BCP Council to:-
· Listen and take note of eminent scientists from various countries
· Note the actual effects experienced in places already running 5G – insects, animals, plants and humans.
· Prepare a baseline health record of residents now – listing present levels of 3G/ 4G radio frequency radiation.
· Seek consent from residents
· Seek opinions of Full Council”
The Deputy Leader thanked Councillor Butler for her statement and further advised that this matter would be discussed at a future meeting of the Cabinet.