Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Corporate Director (Place) & Deputy Chief Executive.

A representative of the Corporate Director (Place) & Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on the process with regard to an application for prior approval for the installation of telecommunications equipment on Chichester Road, Romiley.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         It was stated that the report provided further clarity and understanding on a number of areas members had previously expressed concern over.

·         There would be significant costs incurred by the Council were the mast to be relocated.

·         Amendments had been made to the Council’s systems to ensure that future such errors would not occur.

·         Members expressed their disappointment at the position that residents had found themselves in and that they were understandably angry and frustrated.

·         It was commented that the approach of Hutchison 3G UK had been particularly disappointing.

·         There needed to be closer working between the planning, highways and legal teams within the Council to provide a more coordinated approach to issues such as this.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director (Place) & Deputy Chief Executive.

A representative of the Strategic Head of Service (Legal & Democratic Governance and Monitoring Officer) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an outline of the process in connection with an application for prior approval for the installation of telecommunications

equipment on Chichester Road, Romiley.

It was reported that there was an error in Section 3.3 of the report which stated that members were not informed until two weeks after the issuing of the decision, when this should have read ‘two months’.

It was further reported that since the publication of the report, the applicant had indicated that they would be prepared to enter into dialogue with the Council in relation to this issue.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         It was very disappointing for local residents that an error on the part of the Council had led to the developer being able to assume approval.

·         Clarity was requested on the notification of the error to members and whether any other elected members had been appraised of the problem prior to ward councillors being informed.

·         In the light of ongoing discussions between the Council and the applicant, it was stated that it would be helpful for the area committee to continue to receive updates at future meetings on this matter.

·         It was important that the council learned from this error so that it was not replicated elsewhere.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Strategic Head of Service (Legal & Democratic Governance and Monitoring Officer) be requested to submit a report to the next meeting of the area committee detailing any further developments that had arisen since this meeting.