Fire and Public Safety Select Committee Minutes

MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE FIRE AND PUBLIC SAFETY SELECT COMMITTEE HELD AT COUNTY HALL, NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT ON MONDAY, 15 MARCH 2004 COMMENCING AT 10.00 AM

Present :

Mr V J Morey (Chairman), Mr B E Abraham, Mr J R Adams, Mr C B W Chapman, Mrs B E Foster, Mrs B Lawson, Mr C H Lillywhite, Mrs M J Miller, Mr G P Price, Mr I R Stephens, Mr A A Taylor

Apologies :

Mr A C Coburn, Mr D J Knowles

Also Present (non voting) :

Mr R R Barry, Mr A C Bartlett, Mr J A Bowker, Mr B C Buckle, Mrs T M Butchers, Mrs B D Clough, Mr E Fox, Mrs M A Jarman, Mr R G Mazillius

59. MINUTES

RESOLVED :

THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 16 February 2004 be confirmed.

60. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

The following Councillors declared a personal interest in Minute 62 – Tetra Masts and the Isle of Wight :

Mrs M J Miller – Chairman of Development Control Committee.

Mr A A Taylor – Vice Chairman of Development Control Committee.

Mr B E Abraham, Mr C B W Chapman, Mr E Fox, Mrs M A Jarman, Mr C H Lillywhite, Mr V J Morey – Members of Development Control Committee.

Mrs B E Foster, Mrs B Lawson, Mr I R Stephens – Deputies of Development Control Committee.

Mrs T M Butchers – Portfolio Holder for Planning Policy.

61. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME

The following people asked previously submitted questions in relation to Tetra masts:

Mr Patrick Westmore of Ryde (PQ 09/04)

A S Hegarty of Seaview (PQ 10/04)

Mr Louis Lawrence of Ventnor (PQ 11/04)

Anna Ackroyd of Ryde (PQ 12/04)

Jan Thwaites of Ryde (PQ 13/04)

Mr Rodney Burman of Ryde (PQ 14/04)

Mrs M Bishop of Ryde (PQ 15/04)

Mr Stephen McGann of Ventnor (PQ 16/04)

Miss Joanne Biggs of Ventnor (PQ 17/04)

The Fire Brigades Union asked questions in relation to the Audit Commission’s internal report (PQ 18/04)

A copy of the questions asked and replies given are contained in the Public Question Register.

62. TETRA MASTS AND THE ISLE OF WIGHT

The Chairman welcomed Mr Stephen Lee of Ryde Tetra Action Group, Dr Michael Clark of the National Radiological Protection Board, Mr Josh Berle, Head of Issues Management at Airwave mmO₂Ltd, Mr Andrew Pegram, Area Team Leader, Development Control and Mr Jim Fawcett on behalf of Dr Paul Bingham (Director of Public Health) who was unable to attend due to unforeseen circumstances.

The Head of Select Committee and Best Value Support advised the Select Committee that the Council had received a 1700 signature petition with regard to the Tetra mast on Ryde Cinema. The Select Committee did not have the authority to make a decision for a discontinuance order and were looking at perceived health issues not planning issues. Tetra masts were not just an issue on the Isle of Wight but also of national interest.

The Head of Consumer Protection told members that the Leader of the Council had written to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on 29 January 2004 with reference to Tetra masts. A reply to that letter was received from Yvette Cooper, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State on 8 March 2004 and members were advised of the contents of this.

Mr Stephen Lee made the following points on behalf of the Ryde Tetra Action Group :

· Why was a health and safety enquiry not carried out before Tetra masts were erected?

· The Tetra mast on the Commodore Cinema at Ryde had been erected without proper consultation, flouting planning law and being economical with the truth.

· Dr Clark was not an independent witness as he worked for the National Radiological Protection Board, which was partly funded by the Government.

· Normal human brainwaves modulated at a frequency of between 16 and 18 Hz, Tetra microwaves were carried on a pulsing frequency of 17.6 Hz and the Action Group believed this would therefore interfere with normal human brain functions.

· Tetra was developed as a weapon, designed to cause biological damage and consequent ill health.

· Police forces did not want to use the system, but were overruled by the Home Office.

· There were 3 key ways in which Tetra damaged people’s health, it decreased the production of melatonin, increased Calcium efflux and tetra emissions breached the blood brain barrier. These were a direct result of the pulsing frequency.

· The Ryde mast was in a densely populated area of mostly low cost housing, and was not far from Greenmount and Dover Park Primary schools and several nursery and pre school facilities, old people’s homes and Ryde Library.

· The Council had apparently asked Airwave to take readings at the school sites but the Action Group had heard nothing officially.

· Monitoring should be carried out by an independent organisation.

· It was the Council’s duty to reverse the decision made by officers and remove the Tetra mast from the Commodore Cinema.

Dr Michael Clark gave a presentation outlining the work of the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) :

· The NRPB was set up by the Radiological Protection Act 1970 to advise the Government and those with responsibilities for radiological protection.

· The NRPB had set up independent advisory Groups for certain topics.

· The Stewart Committee was a special Advisory Committee which reported to Government via the Chairman of the NRPB.

· The Electromagnetic Spectrum was explained which included frequency, photon energy and wavelength.

· A 3 year review of the Stewart reported on Health Effects from Radio Frequency (RF) Electromagnetic Fields. This did not suggest there were adverse health effects from exposures to RF fields below guidelines levels, but the published research on RF exposures and health had limitations. The possibility therefore remained open that there could be health effects from exposure to RF fields below guideline levels, hence continued research was needed.

Mr Josh Berle gave a brief explanation of the work being undertaken by Airwave

· The technical standards for Tetra had been produced 10 years ago. It was a Home Office project developed as it was believed that lack of communication played a part in recent disasters such as Hillsborough.

· Tetra was being used by a range of different operators ie Ambulance Service, Mountain Rescue, Police Service, MOD Police.

· Currently there were 2,300 installations across the country, although it was anticipated this would rise to 3,300.

· Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary had recently taken delivery of the system, but it had not been fully rolled out yet.

· Jersey were currently using the Tetra based system for their Police, Ambulance and Fire Services.

· Tetra offered better coverage and was an integrated national network.

· There was misinformation available on Tetra.

Key issues raised by members in discussing the points made were :

· Perceived health risks – Dr Clark advised that research projects were being undertaken. If anyone believed their health was being affected by masts they could volunteer to take part in properly controlled tests conducted through Cambridge University.

· Public concern as to where masts were situated – All planning applications were advertised on site and in the County Press, neighbour notification was also undertaken. Applications had to be determined within 8 weeks, otherwise the operator could go to appeal.

· An independent survey should be commissioned – OFCOM have been commissioned to take readings at sensitive sites on the Island.

· Alternative sites should be looked for – It was not easy to find sites that fulfilled all the criteria needed. If alternative sites were considered this could possibly mean the need to have more than one mast in close proximity to each other.

· Community concerns don’t appear to be taken into account – There was a legal obligation to stay within the terms of the licence and coverage must be provided. Airwave would be willing to meet with officers to discuss the issue.

· Provision of new radio technology for the Fire Service – Presently the subject of a national procurement process. There were 3 providers on the short list and Airwave was one of those.

· Would the same Tetra masts be used for the Fire Service – Depended on the outcome of the procurement process.

· Advice should be sought from the Director of Public Health – Invite Strategic Health Authority to carry out an assessment of statistics to see if locally reported illnesses may be related to masts.

· More research needed – The Home Office was funding specific research into Tetra masts.

Arising from all the issues debated the Select Committee :

RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO FULL COUNCIL :

THAT the Health and Safety implications of Tetra masts be debated at Full Council within 6 months once the Director of Public Health and the Strategic Health Authority has carried out an assessment on the statistics of illnesses that may relate to Tetra masts.

RESOLVED :

(a) THAT it be acknowledged that a secure radio communications network is an essential tool needed to assist the Police, security and other emergency services to control crime, terrorism and related law and order issues.

(b) THAT it be acknowledged that there are many Island residents who have health fears, either real or perceived, provoked by the proximity of Tetra base stations to their homes.

(c) THAT Airwave mmO₂as operators of a Tetra network on the Island, be invited to review with Council officers the location of Tetra base stations and, having regard for the precautionary principle, determine the implications financial or otherwise associated with the relocation of those situated in the most sensitive areas, with priority being given to the mast sited on the Commodore Cinema at Ryde and report back with the findings as soon as is reasonably possible.

(d) THAT the Chairman in conjunction with the Portfolio Holder for Fire, Emergency Planning and Consumer Protection write to the Minister of State at the Department of Health, and the Local Government Association, to report on issues raised by petitioners and others to the Council on a perceived lack of leadership at a national level to adequately address public health fears whether they be real or perceived.

63. QUARTERLY PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT REPORT 3

The Principal Policy Officer advised the Select Committee that the Performance Management report for the third quarter, 1 October to 31 December 2003, had been considered by the Executive on 24 February 2004. Each Select Committee would receive details relevant to their areas of responsibility thereby allowing it the opportunity to monitor and review key aspects of the Council’s performance against its objectives. Although Directors had also been fully consulted on the content, Heads of Service had supplied the information.

Members queried the content of the report as they believed that it focussed on officer priorities rather than member priorities. The Principal Policy Officer advised the Select Committee that any suggestions and feedback would be welcomed.

There was a question raised with regard to the Finance report in relation to Fire and Public Safety and the Committee were advised that it was the consolidation of 3 separate capital programmes.

RESOLVED :

THAT the report be noted.

64. SAFER COMMUNITIES

The Chief Executive Officer reminded the Select Committee that at their meeting in December 2003 a report on key priorities for Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRP) was discussed. At that meeting members asked for further information on the proposed changes being planned for the way crime and disorder work was to be managed be brought back for discussion.

The Drug Action Teams (DAT) and CDRP were to be merged into one team and would be re titled Safer Communities Partnership. It was proposed that that the management of the Safer Communities Partnership would be under the proposed new Adult and Community Services Directorate, but would still be accountable to the Fire and Public Safety Select Committee. Members noted that there could be cross cutting issues in the future. The new Directorate would principally be made up of what was the existing Social Services Directorate minus responsibility for Children’s Services.

The Select Committee were disappointed that Housing was not to appear in the proposed title and were unclear as to how it would work in practice. Members were advised that the title had been selected after dialogue with Directors. The Director of Social Services and Housing intended to recruit a new service manager and this would be funded from within the existing resources. The Select Committee questioned the need for taking on extra management and were advised that there were existing managers for both DAT and CDRP, but it was believed that only one person was needed to manage the new Partnership.

Members were reminded that the progress made within the Fire and Rescue Service, with regard to initiatives relating to arson, car fires and the Young Firefighters scheme at Ryde, and the Environment Services Directorate, with regard to crime being taken into account at the design and planning stage, was to be reviewed at the June 2004 meeting.

The Select Committee believed that crime statistics should be monitored in the Quarterly Performance Management Report. The Director of Social Services should be asked his views on how he was going to progress the monitoring of these.

RESOLVED :

(a) THAT the report be noted.

(b) THAT progress reports of the Fire and Rescue Service and the Environment Services Directorate in relation to their obligations on crime and disorder issues be brought to the Select Committee at its June 2004 meeting.

CHAIRMAN