MAUK meet planning minister
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Meeting with Planning Minister Meg Munn on 26 October 2006.
Present: Rt Hon Meg Munn M.P. - Under Secretary of State with Telecoms Responsibilities
Alison Edwards }DCLG
Andrew Gough }DCLG
Private Office Notetaker }DCLG
Doctor Ian Gibson M.P. - Radiation Research Trust - Trustee
Alan Meyer - Legal Director MAUK
Claire Gallagher - Trainee Solicitor/Notetaker
1. Before Doctor Ian Gibson MP arrived AAM explained that both Mast Action and the Local Government Association Representative had been concerned that for Telecoms Planning issues there had not only been four Ministers over an 18 month period but now the longstanding Civil Service Team of John Stambollouian and Katy Collins who had had the benefit of the training emerging from the two ODPM Steering Groups with ARUP and Reading University on the complexities of the Telecoms Rollout and planning had seemingly been lost which was disheartening.
Accordingly AAM had prepared a set of papers setting out the background to assist the Minister and her new Civil Service Team. AAM handed in the file to Andrew Gough.
2. AAM referred to this being the follow up meeting from last year's meeting with Yvette Cooper which should have taken place earlier in the year with the then Minister Jim Fitzpatrick.
3. Arising out of the meeting with Yvette Cooper MAUK were still concerned about PPG8 and its paragraphs 29 and 30 referring to ‘and concerns' regarding health, and that it was not agreed that Yvette Cooper was wholly correct in saying health issues were only a Department of Health issue.
AAM explained that the GPDO 1995 with prior approval for masts under 15 metres in height had become for Network Operators a rent free option and a direct planning cause of ill health through causing ‘prolonged stress and anxiety' - which can be a medical cause of any number of adverse health effects and conditions - due to driving the Telecoms industry to choosing lamppost style masts on pavements outside peoples homes.
4. The meetings of the Health Protection Agency's RPD EMF Discussion Group under Sir William Stewart had considered - following on from paragraph 1.31 of the original Stewart Independent Experts Report - the Memorandum and its supporting attachments relating to "Stress Induced Adverse Health Effects" and unanimously accepted that it was a medical health issue. The Memorandum had been included in the meeting's file of prepared papers.
5. It was confirmed on behalf of MAUK and by Doctor Ian Gibson that no one was against Masts and Base Stations but only against the ‘insensitive and sometimes unnecessary siting and location of masts', with particular regard to pavement lamppost masts outside bedroom windows causing prolonged stress contrary to Articles 6 and 8 of the European Convention, due to both Circular PPG8's content and the GPDO 1995 as amended.
6. AAM tabled two Propositions handed to the Minister relating firstly to paragraphs 29 and 30 of circular PPG8, and secondly the removal of ‘permitted development rights' for ground based masts as discussed and agreed in principle by the Representatives of both the Network Operators and Local Government at the final ARUP Future Network Rollout Steering Group Meeting, that full planning for such masts, but subject to the 56 day decision requirement with a maximum of a further seven days for the written notification was the way ahead - see copy attached. This would avoid the nonsense or cheating by Operators who were present at the decision making meeting then only to claim "Deemed Approval" because the written notification arrived one day late, as had happened too many times. AAM mentioned the BBC South Survey showing 58 such instances over the short period of the Survey.
7. Towards the end of the meeting AAM raised the issue of Electro Sensitive people and the fact that in Sweden 3.1% of the population were recognised as Electro Sensitive. The Minister said her Private Office Notetaker was from Sweden. AAM mentioned the UK had signed up to the United Nations UN 22 Standard Rules against disadvantaging the disabled, and now in England the Disability Discrimination Act was in force.
8. The Minister stated that she was relatively new to the subject matter of the issue at hand and stressed the importance of examining these issues considering the fast pace of technological development.
The Minister stated that the interrelationship between science and planning was obvious and pointed out the importance of examining guidance for and approaches to planning. The Minister commented that this examination had to be carried out alongside the Codes of Best Practice with a view to looking at the provisions regarding these issues. They were looking at a revision now and would consider all provisions carefully. The Minister could not form a view as yet.
The Minister commented that the fact that technology was advancing at such speed was something the government will have to look at. She commented in consideration of all of these points it was important to be aware of visuals and the impact on health.
The Minister was concerned about the sitting and location of masts and stated that it was something the government would have to examine. They had to have an understanding of the implications of permitted developments rights and where that would take them.
The Minister welcomed the information and input provided by the attendees.
9. AAM stated that 3G masts continued to proliferate. Further it was not the Code of Best Practice which required DCLG attention but the fundamental problems inherent in both PPG8 and GPDO 1995, Doctor Ian Gibson was in full agreement and made it clear that like the Minister these were the MP's constituency concerns.
AAM stated that it seemed odd that people in England should be more badly treated by the planning rules than residents in Scotland, and now in Wales where full planning was, or was about to be the requirements for ground based masts.
It was important that the details in the lodged papers were carefully considered in advance of the 9 November 2006 TRI-Ministers Meeting.
The meeting began at 9.30am and ended at 9.55am.