RESOLVED:

1.    That the objections raised in response to the Council’s advertisement under section 123 (2A) of the Local Government Act 1972 of its intention to grant a lease at Raynes Park Sports Ground be considered and noted.

2.    That the Director of Environment and Regeneration be authorised to  complete the lease on the main terms identified within the Confidential Appendix 4 to the Cabinet report under his delegated authority.

The Chair advised that items 8 and 9 would be discussed together.

The Cabinet noted that additional representations had been received from Councillors in the West Barnes ward and the Friends of Sir Joseph Hood.  Those representations had been taken into consideration in discussion with fellow Cabinet Member and it was felt that the issues raised had been addressed in the course of the consultation and in both the reports.  It was noted that planning permission for both items had already been granted; and that mobile phone companies have extraordinary powers under the Electronic Communications Code to place masts in areas of need on public land, irrespective of the views of the local residents.  It was also noted that the demand for phone signal was likely to increase with the current increase in home working.  The Council has worked through the planning process to ensure that the masts were not put in places which interfered with people’s enjoyment of open spaces.  The current advice from Public Health England was that there was no evidence of harm from these masts.

At the invitation of the Chair, the Director of Environment and Regeneration concurred with the points made by the Chair and advised that the Council had followed the standard procedure for advertising the consultation on the lease and that although both sites were affected by a covenant the Council did not believe any residents enjoyed any benefits from the covenants.  However the Council was working with the operator to secure an indemnity in the event of any challenge and therefore did not see any impediment with approving the recommendations set out in the papers

RESOLVED:

1.    That the objections raised in response to the Council’s advertisement under section 123 (2A) of the Local Government Act 1972 of its intention to grant a lease at Raynes Park Sports Ground be considered and noted.

2.    That the Director of Environment and Regeneration be authorised to  complete the lease on the main terms identified within the Confidential Appendix 4 to the Cabinet report under his delegated authority.