Use of Finchley Police Station as a site for non emergency service aerials - terms agreed with 02 UK Ltd

Report: 11
Date: 23 October 2003
By: Commissioner

Summary

The MPA has previously approved the use in principle of the Police Estate for non-emergency service aerials.

Terms have been agreed with 02 UK Ltd for the use of space at Finchley police station to locate aerials and generate revenue for the MPA.

This report details the proposed terms and provides a generic risk analysis in relation to the local area. It makes recommendations on this proposal.

A. Recommendation

1. Members are asked to approve the terms agreed, subject to contract, with 02 UK Ltd for the siting of third generation (3G) mobile telecoms aerials and associated equipment at Finchley police station.

B. Supporting information

1. Further to the Finance Committee’s approval (16 January 2003) for the Director of Property Services to negotiate with interested parties for the use of the MPA estate for non emergency services aerials, terms have been agreed, subject to contract, with 02 UK Ltd for the use of space at Finchley police station.

2. 02 UK Ltd wish to site 3G mobile phone aerials and equipment on the roof of Finchley police station to provide coverage to the area, which they are legally obliged to do under the terms of their operating licences.

3. Finchley police station has recently been refurbished and has a front counter for Barnet Borough Operational Command Unit (OCU), with the remainder of the building used primarily as an area base for SO7(5).

4. The agreed Heads of Terms and rent are set out in the Exempt Appendix . The terms have been drafted to ensure that the MPA’s interests are protected as far as possible. The generic issues relating to mobile phone mast sites were considered by the Finance Committee on 10 July 2003. (See “Terms agreed with Vodafone for use of Chiswick Police Station as a site for non emergency aerials”.)

Protection of operational policing

5. Ongoing liaison is being undertaken with all relevant departments to ensure there are no problems resulting from this installation. This has included Directorate of Information (DoI) in respect of communications systems and IT, and Human Resources (HR) in respect of personnel and health and safety. The BOCU and SO7(5) have been consulted regarding the proposed installation and have not raised objections. DoI and Property Services must approve all systems before installation can begin.

Health and safety

6. The site is located in a predominately residential area, with Ballards Lane being a focus for retail and commercial activity.

7. Appendix 1 is a map of the area, showing the building in relation to its surroundings. The blue stars show the approximate position of existing mobile telephone aerials. This information comes from a visual survey and the Radiocommunications Agency website. Schools are shown by the blue shaded boxes, with the health centre and hospital in the yellow shaded boxes. The information on the location of schools is provided by the Department of Education database.

8. Surrounding the police station is a residential area with commercial uses along Ballards Lane. The nearest known school is at least 300 metres from the site to the north west, which is significantly beyond the main transmission zone for the aerials.

9. Siting of aerials relative to schools and hospitals is dealt with under the planning system, which the operator - if approved to proceed with this site - will deal with under the Traffic Light model incorporated in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister’s Code of Best Practice. The National Radiological Protection Board deals with health and safety issues. Recent Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) reports have shown that emission levels in schools and hospitals located close to masts are many times, and in some cases millions of times, below international guidelines.

10. The appropriate health and safety equipment will be installed on the roof to protect persons working on the roof, at 02 UK Ltd’s expense.

Commercial issues

11. The terms agreed with 02 UK Ltd are contained in the Exempt Appendix. The lease provides only for use of the site for 3G systems, and the rent agreed reflects the limited equipment rights granted. Should 02 UK Ltd wish to put additional non-3G equipment on the site this would require additional negotiations and agreement.

Consultation

12. Direct consultation has been undertaken with the relevant operational departments and the MPA Link Member. Public Affairs have also been advised and are preparing a Media Statement. The staff unions, Police Federation, HR and MPS Health and Safety section have been consulted previously in respect of the wider policy on non emergency aerials.

13. Public consultations are undertaken by the 02 UK Ltd under the Code of Best Practice that the operator is signed up to, and these form part of the planning processes for this installation.

C. Equality and diversity implications

1. There are considered to be no equality and diversity implications arising from the issues in this report.

D. Financial implications

1. The Efficiency and Effectiveness target for 2003/04 of £500,000 per annum anticipates half this sum being generated by aerial sites. It was suggested in the Report to the Finance Committee of the 16 January 2003 that this be reduced to £100,000.

2. In order to meet either target the MPA needs to develop the aerial network on its estate, and this agreement forms part of this process.

Legal implications

Apart from the contract with O2 there are not considered to be any other legal implications upon the MPA.

E. Background papers

• Finance Committee – 16 January 2003
• Finance Committee – 10 July 2003
• Code of Best Practice on Mobile Phone Network Development: Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, 2002
• Department of Trade & Industry Mobile Phone Base Station Audit – School Results 2002: DTI Press Release 18th February 2003 (P/2003/100)

F. Contact details

Report author: Alan Croney, Director of Property Services, MPS.

For more information contact:

MPA general: 020 7202 0202
Media enquiries: 020 7202 0217/18

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