Terms agreed with Orange for use of Chiswick Police Station as site for non emergency service aerials

Report: 12
Date: 23 October 2003
By: Commissioner

Summary

The Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) has previously approved the use in principle of the police estate for non-emergency service aerials and for the specific use of Chiswick police station for Vodafone equipment.

Terms have been agreed, subject to contract, with Orange PCS Ltd for the use of space at Chiswick police station to locate aerials and generate revenue for the MPA.

This report details the proposed terms. It makes recommendations on this proposal.

A. Recommendation

1. Members are asked to approve the terms agreed, subject to contract, with Orange PCS Ltd for the siting of mobile telecoms aerials and associated equipment at Chiswick police station.

B. Supporting information

1. Further to the Finance Committee’s approval of 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 and the MPA approved, subject to contract, for Vodafone plc to locate non-emergency aerials at Chiswick police station.

2. Whilst negotiations with Vodafone were taking place Orange PCS Ltd also made a request to locate equipment at Chiswick.

3. Orange wish to site second generation (2G) and third generation (3G) equipment and aerials on the roof of Chiswick police station to provide coverage to the area, which they are legally obliged to do under the terms of their operating licences. As detailed in the report to the Finance Committee of 10 July 2003 concerning the Vodafone proposal, Orange have an existing site at Gable House, Turnham Green Terrace, which is to the east along Chiswick High Road.

4. The existing Orange site is located on the top of Gable House, whose owner has served notice to extend the building. Orange has been seeking an alternative site to serve the area, and the police station is ideal for their requirements.

5. The main effect of the proposal is to relocate an existing site approximately 250 metres west along Chiswick High Road. It is not creating another base station in the area, but allowing Orange to continue to provide a suitable level coverage to the locality. A map of the location is attached at Appendix 1.

6. The agreed Heads of Terms and rent are set out in the Exempt Appendix.

Protection of operational policing

7. Ongoing liaison is being undertaken with all relevant departments to ensure there are no problems resulting from this installation. This has included the Directorate of Information (DoI) in respect of communications systems and IT, Human Resources (HR) in respect of personnel and health and safety, and the Borough in respect of their use of the building. DoI and Property Services must approve all systems before installation can begin.

Health and Safety

8. The MPA requires the Director of Property Services to put each case to the Finance Committee for approval with an appropriate risk analysis. This has already been undertaken as part of the report presented to the MPA for the Vodafone installation at the same site.

9. As this is a relocation of an existing mast from nearby it is not felt that there is any material change to the issues reported to the MPA previously. The site will incorporate 3G equipment that was not present at Gable House, as part of Orange’s 3G rollout programme. This equipment would have most likely been installed at Gable House had the site not been withdrawn.

Commercial issues

10. The terms are broadly similar to those agreed with Vodafone.

11. The rental quoted is proposed for all sites of this type across London, if further locations are agreed with Vodaphone, and does not vary according to location.

Consultation

12. Consultation has been undertaken with the relevant operational departments, Hounslow Borough Operational Command Unit (OCU), the MPA link member and the staff unions and Police Federation. The Borough OCU is being consulted on the project and will be involved throughout. Public Affairs have also been advised and have prepared a Media Statement.

13. Government planning policy encourages mobile phone operators to site share to reduce the number of aerial sites, and the use of Chiswick PS by both Vodafone and Orange is in line with this policy and therefore should, in principle, be supported by local planners. These matters are, however, dealt with by the operator.

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 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 site provides an opportunity to achieve this.

Legal implications

1. Apart from the contract with Orange 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

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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