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Health, Social Security and Housing Scrutiny Panel Telephone Mast Sub-Panel
Meeting 1
Date: Friday 5th January 2007 Location: First Floor Meeting Room, Morier House
Present Deputy A. Breckon, Chairman
Deputy C, Egré, Vice-Chairman Senator B.E. Shenton Connétable M. Jackson
Apologies
Absent
In attendance C. Le Quesne, Scrutiny Officer
M. Orbell, Scrutiny Officer (for a time)
Ref Back | Agenda matter | Action |
| 1. Appointment of a Vice Chairman The Sub-Panel appointed Deputy C. Egré as Vice Chairman. |
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| 2. Terms of Reference and notification of the review The Sub-Panel considered and approved its terms of reference for a review of the telephone mast perceived health implications. It requested that a call for submissions of evidence be made through the Jersey Evening Post as was normal practice for a period of three nights. The cost was not to exceed £700. The Sub-Panel agreed that the issue of being required to use a design agency to prepare any advertising was an issue which should again be referred to the Chairmen's Committee. It was advised that the Greffier and the Scrutiny Manager were seeking to improve the situation with the designers by agreeing a template style which would hopefully reduce costs. It was noted that use of the agency was a States wide corporate approach. The Sub-Panel noted the press release that had been issued on the previous day and was encouraged that the proposed review had already begun to receive some attention. It was agreed that the terms of reference together with meeting dates should be forwarded to the press prior to the close of business. A copy of the advert to be placed in the JEP should be forwarded to all the Parish Hall s and Libraries for posting on their notice boards. The Chairman advised that he hoped that all members of the Sub-Panel would participate in allocated press meetings as and when required. | CLQ |
| 3. Public Meetings and Public Hearings Public Meetings | CLQ |
The Sub-Panel decided that it would hold three public meetings on the 18th 19th and 20th January 2007, the latter being on a Saturday morning and the first two in the evenings from 19.00 to 22.00 to afford the public a wider opportunity to attend.
It further decided that it would seek to secure the attendance of at least one independent Professor to speak at the meetings. It intended to approach Professor Hayden of the University of Warwick and Exeter and Essex Universities where it was understood research had been undertaken surrounding the issues of emissions from telecommunications equipment. The Sub-Panel emphasised that it would seek to facilitate a visit and presentation from independent academics although it was aware that time was very short and that it may be difficult to achieve attendance.
The Sub-Panel agreed that it must have recording equipment for the public meetings and that a roving microphone would be required.
Public Hearings
The Sub-Panel agreed that it would hold its Public Hearings on the 22nd, 23rd and 24th January 2007. The hearings would be held in the States Chamber for three full days. Rapid turn around transcription for the first two days of hearings was agreed.
The Sub-Panel requested that two security officers be retained for the three days of hearings; it accepted that the cost would be borne from its review budget. The officers should be advised that the public have full access to the agreed areas and that the press are permitted to attend during hearings.
The Sub-Panels requested that the telephone service providers be contacted to be advised of the dates which they would be required to attend, in addition the relevant Ministers, concern Groups, the JCRA and the JEC should be advised of the event and invited to indicate availability. The Sub-Panel requested that a timetable of hearings be devised and that pre meetings and breaks between witnesses be included.
The timetable would be agreed at the earliest opportunity and formal letters of notification with relevant information would be sent to witnesses.
Questions for witnesses would be prepared and agreed at the next Sub-Panel meeting. Formal notification of those questions would be sent to witnesses following that meeting.
The press should be advised of the timetable for the hearings at the earliest opportunity and the information should be uploaded to the website.
- Questionnaire and reaching the wider public CLQ MO The Sub-Panel was advised by the Chairman that he had
proposed the development of a questionnaire to act as a catalyst for obtaining a view from the public generally. The concept and a rough draft had been discussed with Duncan Millar d head of statistics and had been worked on by two Scrutiny Officers who had recently joined the team.
The Sub-Panel agreed that the concept was a good opportunity to take Scrutiny to the public and to provide it with a valuable data source. The Sub-Panel agreed that a timetable of face to face questionnaire sessions should be arranged at a number of venues at different times. The proprietors of the venues should be advised. The press would be advised of the activity which would commence on the 16th January 2007 but the locations would not be released.
The Questionnaire was considered and amended and would be finalised in time for the first face to face interview session.
Web Site
The Sub-Panel requested that the website be updated to include its review. It agreed that us much information should be made available to the public as was possible.
- Actions required
The Sub-Panel requested the following actions be undertaken -
To write to all the Connétable s to ascertain whether or not the installation of new masts within their respective Parishes presented any costs to rate payers through required road repairs or similar;
To check with States or other insurers what the position is with regard to limited liability insurance in respect of telephone masts;
To establish how many phone masts are in Jersey, how many are Tetra masts, where they are located, how many are on States property, where they are and what the level of revenue is as a result of having;
To establish the content of the petition header presented to the Planning Minister;
To obtain meeting notes from the Vice Chairman following his forthcoming meeting with Mr. B. Harris ;
- Future Meetings
The Sub-Panel agreed it would next meet at 12.30 on the 15th January 2007 in the First Floor Meeting Room, Morier House. A sandwich lunch would be provided.
Signed
Deputy A. Breckon
Chairman,
Health, Social Services and Housing Panel - Telephone Mast Review Sub-Panel
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