Issue - meetings

            That planning permission be granted for a limited period expiring on 31^st December 2015 subject to the conditions detailed in the report of the Chief Officer (Planning and Environment) and subject to no adverse comments being received from Airbus.

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Officer (Planning and Environment) in respect of this application.  The usual consultations had been undertaken and the responses received detailed in the report.

            The officer detailed the background to the report and explained that this was a retrospective application for the temporary installation of a mast to provide continuity of telecommunications links at the Airbus site.  He added that this application was linked to the next agenda item which was for a permanent mast to replace the mast in this application. 

            Councillor David Evans proposed the recommendation for approval which was duly seconded.

            Councillor Chris Bithell queried whether it was possible for operators to share masts and asked whether this had been considered as part of this application.  He commented on the cumulative effect of such applications. 

            In referring to the height of the telecommunications mast, Councillor Owen Thomas queried why a response had not been received from Airbus.  Councillor Mike Peers concurred and proposed that approval of the application be subject to acceptability of the proposal by Airbus.  He felt that this was needed to ensure the safeguarding of the airspace.  The proposal by Councillor Peers was duly seconded. 

            The officer advised that national policy requested that telecommunications masts be shared but this had not been possible on this application, and neither had the siting of the mast on the corner of the building.  The safety of the airspace was paramount and the officer referred Members to agenda item 6.7 for a permanent mast to replace this proposal where it was reported that Airbus had not objected to the proposal.  He suggested that discussions would have taken place with the operator and Airbus to site the mast in this location but advised that he could contact Airbus to clarify their position on the proposal.  He agreed that approval of the application could be subject to no adverse comments being received from Airbus on this application.        

            RESOLVED:

            That planning permission be granted for a limited period expiring on 31^st December 2015 subject to the conditions detailed in the report of the Chief Officer (Planning and Environment) and subject to no adverse comments being received from Airbus.