Lib Dems ensure that Councillors make the decision on future telecommunications masts on Council land and property and not officers.

9.11.36pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 15th Sep 2004

Lib Dem Councillors have amended a proposed policy on how the City Council deals with applications for mobile phone masts on Council land and buildings. At tonight's Policy & Resources meeting, Lib Dem Group Leader Paul Elgood moved an amendment to the policy to ensure that Councillors, not officers, make the final decision on any controversial applications.

Paul Elgood said: 'We would have liked a blanket ban on applications to the Council for masts on its land or properties, however we would told that this would be legally difficult to defend and open the Council up to appeal. This is therefore the next best thing as it ensures that democratically elected Councillors, rather than officers, take the final decision on whether a mast is site on Council land. This increases democratic accountability in this area no end.'

Last year questioning by Liberal Democrat Councillors revealed that there were 16 Council-owned sites with masts on them.