Agenda, decisions and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any disclosable pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests in any item on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

In accordance with Procedure Rules Nos.11 and 35 a period of 10 minutes is allocated for members of the public to address the meeting on any matter relevant to the work of the body in question.  Individual members of the public may speak for up to 5 minutes but the Chairman or person presiding will decide how the period of time allocated for public speaking will be apportioned where there are a number of speakers. Members of the public are not required to give notice to use this facility. However, as a matter of courtesy, a period of 24 hours’ notice is encouraged.

Members of the public wishing to ask a question at the meeting should provide at least three clear working days’ notice in writing and should include the question with that notice. This will enable an informed answer to be given.

No members of the public were present.

To consider the lease arrangements for two aerial masts on Council owned land.

That the Council enters into a new 15 year lease agreement with CTIL (Vodafone and Telefonica joint venture company) at the property known as land at Arclid Wood (also known as Cell Site Number 108), Arclid, Sandbach on terms and conditions to be agreed by the Head of Assets and the Director of Legal Services.

It was reported that a decision was needed in order to formalise the telecommunications lease arrangements for two aerial masts owned by Vodaphone Ltd., situated on Council owned land at Arclid Wood, Sandbach, which houses the Arclid Household Waste Recycling Centre and a vacant former Council Depot.  The masts were subject to two leases from the Council to Vodafone which had expired in 2010.  The Council had served a section 25 notice pursuant to Part 2 of The Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 on Vodafone in 2010 requesting the grant of a new lease of the site to Vodafone on terms and conditions in accordance with the existing leases but with the level of rent payable, the term and rent reviews to be agreed between the parties.

After a long period of negotiations the parties had agreed terms for a new 15 year lease of the site to be granted to Cornerstone Telecommunications Infrastructure Limited (“CTIL”).  CTIL was a company created by Vodafone and Telefonica as a joint venture, and Vodafone request that all of its new leases were entered into with CTIL as the tenant.  The terms had been negotiated to reflect current market conditions and had been recommended by the Council’s professional advisors and external agents specialising in telecommunications lease renewals to provide assurances with regard to best consideration.

RESOLVED

That approval be given for the Council to enter into a new 15 year lease agreement with CTIL (Vodafone and Telefonica joint venture company) at the property known as land at Arclid Wood (also known as Cell Site Number 108), Arclid, Sandbach on terms and conditions to be agreed by the Head of Assets and the Director of Legal Services.