Freedom of information response

1. Do you have a 5G strategy? No

1.1 If yes, I request to see the complete strategy, its ambitions and its objectives in PPTX, Word, PDF or picture format. N/A

1.2 If yes, has the public had the opportunity to read and understand Thurrock councils 5G strategy? Where was this information published? N/A

1.3 I also request a supplementary document that includes the highest level of detail on all 5G technology that’s planned to be used and current in use in public spaces within Thurrock : Not held

(a) Companies and entities involved and the names of the company/entity officers. N/A

(b) Specification sheets of 5G technology. N/A

(c) What technology e.g. units and arrays are not currently 5G, but can be 5G enabled e.g. with current software, future software, hardware upgrades or retrofitting? N/A

(d) What UK, EU and International safety standards is Thurrock Council complying with for the 5G strategy and existing 5G technology. N/A

(e) I request proof e.g. a certificate from Thurrock Council that confirms that UK, EU and International safety standards for workers and the public have been meet.

1.4 If no, I request to know when you will be chairing a 5G strategy? There are no plans regarding a 5G strategy

2. I request the name/s of the Officer/s in charge of the 5G strategy and roll out for 5G and Smart Cities; and who their subject area expert or consultancy is, their CV and qualifications on 5G and Smart Cities.

Unfortunately we are unable to provide in full the information you have requested.  We do hold the information but an absolute exemption applies.  Personal Information (Section 40,2)

Personal data of any other person (third party data) is exempt under section 40(2) if disclosure would breach one of the data protection principles. This aspect of Section 40 is an Absolute Exemption and is therefore not subject to the Public Interest Test.

The names of officers working for the Council is personal data specific to them. It is therefore subject to the provisions of the Data Protection Act. Information can be withheld if its disclosure would be likely to breach one or more of the Principles of the Data Protection Act. There is no prior expectation on the part of team Managers (or other officers working below the level of Director) that their names and job titles / positions would be published into the wider public domain under FOI. A disclosure made under FOI constitutes a publication to the world at large. We believe that to disclose this would be likely to breach the first Principle of the Data Protection Act by unfairly contravening their right to privacy and confidentiality in the work place.

3. Are you in talks with any experts, companies or entities about autonomous vehicles (AV) for public transport and/or private use on Public Highways? No

3.1 If yes, I request to see the complete strategy, its ambitions and its objectives in PPTX, Word, PDF or picture format. N/A

3.2 I also request a supplementary document that includes all levels of detail on:

(a) Companies and entities involved and the names of the company/entity officers? N/A

(b) Specification sheets of all technology. N/A

(c) What type of communication system will Thurrock Council be utilising to control the vehicles? N/A

(d) What UK, EU and International safety standards does your AV strategy and rollout comply with? N/A

(e) I request proof e.g. a certificate from Thurrock Council that confirms that UK, EU and International safety standards for workers and the public have been meet. N/A

4. Do you have a strategy for smart roads and smart signage on Public Highways and Public spaces? No

4.1 If yes, I request to see the complete strategy, its ambitions and its objectives in PPTX, Word, PDF or picture format.

4.2 I also request a supplementary document that includes all levels of detail on: Cant answer not Highways

(a) Companies and entities involved and the names of the company/entity officers?

(b) Specification sheets of all technology.

(c) What technology e.g. units and arrays will not be 5G, but can be 5G enabled e.g. with current software, future software, hardware upgrades or retrofitting etc (you must be specific on anything here)?

(d) What UK, EU and International safety standards does your 5G strategy and rollout comply with?

(e) I request proof e.g. a certificate from Thurrock Council that confirms that UK, EU and International safety standards for workers and the public have been meet.

5. Are you planning to rollout or have rolled out LED street lighting? We have rolled out LED Lighting

5.1 If yes, please answer these questions:

(a) What is the CMS and specification of the software and hardware of the LED street light system? We are using the Telensa System.  Attached is our Street Lighting spec which covers software and hardware.

(b) What type of waveform is the LED? e.g. Square wave? Please refer to Telensa Smart streetlights - Telensa

(c) Can you control the Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) of the streetlight system using the CMS? Please refer to Telensa Smart streetlights - Telensa

(d) Can you control the PWM of each streetlight that’s connected to the system? As above

(e) What restrictions do you have in place for the control of the PWM? As above

(f) What is the UK, EU and International safety limit (low and high) for the amount of ‘flicker’ (Hz) the Human Body and eyes can be exposed to and for how long? Unknown

(g) I request to see the training manual and safety operation manual for the CMS and the LED streetlight system. Not in place as currently installing CMS system

(h) Who is the company who is or has installed the CMS LED streetlight system? Telensa

(i) What company maintains and repairs the CMS and LED streetlight system? Telensa maintains CMS system and Henderson & Taylor PW LTD maintain street lighting assets

(j) What entity and Officer is responsible for the safety standards for the CMS and LED streetlight system? Principal Maintenance Engineer and & Senior Engineer for Street Lighting and Traffic Signals

(k) I request proof e.g. a certificate from Thurrock Council that confirms that UK, EU and International safety standards for workers and the public have been meet. Not held

(l) What is the amount of Blue Light leakage that’s safe for the public and workers during the LED streetlights operation? Unknown

(m) What level of LED streetlight exposure is safe for the public at daytime and night time? Unknown

(n) Is there a legal requirement for diffusers to be fitted to LED streetlights? Unknown

(o) How have you have addressed the amount of Oxidative Stress on Human and Animal cells that’s produced from LED? Never

5.2 If no, then I request a declaration from Thurrock Council that you will not be installing LED streetlights in the future. If you cannot provide a declaration, I would like the following answered in the future tense:

(a) What is the CMS and specification of the software and hardware of the LED street light system? Answered above and all the following a repeat questions.

(b) What type of waveform is the LED? e.g. Square wave?

(c) Can you control the Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) of the streetlight system using the CMS?

(d) Can you control the PWM of each streetlight that’s connected to the system?

(e) What restrictions do you have in place for the control of the PWM?

(f) What is the UK, EU and International safety limit (low and high) for the amount of ‘flicker’ (Hz) the Human Body and eyes can be exposed to and for how long?

(g) I request to see the training manual and safety operation manual for the CMS and the LED streetlight system.

(h) Who is the company who is or has installed the CMS LED streetlight system?

(i) What company maintains and repairs the CMS and LED streetlight system?

(j) What entity and Officer is responsible for the safety standards for the CMS and LED streetlight system?

(k) I request proof e.g. a certificate from Thurrock Council that confirms that UK, EU and International safety standards for workers and the public have been meet.

(l) What is the amount of Blue Light leakage that’s safe for the public and workers during the LED streetlights operation?

(m) What level of LED streetlight exposure is safe for the public at daytime and night time?

(n) Is there a legal requirement for diffusers to be fitted to LED streetlights?

(o) How have you have addressed the amount of Oxidative Stress on Human and Animal cells that’s produced from LED?

6. Where do you have 3G and 4G systems in public spaces and public roads? Applications that have been made for developments that required approval from the Local Planning Authority are public documents and details would be available on the Council’s planning webpage

You are free to use any information supplied to you for your own use, including non-commercial research purposes.  However, any other type of re-use, for example, by publishing the information or issuing copies to the public will require the permission of the copyright owner.

Where the copyright is owned by Thurrock Council, you must apply to the Council to re-use the information.  Please email information.matters@thurrock.gov.uk if you wish to re-use the information you have been supplied. For information where the copyright is owned by another person or organisation, you must apply to the copyright owner to obtain their permission.

If you are dissatisfied with the way in which the council have managed your FOI request you can pursue an Internal Review by contacting us using the above email address. Your request will be considered by a senior member of the Information Management Team who will update you with the outcome of the review. 

If you remain unhappy following the outcome of your Internal Review you may wish to refer your case to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and details of this organisation can be found at www.ico.org.uk . Please be advised that the ICO will not consider your case until they have confirmation that you have already been through the Internal Review stage with the council.