Council want to run a cable through my garden from an electricity pole for a block of flats

mycleverbunnies

Hi

I hope I am in the right area of the forum. I live in Scotland. We bought our house in November 2021. 
A man came to the door today and said he was from the council. He wanted to look at a pole in someone else's garden to see how to run a cable from it across our garden and into a block of flats adjacent to our property. I am not comfortable with this because where he indicated the cable will be going over my greenhouse area. He didn't say what the cable was for but it looks like an electricity pole. I said I wasn't happy with it. 
I called the council to ask what the cable was for and if they did install it would they put into writing that if it causes any damage to our property, that they would be responsible for it.
The council replied that they don't know anything about a cable although they are getting the land manager to look into it. The man had on a council uniform and was in a council vehicle. The advisor also said they wouldn't take responsibility for maintaining the cable? 
I am worried they will go ahead and install it without telling me if I have gone away for a day I mean and I will only find out when I return.

Are they allowed to? What can I do if they do install it without permission.
I am sensitive to damage caused by the council just now because a tree from the neighbouring block of flats grew through the fence separating the properties ,weakened the fence and it blew down in a storm. Our insurance wouldn't cover it so we had to pay to have a new fence installed and I am trying to get half of the money back from them.
I am waiting for a callback but any help would be great. I am at first time home owner so I don't know enough about it. 
Thankyou

anselld

They cannot simply install something on your property without your permission.  A pole is more likely to be telecoms but the same applies.

user1977

It's incredibly unlikely that they'd take the risk of installing something without first getting your consent.

Section62

mycleverbunnies said:

...

Are they allowed to? What can I do if they do install it without permission.
I am sensitive to damage caused by the council just now because a tree from the neighbouring block of flats grew through the fence separating the properties ,weakened the fence and it blew down in a storm. Our insurance wouldn't cover it so we had to pay to have a new fence installed and I am trying to get half of the money back from them.
I am waiting for a callback but any help would be great. I am at first time home owner so I don't know enough about it. 

Is your home one which was previously owned by the council?

If so, what do your deeds say about the council having rights to run services across your property?

You are in Scotland so it might be different, but in England it is common for councils to include a relatively standard clause about retaining rights to run services across properties when they are sold away from council ownership.