Agenda item

Cabinet Portfolio:                 Waste, Roads and Community Safety

Strategic Directorate:           Regeneration and Environment

Consideration was given to a report due to be determined at the Cabinet and Commissioners’ Decision Making Meeting on 6 August 2018 which sought to allocate £60,000 of capital funding to purchase mobile CCTV cameras and to approve amendments to the CCTV Policy and associated processes.

The Budget and Council Tax 2018-19 report to Cabinet and Commissioners’ Decision Making Meeting on 19 February 2018 approved the Council’s Capital Strategy to 2021/22. As part of this, £60,000 of Priority Capital Investment monies were identified for mobile CCTV cameras. The utilisation of technology to enhance the Council’s drive to tackle anti-social behaviour is critical to improving the outcomes delivered by the Council and partners alike to deter and punish offenders whilst improving the quality of life of residents. It is apparent that the Council, partners and residents would benefit from increased provision of CCTV technology to provide suitable capacity, capability and flexibility, and to support ward priorities, Community Action Partnerships and Tasking meetings. Current revenue budgets are not in a position to fund increased provision, and capital funding is therefore required to deliver enhanced capacity - the equivalent of one camera for each ward - to deliver the desired outcomes. It is estimated that the cost of each individual CCTV system will be in the region of £3,000, equating to a total cost of £63,000 for the 21 cameras sought. Whilst this is an estimate, and the actual costs will be determined through a procurement process, any potential costs beyond the £60,000 allocation will be dealt with through existing budgets. Steps will be taken via the procurement process to seek to bring the overall cost of the 21 cameras within the original £60,000 budget allocation. The cameras will be deployed in accordance with the Council’s revised CCTV Policy, which has been reviewed and updated as part of this project, to ensure that the future use of CCTV is fully compliant with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Members sought assurances in respect of the number of cameras actually required. In response, it was confirmed that the cameras would be mobile and could be deployed to different locations to respond to issues identified in localities. Whilst a case could be made for more than one mobile camera per ward, the proposals in the report moved the position forward considerably. It was further confirmed that it was intended there would be one camera allocated to each ward and there would be an option to purchase additional cameras from ward budgets.

Referring to cameras previously purchased through the former Area Assemblies, Members sought to understand whether any of those cameras could be brought back into use. In response it was confirmed that some of those cameras were not particularly reliable and the intention was to purchase a more reliable and modern product. It was confirmed that new cameras would be operated through a partnership arrangements have worked successfully in collaboration with South Yorkshire Police. Members noted the intention for the specification for the cameras to be much higher than previously had been the case.

Members thought it was important that the public be informed that there continued to be a need to report issues even with cameras in place. Officers acknowledged that this was an important issue and the location of cameras would be reviewed.

Members also sought assurances in respect of maintenance costs, training and review. In response it was acknowledged that the cameras would breaking, but there would be a degree of maintenance required. It was confirmed that operators of cameras would need additional training, but this could be delivered in-house, so no additional cost implications would be anticipated.

Resolved:-

1.    That Cabinet be advised that the recommendations be supported.

2.    That all Members be notified of the arrangements and process for re-locating cameras in their wards.

3.    That arrangements be made to notify residents of deployment and use of mobile cameras.

4.    That a report reviewing the use of the cameras be submitted to Improving Places Select Commission six months after implementation.