Issue - meetings

(Technical Services – Cllr P Keska) To approve the new 7-year CCTV Capital Strategy, including both the capital and revenue costs outlined in the report.

That the Cabinet approved the new 7-year CCTV Capital Strategy, including both the capital and revenue costs outlined in the agenda report.

The Technical Services Portfolio Holder introduced the strategy. It set out the Council’s current CCTV provision, locations, numbers of cameras, maintenance costs, repairs, and replacements for the next seven years to 2032, and to align with the expected lifespan of the assets. It provided an overview of the benefits that were realised for local communities in which it was installed, and the various uses made of CCTV footage.

Referring to the Overview & Scrutiny Committee on 26 February when this report had been reviewed, Councillor Jon Whitehouse reiterated the query Councillor M George had raised on the issue of the CCTV provision at Cottis Yard multi-storey carpark. The Service Director (Regulatory Services) clarified that officers had confirmed at the scrutiny meeting that the system would be upgraded and fully integrated into the EFDC network once responsibility for the car park was passed to EFDC, and the Committee had agreed the report.

The Community & Wellbeing Portfolio Holder asked about the mix and type of cameras that could be used to help reduce fly tipping. The Service Director advised that a range of cameras were available, such as wildlife and pin cameras, redeployables and static cameras, which would be deployed where best.

The report set out the options considered, if any, and the reasons for the recommendation and the decision.

Decision:

That the Cabinet approved the new 7-year CCTV Capital Strategy, including both the capital and revenue costs outlined in the report.

To consider and comment on the CCTV Strategy.

The Committee were advised that an appendix to the report was not included in the agenda, this had been emailed to members of the Committee and hard copies were available in the Chamber. This would be included in the minutes of the meeting.

Cllr Keska, Technical Service Portfolio Holder, advised the Committee that CCTV Strategy covered the period 2025-2032 this aligned with the expected lifespan of the assets. The strategy set out the Council’s current CCTV provision, locations, numbers of cameras, maintenance costs, repairs, and replacements for the next seven years. It provided an overview of the benefits that are realised for local communities and the various uses made of CCTV footage. The current capital programme work programme for 2019-2025 had been met. The new strategy was required for the ongoing maintenance and replacement of the Councils CCTV infrastructure.

The welcomed the new strategy and highlighted the value of CCTV, they received the following advice in relation to queries raised:

·        CCTV was recorded continuously over 24, would be automatically overwritten after 28 days, and this would be amended in the strategy.

·        CCTV was a reactive service. There was some flexibility to respond to urgent out of hours requests to provide support to the police or partners proactively when needed.

·        Clarity was given that the revenue budget was the working budget. The service did and would continue to identify income generating opportunities, and there could be future scope to work with the Town and Parish Councils.

·        Data and evidence of usage were used to determine if cameras should be decommissioned. If a camera was decommissioned and the position changed cameras could be reinstated. Decommissioning was carried out in consultation with the ward Councillors

·        CCTV footage downloads were requested from the police and insurance companies, there was a strict data sharing protocol that must be followed. There was a charge to outside agencies, and individual requests were considered on a case-by-case basis.

·        The number of redeployable cameras provided enough cover hotspots, new covert cameras had been funded by the PFCC to tackle fly tipping.

·        The replacement programme for the next seven years, appendix one to the report, would be reviewed to address anomalies of zero being shown against entries. The revised appendix one would be circulated with the minutes.

·        Legislation prevented Local Authorities from using CCTV for parking enforcement.

·        There were minimum requirements for cameras to be brought not the council systems, that could impact on the requests from Town and Parish Councils

·        Cottis Lane car park cameras would be integrated into the Council’s system and would be operated in line with all cameras across the district.

Resolved:

Pending the inclusion of the comments made by the Committee, the report was commended to Cabinet for approval.