Issue - meetings

Matter for Decision:

A review of the City’s CCTV services had been commissioned to examine viable options for delivering the CCTV service with savings, looking at the broader objectives around community safety within the city.

Decision of Exec Cllr for Community Development and Health:

             I.      Noted the CCTV Review interim report.

          II.      Agreed to support the recommendation to adopt the principle of risk management in redesigning the CCTV operations to achieve significant savings in the cost of running the Service.

       III.      Agreed to delegate authority to the Director of Environment, in consultation with the Executive Councillor for Community Development and Health, Chair and Spokesperson to complete the redesign of the Service in line with evidence-based risk approach, in accordance with the Council’s Organisational Change policy and the Council’s savings targets.

Reason for the Decision:

An interim report had found that the CCTV service benefits Cambridge by helping to reduce crime, and that the service has up to date equipment, is very professionally run and properly administered. While incidents seen and activity within the CCTV control room varies during the day, between days and over the year, staffing levels and live monitoring hours currently provide blanket coverage.

The report recognises that changing the design of the service without reducing its overall effectiveness may improve the efficiency and reduce the costs of CCTV, through the use of evidence-based risk management. The report also identifies that there is also potential to reduce management and capital costs.

The current Pay Review being undertaken by the Council will have implications for the level of savings delivered by this review.

Any alternative options considered and rejected:

Not applicable.

Scrutiny Considerations:

The committee received a report from the Head of Specialist Services regarding the Interim CCTV review 2011-12. Consultant Richards Childs and the Director of Environment were also present to discuss the item.

Mr Childs suggested that the existing CCTV were efficient and hard working. However, adopting a risk based approach would allow significant changes to be made which could improve efficiency and economy. It was suggested that the use of special constable in the control room could also be considered.

Members raised the following issues:

             I.      A calculated approach to risk would improve efficiency bout would involve compromises.

          II.      The existing staff are skilled and knowledgably and could not be replaced by an automated system.

       III.      Alternative CCTV in the area (retail and public transport systems) is fragmented and cannot supplement the Council system.

      IV.      In response to questions it was confirmed that the changes would not mean an unmanned system. Staff would and their skills would be retained. However, there are significant times of the day when those staff have very little to do.

         V.      Members suggested that the CCTV system gives visitors to the City a feeling that they were in a safe place. The value of public perception should not be underestimated.

      VI.      Members were reassured that the cameras would record at all times and that any periods when the control room was unmanned would not be disclosed to the public for fear of inviting crime.

   VII.      Members asked how flexible the new approach would be and were assured that it would be responsive the emerging trends and event. 

The Scrutiny Committee considered and endorsed the recommendations in the report by 5 votes to 0.

The Executive Councillor for Community Development and Health approved the recommendations.

Conflicts of interest declared by the Executive Councillor (and any dispensations granted)

N/A