Decision details

Cabinet received a report of the Associate Director of Planning, Infrastructure and Economy which set out details of a Contract Procedure Rule Exemption.

The Mayor commented that CCTV was an important service provided by the council.  He referred to the intention to move the control room and it therefore made sense to extend the contract.  He invited Councillor Dychton to introduce the report.

Councillor Dychton said that the council had an important role in the safety of its residents.  One of these roles was the operation of CCTV.  She informed members that the report asked Cabinet to note the contract exemption for a nine-month extension to the current contract with OCS.  OCS operated the council’s CCTV control room.  The contract extension enabled OCS to continue to operate the CCTV whilst the control room was awaiting relocation to its most suitable location.

Councillor Williams was invited to give an update on the three mobile CCTV units currently in operation.  He advised that the units had been brought into the control room feed about a year ago.  They had been introduced as a deterrent to fly tipping   There had been some delay in their implementation whilst officers had liaised with partner organisations to get the mobile units into operation.  However, all three units were in operation and images obtained had led to successful fly tipping enforcement action.  A full analysis of the mobile units would be coming before Cabinet at a later date.

Councillor Bell advised that he had wanted to enquire about the mobile CCTV units.  He had not realised they were operational.  Originally, he had questioned the introduction of only three as he was aware of other locations that would benefit.  He asked whether the units could be moved to other locations or additional units would be purchased.  He also wanted to know if the control room monitored the CCTV across the whole borough or just the Town Centre.

The Mayor responded that he understood that cameras across the whole town were included and not just the Town Centre, about 300 cameras.  The mobile camera trial would be reviewed at a later date.

Councillor Williams added that the mobile cameras were less than 1% of all camera units across the town.  He explained how the mobile camera locations were selected.  Consultation was carried out with various groups including councillors and residents for suggestions.  The suggested sites were surveyed, to ascertain things like the adequacy of the power supply and suitability of structures.  The trial period was in progress and the results would be analysed and a report presented members.

RESOLVED –

that the exemption be noted.