Agenda item

The Board was given an opportunity to consider and comment upon the Review of Close Circuit Television (CCTV) Report, following the CCTV Scrutiny Panel’s review of the Council’s current CCTV system.

The Scrutiny Panel Lead (CCTV) summarised the report and answered member’s question on the recommendations presented to the Board. The Leader of the Council, the Deputy Leader, the Neighbourhoods Development Team Leader and Councillor Pike joined the Board for the debate on this item.

The following key points were raised during the course of the discussion:

1.    Changes in regulations on surveillance meant that many of the current CCTV cameras would fail a Public Interest Assessment.

2.    The Panel’s main concern was the CCTV coverage of the Borough’s Town Centres, but the current system was not effective at covering this and there had been an increase in private surveillance since the Council’s systems were deployed.

3.    There was a dissenting view that the current system was still effective and that all alternative systems should be investigated before the current system was decommissioned.

4.    There was no provision in the 2016/17 budget for CCTV.

5.    The Council had contacted the current Police and Crime Commissioner regarding the continued provision of CCTV and no response had been received. The Council would pursue a response from the in-coming Commissioner following the election.

6.    The Council would be liable to legal action if decommissioned CCTV cameras remained in situ, as they give the public the expectation that surveillance is still being carried out.

7.    There was the potential to sell equipment to cover some of the decommissioning costs.

8.    Discussions had already started with the Meridian Centre regarding the future use of the CCTV cameras attached to the Centre.

The Board discussed both the main and dissenting recommendations given and considered the points raised in the debate.

It was RESOLVED that;

(a)  The Cabinet be advised that the Scrutiny Board reluctantly, after much consideration, accepts that the current CCTV system no longer fulfils a majority of the original objectives, that some existing CCTV cameras may not meet the Surveillance Commissioner’s 2013 code of practice and does not represent value for money for the residents of Havant Borough Council and should be discontinued.

(b)  Cabinet be recommended:

(i)            To request the officers to investigate the feasibility of the Meridian Centre taking control of the Council’s CCTV cameras currently attached to the outside of the Meridian Centre;

(ii)          To seek to ensure that the CCTV system’s cameras at the bus station be incorporated into the bus station’s CCTV system;

(iii)         To endorse a campaign to encourage business/shops to provide better coverage of their premises;

(iv)         To endorse a communication campaign to raise awareness of how safe it is to live in the Borough; and

(v)          That in case crime and anti-social behaviour in the town centres increases to an unacceptable level in the future then alternative modern digital solutions be investigated forthwith.

(c)  That the Cabinet be requested to recommend to Council to:

(i)            Agree to actively consider providing a financial contribution commensurate with other authorities, if in the future a requirement for a modern, digital, fully integrated, centrally monitored CCTV system be generated by a Office of Police and Crime Commissioner/Hampshire Constabulary together with a request for financial support; and

(ii)          Agree that developers and their architects be encouraged to provide for the security needs of future occupiers when designing a new building or altering a current building in Town Centres.

(d)  The Scrutiny Board be recommended to review the situation in June 2017.