Agenda item

The Executive RESOLVED that a review of the existing CCTV service be undertaken by an independent specialist consultant who will be commissioned, with the outcomes and options presented at a future Executive meeting.

The Council had introduced CCTV in Camberley in 1997 with further additions in 2002 and 2010. The existing specification included 30 CCTV cameras located in Camberley town centre, and two monitoring the shops in the Old Dean. The Council had entered into an agreement with Woking Council around 20 years ago to provide a 24/7 control room service in Woking.  The cost involved totalled £66,742 per year.

In 2018, Surrey Police had introduced a new CCTV Strategy for Surrey, which had established a funding formula, based on a sliding scale.  Initial discussions were progressing, but at present Surrey Police had advised that the policy would direct any payments to the district where the control room was located i.e. Woking for Surrey Heath.

The Council had a statutory responsibility, as part of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, to consider crime and disorder implications and, in conjunction with partners, to mitigate risk and actuality of crime by utilising various options. CCTV had long been a useful tool in discouraging and detecting crime and disorder and in satisfying that statutory responsibility.

The existing CCTV equipment was outdated and could be costly to update or replace.  In addition the improvement in technology had resulted in other options to deliver the same service with potential for improved efficiency and lesser cost.   As a result it was proposed that an independent technical specialist, as recommended by Surrey Police, be employed to conduct a review of CCTV in the borough and £10,000 would be allocated to meet the cost.

The Executive supported the proposal to conduct a view and felt that the decision by another Surrey Council to remove CCTV and rely on private CCTV and mobile phone footage, had been a regressive step.  In addition it was felt that whilst the operation of public realm CCTV needed to demonstrate cost effectiveness, it was recognised that some benefits might be difficult to quantify, such as acting as a deterrent and mitigating the fear of crime. 

It was noted that the experience of neighbouring local authorities would be used to inform the review and the local Borough Commander would be consulted.  It was expected that the review would include a number of costed options as well as a recommendation for the way forward.  The benefits of partnering with either Woking or Runnymede Councils for the monitoring of the CCTV would also be examined.

RESOLVED that a review of the existing CCTV service be undertaken by an independent specialist consultant who will be commissioned, with the outcomes and options presented at a future Executive meeting.

Note 1:  In accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct, Councillor Shaun Garrett declared a non-pecuniary interest as he was a trustee of the Old Dean Community Group.

Note 2: It was noted for the record that Councillor Rodney Bates and Councillor Peter Barnett declared personal interests as they lived close to the shops on the Old Dean.