Agenda item

To consider the preferred options identified for the delivery, with limited financial resources, of an equitable CCTV and associated Out of Hours service across the County in future – including the Police Service’s financial and resource contribution towards the CCTV service.

09:35 – 10:05

The Committee considered a joint report by the Head of Planning and Public Protection (HPPP) and the Public Protection Manager (previously circulated) which outlined proposals, due to budgetary constraints, to withdraw the County’s CCTV service following a managed exit strategy.  The HPPP reminded members that 12 months ago a report had been brought to Scrutiny regarding the inconsistencies in CCTV provision across the County – in that Denbighshire provided the service in the north of the County whereas Town Councils in the South of the county provided their own - with a view to see whether expanding Denbighshire’s service throughout the county was a viable option. The financial environment had changed drastically since then.  In recent months the Authority has been going through the Freedom & Flexibilites process and had considered CCTV provision as part of the budget workshops. Whilst it was agreed that the service was of value it was not a statutory requirement and therefore not one that Denbighshire should be funding.

Members were advised that the report that would be presented to County Council in December would be the proposals to explore options for handing delivery of the CCTV service over to a third party and to agree to  withdraw Council funding for the service with effect from April 2016.

This would enable options for alternative delivery of the service to be explored and negotiated upon during 2015/16, with a view to reaching an agreement with a third party (or a group of stakeholders) to facilitate a seamless hand-over of equipment and the establishment of an alternative service of quality by April 2016. 

Members were advised that whilst Denbighshire had agreed in principle to explore further the viability of merging with Conwy County Borough Council in due course, this work was still at a very early stage.  It would therefore be premature to hold back on any budget cut decisions subject to the merger work progressing, as the budget efficiencies had to be realised in the near future in order for Denbighshire to deliver a balanced budget for the forthcoming financial years.

Having discussed the implications at length the Committee members:

·        emphasised the importance of a managed hand-over process of the current Service to an alternative provider;

·        acknowledged that the replacement service was not likely to be a like for like service, but agreed that is should be a good quality service;

·        supported the proposal to establish a multi-agency working group to devise and implement an exit strategy.  This Group could in addition to looking at the current public space CCTV provision available in the three named towns also look at the wider community use of CCTV through the Community Safety Partnership (CSP), explore partners' joint capacity to deliver a CCTV Service and potential funding streams e.g. Police Commissioner Proceeds of Crime Fund monies for financing any alternative service;

·        suggested that Scrutiny (possibly Partnerships Scrutiny Committee as the designated Crime and Disorder Scrutiny Committee) should monitor the development and implementation of the exit strategy and the Service's hand-over to a third party; and

·        emphasised the need for the press and media to be regularly briefed, if possible in person, on the details of budget proposals to ensure that the proposals were factually reported to residents

Resolved:  that

(i)  the above observations in relation to the Freedom and Flexibilities project and proposals relating to the CCTV Service be reported to County Council on 9th December; and

(ii)  the progress made in devising, securing and implementing an exit strategy, and alternative solutions for delivering a CCTV Service in future be presented to Scrutiny in due course for examination