Agenda item

(Director of Communities) To consider the attached report.

The Select Committee received a report from the Portfolio Holder for Safer, Greener and Transport regarding the proposed decommissioning of CCTV in two locations.

A decommissioning assessment of CCTV currently installed across the district was undertaken in 2015 as part of the review process for the production of the Council’s CCTV Strategy 2016-2022. This met with the guidance provided in the CCTV Code of Practice which stated that regular reviews of CCTV systems should be undertaken to ensure that the use of surveillance cameras remained in pursuit of a legitimate aim and that a pressing need existed. As a result, the Council’s CCTV Officer had identified two sites for potential decommissioning which was based upon the last two years of service and factors such as reduction of service requirement and on-going costs. The two sites were:

(a)  Longcroft Rise, Oakwood Hill Shopping Parade, Loughton; and

(b)  Upshire Shopping Parade, Upshire, Waltham Abbey.

These were the first cases to arise under the Council’s new CCTV Strategy, therefore the Portfolio Holder was seeking the views of the Select Committee on the proposed de-commissioning, prior to making a formal Portfolio Holder Decision. It was further advised that this would assist in assessing future requirements.

The CCTV equipment installed at Longcroft Rise, Oakwood Hill, Loughton had generated just 6 requests for CCTV footage in 2 years and was operating beyond its expected life span of 7 years. The cost of updating the system was in the region of £4,000 with servicing costs of £300 per annum.

Four requests to view footage from the CCTV cameras at Upshire Parade, Waltham Abbey had been received in the past two years and the cost of updating the system was in the region of £4,000. This system was also operating beyond its lifetime expectancy of 7 years and on-going servicing costs were in the region of £180 per annum.

It was noted that out of the 10 requests for CCTV footage from these two sites during the last two years, only one was in relation to a serious incident or offence. However, should there have been an occurrence of crime or anti-social behaviour at these two sites in the future, mobile CCTV cameras could be installed at very short notice.

Consultation had taken place with two Parish/Town Councils:

(i)            Waltham Abbey Town Council (WATC)

WATC had objected to the decommissioning of the Upshire Shopping Parade CCTV on the grounds of problems in the past with anti-social behaviour which it was felt had been controlled by the presence of cameras. It was suggested that CCTV was needed to cover the ATM installed at a sub-post office and that businesses opening until late could attract problems. Crime figures for July 2016 showed considerable numbers of public order offences.

(ii)          Loughton Town Council (LTC)

LTC felt it important to maintain the CCTV on the Oakwood Hill Estate given the apparent record of anti-social behaviour and drug related problems that existed. It was appreciated that there may have been only a limited number of requests for footage but it was felt that it was not realistic to compare the estate to an area like Loughton High Road with its night time economy problems.

The Select Committee was advised that Parish and Town Councils can fund their own CCTV cameras and that the District Council can also facilitate this for a fee. There was concern that the removal of these cameras in difficult areas could leave residents vulnerable, particularly at the Oakwood Hill Estate. However, the Select Committee was advised that the Cabinet had agreed the CCTV Strategy and a pressing need had to be demonstrated for cameras to be installed.

RECOMMENDED:

That the Portfolio Holder for Safer Greener and Transport be recommended to decommission the CCTV cameras currently installed at Longcroft Rise, Oakwood Hill Shopping Parade, Loughton and Upshire Shopping Parade, Upshire, and Waltham Abbey. But, that should there be an increase in serious ASB or crime in these areas, that the Council would be proactive in installing mobile CCTV systems to monitor this activity, at no cost to the respective Town Councils.