Decision details

The Town Centre Operations Manager submitted a report recommending for approval new staffing arrangements for the CCTV service, the procurement of new CCTV equipment and the relocation of the CCTV service to the Town Hall basement.

The changes to staffing outlined in the report would see all current CCTV Operators keep their current hours. However, to reflect the needs of the service there would be a requirement for staff to work proportionately more shifts at the weekends. It was proposed to create two CCTV Operator posts on annualised contracts of 800 hours to provide necessary cover for holidays, sickness and training. The staffing efficiencies would result in a saving of £46,210.

The Council appointed Wired-Up Security Solutions in April 2015 to carry out an independent technical feasibility study on the existing CCTV infrastructure. The report proposed to install an open protocol system which would easily integrate with third party CCTV software, utilising separate software for CCTV management and back office reporting functions. The estimated cost of the system was £75k to £92k.

The building at 87 New Square where the service is currently housed had been identified by the Council’s Corporate Asset Management Plan as suitable for sale and could realise a capital receipt of around £250k. The report noted that by re-locating the CCTV Service to the Town Hall, it would benefit from being at one of the highest points in the town and have access to wireless equipment related to the CCTV system. The estimated budgetary price for relocating the service would be £95k to £110k.

The report noted that if the proposals in the report were implemented there would be a potential to earn additional income as the CCTV service would be operated to a high standard and in close partnership with the police providing assurance to new businesses.

*RESOLVED –

1)           That a new CCTV staffing rota be implemented as soon as possible.

2)           That two annualised hours CCTV operator posts (800 hours per annum) be established to assist with the delivery of the service.

3)           That the effectiveness of the new staff arrangements be reviewed after a 12 month period of operation.

4)           That the recommendations contained within the technical feasibility report relating to existing cameras and connectivity, as outlined in paragraph 10.14 of the officer’s report, be implemented by the Parking and CCTV Manager with the planned programme of improvements to the CCTV infrastructure.

5)           That the existing CCTV recording and control equipment and management software be replaced by an open protocol system.

6)           That a competitive tendering process, financed from the service’ repairs and renewals fund, takes place to procure the open protocol system and be timed to coincide with the Town Hall restack.

7)           That the CCTV monitoring room and associated offices be relocated from 87 New Square to the Town Hall basement, in accordance with the timetable for the Town Hall restack.

8)           That the purchase of all equipment be subject to a competitive tendering process with the associated costs to be met from the service’s repairs and renewals fund, and the GPGS project budget.