More in the October print issue of Professional Security on local government CCTV. Here: Cambridge City Council and Huntingdonshire District Council are proposing a shared CCTV service.
As the two local authorities say, they are working in an increasingly difficult financial environment, under pressure to reduce budgets whilst continuing to provide quality services. Both councils by the proposal to share CCTV services are expected to reduce combined running costs by about £200,000 a year.
Huntingdonshire District Council and Cambridge City Council have provided a CCTV service for 16 years. There are significant infrastructure costs attached to the delivery of this service, and it is in this area that both councils will see the benefit of this partnership.
A detailed and thorough review has been conducted into the viability of a shared service, which once considered by council members, will be subject to consultation with trade unions and staff groups at each authority. The new service would be hosted by Huntingdonshire and operate from its purpose-built CCTV control room at Eastfield House in Huntingdon. Staffing from both councils would be integrated into a common structure.
Some overall staff reductions from both authorities may result which would contribute to anticipated future savings. Arrangements would be set up to make sure that the shared service was governed to the satisfaction of both authorities.
Joining together into one large team will offer both authorities greater resilience to provide CCTV the councils say. The new service will benefit from using the shared knowledge and experience of staff from both authorities and will lower operating costs. There is also the opportunity to share a more efficient technical platform from the Huntingdon base.
Under these proposals the shared service would use the IT infrastructure set up for Cambridgeshire’s Public Services Network to link together the CCTV systems operating separately in Cambridge and Huntingdon.
Cllr Tim Bick, Cambridge City Council’s Leader, said: “I welcome the work that officers have done at both Huntingdonshire District Council and Cambridge City Council. The proposals set out reductions in operating costs whilst safeguarding the quality and effectiveness of our CCTV services. I am looking forward to considering these proposals at the committee meeting on 8 July, so that a decision on the future of the service can be made.”
And Deputy Executive Leader of Huntingdonshire District Council, Nick Guyatt, said: “Residents have a right to feel safe in their community, and by offering a comprehensive CCTV service we can help in the fight against crime in our area. I am pleased to consider any proposals which allow us to maintain this excellent service, whilst at the same time reducing operating costs.”
