Agenda item

This report outlines the urgent requirement to undertake technological upgrade work on the public facing CCTV across Arun to ensure continuity of service and reduce ongoing maintenance and transmission costs.

This report informs Members of the intended change to give the Local Authority the Data Controller responsibility for CCTV (currently with Sussex Police) from 1 April 2025.

The Chair invited the Communities and Wellbeing Manager to present the report to members.  The report sought approval to carry out an upgrade to ensure public facing CCTV remained in operation across Arun and was compatible with ongoing monitoring and surveillance via Sussex Police following BT’s decision to retire their digital and analogue service.  Chroma Vision, working with Sussex Police, had come up with a solution that would result in a reduction in costs following an upgrade to a cloud-based system.

The Chair then invited members to make comment or ask any questions.  The Communities and Wellbeing Manager confirmed that the maintenance transmission would be an annual reduction in costs year on year.  Responding to concern expressed as to where the legal obligations lay regarding the use of CCTV footage, in light of instances where Sussex Police had not responded to requests for information, discussions were taking place between the District and Borough councils in West Sussex and Sussex Police.  Members were informed that these councils had expressed their concern to Sussex Police that responsibility for CCTV should remain with the Police.  Sussex Police had agreed to extend their transfer deadline from 31  March 2024 to 31 March 2015.  The Communities and Wellbeing Manager confirmed officers shared the same concerns raised by members and agreed that responsibility should remain with Sussex Police.

During the discussion it was proposed by Councillor Walsh that Arun District Council seeks, with its partner Borough and District Councils in East Sussex and West Sussex, to collectively resist taking on responsibility for CCTV, which should remain with Sussex Police.

Councillor Bence added that a key point survey to establish that before £30,000 was released to carry out the upgrade, it should be established if the technology was fit for purpose and whether the CCTV cameras were located in the correct locations to identify issues. 

The Communities and Wellbeing Manager added that a heat map report had been requested from Sussex Police to establish if the CCTV cameras were located in the right locations and to identify any further needs.  The report would be provided to members once it was received.

Councillor Pendleton then seconded Councillor Walsh’s proposal that Arun District Council seeks, with its partner Borough and District Councils in East Sussex and West Sussex, to collectively resist taking on responsibility for CCTV, which should remain with Sussex Police, it was CARRIED.

The Community Safety Officer advised that Arun was in a better position than other councils, as a CCTV upgrade had been undertaken during 2018 and undertook to provide members with a list of the Council’s public facing CCTV cameras and their locations.

The recommendations were then proposed by Councillor Walsh and seconded by Councillor Bence.

          The Committee

RESOLVED that

1. the upgrade work totalling £30,000, allocated from existing budgets, to ensure that CCTV remains in operation across Arun and is compatible with ongoing monitoring and surveillance via Sussex Police. Resulting in reduced annual costs to maintain current CCTV system be approved.

2. Noted that external funding is being explored via the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, which could cover 50% of the costs and the Safer Streets funding via the Sussex Police Crime Commission. Arun District Council will seek to apply, accept, and draw down appropriate funds to cover the cost of the upgrade.

3. That Arun District Council seeks, with its partner Borough and District Councils in East Sussex and West Sussex, to collectively resist taking on responsibility for CCTV, which should remain with Sussex Police.