Issue - meetings

Public Protection and Enforcement Portfolio Plan

Meeting: 26/06/2019 - Public Protection and Enforcement Policy Development & Scrutiny Committee (Item 8)

8 PUBLIC PROTECTION AND ENFORCEMENT PORTFOLIO PLAN pdf icon PDF 82 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Report  ES19040

 

The update regarding the Portfolio Holder Plan was provided jointly by the Head of Performance Management (ECS) and by the Portfolio Holder.

 

Members noted page six of the report that outlined in table form the various areas of enforcement where performance was being monitored. It was noted that in some cases, new units of measurement and new indicators had been employed.

 

It was mentioned that with respect to fly-tipping hotspots, it would be helpful in future if information could be supplied regarding the location of the hotspots and the targeted areas.

 

The Committee was briefed that LBB would fulfill its responsibilities under the Prevent duty and would review and publish the Safer Bromley Strategy. A strategic lead had now been appointed to lead on gang and youth violence and would be leading on reviewing the findings of the Home Office Locality Review into gang violence in Bromley. GAP analysis would be employed and LBB would look to utilise the help of third sector providers where appropriate. One of the roles of the strategic lead would be to identify where potential gaps in provision lay, so that the gaps could be filled. The post was currently funded for one year only. 

 

A Member expressed the view that LBBs CCTV provision was inadequate and asked if new CCTV cameras could be bought. The Chairman said that it had been agreed previously that new CCTV cameras could be acquired for safety reasons. These had been ordered. It was clarified that these particular cameras would be used for parking enforcement only. 

 

A detailed discussion followed concerning the use and provision of CCTV cameras and issues around surveillance. A Member said that because a camera had been moved from a location in Penge, the area had subsequently returned to becoming a crime hotspot. The Head of Trading Standards and Community Safety stated that cameras could be moved and relocated. He also said that the policy surrounding CCTV needed to be reviewed.  CCTV cameras could be taken down and redeployed to crime hotspots, as long as the requirements of the Surveillance Commissioner were met. This was normally done in response to a request from the police, who would have to supply the required crime data to meet the surveillance requirements.

 

A Member asked why LBB was stuck with a small number of cameras. The Portfolio Holder explained that this was due to a lack of money and the fact that the requirement was non-statutory. The Member asked if there was any money available from other budgets. It was important to deal with rising crime and the public was upset. She suggested that the provision of more CCTV cameras should be regarded as an investment.

 

The Committee was appraised concerning the cost of a new CCTV camera:

 

·  £7k for the camera

·  £1200.00 per annum for the sim card

·  Whatever the provision of a new pole would cost

·  Total cost for a new CCTV camera could rise to £20k

 

The Head of Trading Standards and Community  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8