A verbal update on the Environmental Services Department will be given by Mr Jim McGowan.
Minutes:
An update was provided on the work of the Environmental Protection team by Mr Jim McGowan subsequent to the tour of LBB CCTV centre.
Mr McGowan explained to the Committee that Environmental Protection was broken down into 7 main areas:
1. CCTV
2. Housing Improvement
3. Housing Enforcement
4. Public Health Nuisance and Noise
5. Stray Dogs, Drainage and Pest Control
6. Scientific Services
7. Coroner and Mortuary Service
It was explained that Housing Improvement included disabled facility grants, and that the budget for this was usually around £1M per annum.
It was noted that Housing Enforcement included dealing with rogue landlords, and with various legal and licensing matters that may arise with Housing of Multiple Occupation.
It was explained that the Public Health, Nuisance and Noise responsibilities incorporated:
· Domestic Violence
· Noisy Parties
· Neighbour Disputes
· Public Health Complaints
Mr McGowan explained that the council had a statutory responsibility for dealing with stray and abandoned dogs. Mr McGowan informed that vicious dogs were destroyed, whilst most other digs were rehomed. The work of pest control had been contracted out. The Committee were informed that investigations were ongoing to deal with the problem of rats in some of the parks.
Mr McGowan explained that some of the work of Scientific Services was dealing with requests for reports with regard to contaminated plots and land. The council were examining proposals for charging for this.
It was noted that the Coroner and Mortuary Service was currently managed by the Princess University Hospital. This could be the subject of a future tender. The possibility of a shared service contract with other boroughs was being considered.
Mr McGowan went on to discuss CCTV. It was explained that the use of CCTV was essential in terms of crime prevention and deterrent, in addition to generating revenue. There was hard evidence that crime levels reduced in areas where cameras were operating.
The Committee was informed that LBB CCTV evidence had been provided to civil companies, and that LBB had now began to charge for this service. CCTV was required to comply with legislation and to make the public feel safe. LBB used 180 cameras in total, 75 of these were in car parks and 11 were used for bus lane enforcement. LBB also had use of 2 mobile vehicles fitted with cameras, and a big camera that could be moved to various parts of the borough as required.
The Committee heard that the monitoring contract cost £256,000.00 per annum, and the maintenance contract cost £268,000.00 per annum; hence the total cost of running the LBB CCTV Service was £524,000.00 per annum.
Councillor Botting stated that CCTV was essential and a matter of common sense, particularly with the raised terrorist threat. Other Members expressed a similar view, and that CCTV made shoppers feel safe to shop, and that it was also important that the public felt safe in public car parks.
The Committee noted that the two contracts pertaining to stray and abandoned dogs would need renewal soon.
RESOLVED that:
(1) the contents of the presentation be noted
(2) the matters outstanding with respect to the dog contracts be addressed