Agenda item

Report CSD 16077

The CCTV Control Room update was given by Jim McGowan, (LBB Head of Environmental Health). It had been anticipated that the CCTV Control Room refurbishment would have been completed, but this was not the case. The Department for Transport would not agree the “technical file” until they had viewed the images produced by the new CCTV cameras. However, the images could not be produced until the ‘tech file’ had been agreed. This meant that a “chicken and the egg” scenario had been in existence for a period. A compromise solution had since been found. It had been agreed that DfT representatives would attend, and that at the same time, the contractors would switch the new cameras on. A mutually agreed date had to be established. 

Post Meeting Note:

The mutually agreed date has been scheduled for 12^th July.

It was hoped that this could be completed within the two weeks following the meeting. Five percent of the contract value would be withheld for a year in case of any problems with the new system. Cllr Cartwright asked if LBB could switch back to the old system if the new one was not adequate. The response to this was that it could be done, but it was a big and expensive job. If this was the case, then the contractors would bear any costs.

Mr McGowan informed the Committee that the Dogs Contract had been retendered. The number of dogs being kennelled had reduced, and LBB were now only paying for dog kennels as and when they were needed. The reduction in usage seemed to be a trend. A different system was being used to rehome dogs. A partnership agreement for re-homing had been developed with Battersea Dogs Home, and this had resulted in reduced homing costs.

The Chairman asked Mr McGowan why the number of dogs requiring rehoming had reduced, and what the savings were. Mr McGowan responded that the number of dogs was reducing because of the new legislation that required dogs to be chipped; this meant that more dogs were going back to their owners. It was not possible to provide a precise figure in terms of savings at this time, but it was expected that it would be 5 figure sum.

Cllr Richard Williams argued against using Battersea Dogs Home on the basis that they put healthy dogs to sleep. He suggested using the Dogs Trust, and stated that they provided a free service. Mr McGowan responded that the Dogs Trust would not provide a re-homing service for free. Cllr Williams was of the view that they would re-home dogs for free. Mr McGowan stated that he would contact the Dogs Trust to clarify if they would provide a free re-homing service.

The remainder of the Matters Arising report was noted.

RESOLVED

(1) that a date would be agreed for the DfT to attend LBB when the contractors switch on the new CCTV Control Room

(2) that Mr McGowan contact the Dogs Trust to explore what costs (if any) would arise from an arrangement for the re-homing of stray dogs.