Agenda item

Consider report by Director Strategic Commissioning and Partnerships.  (To follow.)

There had been circulated copies of a report by the Director Strategic Commissioning and Partnerships setting out potential options, benefits and future opportunities available to Scottish Borders for investment in Council Public Space CCTV and Town Centre Wi-Fi; and seeking Council agreement to proceed with a 3^rd party provider with a scheme for seven towns.   The report provided details of proposals presented to Council by CGI for both Public Space CCTV and Town Centre Wi-Fi, as well as facilitating a discussion on other options for consideration.  As well as providing information around the benefits and financial implications for the proposals, the report described the wider opportunities presented by modern CCTV systems coupled with Town Centre WIFI provision. Members welcomed the report and discussed the proposals in detail.  Members commented on the importance of CCTV for communities and highlighted the good work by both the Selkirk and Newcastleton Communities in funding and providing their own systems.  It was noted that a project in Hawick was also well advanced and it was suggested that it might be suitable as a pilot for other areas.  It was agreed that officers meet with those project organisers.  Members also asked that the CCTV and Town Wifi options be dealt with separately.  The Chief Executive confirmed that when the fully costed business case was brought back for consideration the costs would be shown for each element.  There was a difference of opinion regarding how best to take the matter forward and a vote was taken as follows:-

VOTE

Councillor Rowley, seconded by Councillor Pirone, moved approval of the recommendations as contained in the report.

Councillor M. Douglas, seconded by Councillor Orr, moved as an amendment that the recommendations in the report be amended as follows:-

“That Scottish Borders Council:

(a)     recognises the benefits of town centre CCTV and wi-fi systems;

(b)     agrees to a principle of investment and modernisation to reflect community priorities;

(c)     notes with concern the high indicative ROM costs, and determines to ensure that best value is achieved;

(d)     agrees in principle to proceed with a seven town CCTV and town centre Wi-Fi solutions, subject to receiving a fully defined proposal, costed business case and funding arrangements coming back to a subsequent Council meeting for final approval; 

(e)     agrees to examine whether the CCTV network in Selkirk, which provided an eight camera, cloud-based system for £30,000, provides a comparable alternative delivery solution having regard to the quality, security and costs associated with the system; and

(f)      agrees that consultation is undertaken with other towns and communities to determine views, practicalities and priorities for potential future CCTV and Town Centre Wi-Fi investment opportunities.”

On a show of hands Members voted as follows:-

Motion             -           18 votes

Amendment     -           10 votes

The Motion was accordingly carried.

DECISION

DECIDED:-

(a)     to accept the report as an Outline Business Case with a range of background issues, benefits and future considerations relating to CCTV and Town Centre Wi-Fi for the Scottish Borders;

(b)     to note the options submitted by CGI, including outline financial implications;

(c)     that the current SBC policy around CCTV systems move to a principle of investment and modernisation to reflect community priorities;

(d)     in principle to proceed, with a seven town CCTV and town centre Wi-Fi solution; subject to receiving a fully defined proposal, costed business case and funding arrangements coming back to a subsequent Council meeting for final approval; and

(e)     that consultation was undertaken with other towns and communities to determine views, practicalities and priorities for potential future CCTV and Town Centre Wi-Fi investment opportunities.

MEMBERS

Councillors Anderson and Moffat left the meeting.