Agenda item

The report of the Leader of the Council was submitted setting out the details of the business undertaken by the Executive.

The Leader and the Cabinet made statements and responded to questions.

The following questions were submitted in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11.1

1.  Fly-Tipping

Question from Councillor O’Neill to Councillor Rayment

In view of the increase in fly-tipping, will the Council look again at using covert CCTV to increase enforcement against fly-tippers and other anti-social behaviour?

Answer

The use of CCTV, particularly covert surveillance is regulated by laws which are intended to protect individual’s rights to privacy. 

The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 requires the use of covert surveillance by a local authority to be authorised by a   Magistrate. Authorisation requires periodic review and a covert CCTV surveillance cannot be left in place indefinitely. 

Authorisation can only be granted for serious offences, i.e those which attract a six month custodial sentence. Some fly tipping offences meet this threshold but the use of surveillance must be proportionate and justifiable.

The Council operates both fixed and moveable CCTV cameras. There are costs to providing additional cameras, typically £8,000 to install an additional fixed camera. The Council has two moveable cameras,   which can be located to overtly monitor priority areas. The cameras are currently deployed in areas where police have highlighted concerns around violent crime (for example violence linked to drug supply and prostitution). Relocating a camera can cost around £800.

Overt cameras can be deterrent and may discourage fly-tipping from hotspots. Installation of overt cameras does not require authorisation by a Magistrate. Work to identify enforcement priorities by risk can be undertaken to determine whether a moveable camera may be deployed to cover a fly-tipping hot spot, but should be balanced against the risk presented by violent crime and any decision should be taken in consultation with the police.

2.  Stoneham Tower

Councillor Painton to Councillor Letts

Leader after the motion on Stoneham Tower was passed by all what has happened since and have the university been asked their intentions and what time scale are they looking at for moving forward. 

Answer

A member of University staff was at the meeting at which we discussed Stoneham tower and you will recall I asked them to note the strength of feeling about the issue and to initiate some action. I have recently written to the University to receive an update and will share this as soon as it is received.

3.  Snow Disruption

Councillor McEwing to Councillor Rayment

Can the Cabinet Member agree, what a brilliant job our Highways Partners team and SCC staff done, from Wednesday night 28^th February until the weekend, with the onslaught of winter weather.

Answer

Verbal response as follows provided by Councillor Rayment

“Can I answer this in two parts?  I accept on the first snow fall parts of the City struggled.  We had been gritting since the early hours, and when it started laying we saw a build-up of traffic all leaving early, and the police deciding to close flyovers and bridges in the City.

I make no excuse but nothing we could do would have stopped this.  Behind the scenes we had officers staying in hotels at their own cost to ensure they were close and on hand.  We had staff volunteers in 4x4’s moving key people around the City.  A special mention should go to:-

Amanda, Boorer, Nigel Fulbrook, Lozz Scott, Sarah Kiss, Phil Moore, Sam Harrison, Jeff Turner, Dave Tyrie and Kevin McLaughlin.

We had extra crews at the hospital and stadium. Our refuse collectors were out gritting pavements and parks, but let me explain, grit or rock salt works by assisting ice to melt by a combination of having a lower freezing point than water and friction from tyres or feet.  It cannot work under the following conditions; temperatures below around -4, having snow on top of more than 40mm and not having moving traffic continually flowing on top of it once it has been put down.  It is rock salt not magic dust.  So, credit to all our staff and Balfour Beatty who worked hard to keep us moving.

With regard to this weekend just gone we had the same approach and when it became apparent that Balfour Beatty had missed at that point 1 grit bin I arranged to get it filled.  What further transpired is that 14 out of 400 bins were missed and as we were notified we refilled.  We are now in the process of ensuring that they are refilled.  We are also playing catch up with the bins that should have been collected in the East of the City on Monday. 

We also reviewed our comms strategy and beefed up what updates went to Councillors and the Public over the weekend.  Again thanks to those comms officers who worked non-stop to answer and supply information – Samantha Gibson, James Marshall, Rossanna Coppen, Vanessa Veal and others in the team.  Members we can always learn lessons, we can always do better but within my limited resource we   are doing what we can”.