CCTV Cutback in Scarborough

The use of CCTV cameras in Scarborough may be discontinued due to funding cutback.

14:17 13 March 2018

Scarborough Council may be forced to turn off all their CCTVs due to funding cutback. The council operates 91 cameras that are routinely used to fight crime and tackle delays on roads in Filey, Scarborough, and Whitby.

 

Lisa Dixon, the council's head of legal services, said: "The CCTV centre has for a number of years worked with NYCC through its CCTV centre with regard to traffic management.

 

"NYCC pay the council £76,000 per annum. NYCC has recently advised the council that they have identified an alternative method of delivery for this service, which results in an annual reduction in costs to them to £22,000 per annum. This comprises a traffic management system only.

 

"As a result, they have informed the council that they will be reducing the existing payment to this amount as they are of the opinion that they should not be financing a system which goes beyond this model.

 

"This would result in a reduction of £54,000 in the Council’s budget for the provision of CCTV services.

 

Scarborough Council has been responsible for the monitoring of the said CCTV system since 2003. It works with North Yorkshire Police to provide CCTV images following crimes in the towns.

 

According to Ms Dixon’s report, the centre runs at the minimum staff level required and a reduction in headcount is not viable.