Portsmouth City Borough Council Cabinet Member for Community Safety Meeting

Councillor Gemma New and Clare Jenkins, Superintendent 600, Portsmouth District Commander sent their apologies.

No interests were declared.

Bruce Marr, Head of Harm and Exploitation introduced the report.

Members noted that this is a non-statutory but vital service.

DECISIONS

The Cabinet Member for Community Safety agreed to retender current ISVA provision until 31^st March 2025 (3 years) with an option to extend by 4 years (plus 2 years, plus 2 years) with a contribution from Portsmouth City Council of £105,000 over the 7 years.

Roy Goulding, Community Safety Manager introduced the report and added that four additional Community Wardens will be on permanent contracts from  March; there are now 12 permanent posts funded by the Housing Revenue Account.  The other four wardens have had their contracts extended until 31 March 2022.

Councillors Darren Sanders and Scott Payter-Harris made deputations in favour of the recommendation.  These can be viewed on the council's website here: Cabinet Member for Community Safety 16 February 2021 on Livestream.

Councillor Corkery commented that the Community Wardens did a great job and responded very quickly and flexibly to assist other services.

In summing up, Councillor Hunt noted that:

·         He was pleased that this service had cross party support.

·         When he took on this portfolio, he had declared support for the Community Wardens. 

·         He thanked everyone involved in providing this very good service and noted that it integrated well with youth services.

Councillor Lee Hunt noted the report

Roy Goulding introduced the report and in response to questions clarified the following points:

·       There are 133 fixed and 18 re-deployable cameras. 

·       The team manages and maintains Gosport Borough Council Housing cameras.

·       The cover is 24/7 every day of the year.

·       The bid for three additional cameras and infrastructure was successful.

·       There is one year remaining for the contract for infrastructure phone lines.  When the contract expires, the council is looking at moving from analogue to digital. The existing systems are hybrid and therefore can be switched immediately once the infrastructure is in place.  The evidential value would be higher and therefore make the city safer.

·       It takes an operator approximately 12 months to be fully competent.

·       The Control room was originally built in 1996 and rebuilt/ upgraded in 2014

·       The funding that has been recently awarded will go towards upgrading the monitors, systems and laptops. 

Councillor Cal Corkery noted his support for this service and the importance of ensuring the public knows that the council takes into account of human rights with regard to privacy and the use of cameras is proportionate.

Councillor Lee Hunt noted that policing is done by consent in our country and the police feel safer with the body worn cameras and the safeguarding cameras.  Helping this way means that they can remain unarmed.

He summed up by saying that security and safeguarding of people is not only the responsibility of the police, the Community Wardens or Safeguarding Cameras staff.  It is a combination of working together with the regulatory services and youth services.  It is important that we continue to support each other and work together to tackle antisocial behaviour.  This together with the funding from the police that was recently granted that we go after those people in our communities who are committing crime and making the lives of residents miserable with antisocial behaviour.  The investment made in the control room and making more Community Wardens permanent and into the police, all will come together to improve the quality of life of everyone.

Councillor Lee Hunt noted the report.