Date set for CCTV review

The transfer of West Berkshire's CCTV system will be reviewed by the council's overview and scrutiny committee

A DATE has been set for a review into the protracted transfer of West Berkshire Council's CCTV system to a new hub in Windsor and Maidenhead.

West Berkshire Council's Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSMC) will meet on June 9 to look into the details of the project, which was hit with delays, causing resentment amongst local traders in Bartholomew Street and Pound Lane who believed crimes over the Christmas period went unmonitored by the CCTV cameras in place.

The chairman of the OSMC, Brian Bedwell (Con, Calcot), has released details of which issues will be scrutinised, and when conclusion as to what, if anything, could have gone better, will be announced.

“People will be asked to provide information needed to complete the review, and there will be four areas looked at,” he said.

“The project plan, the introduction of the new system, the operation of the system during the transfer, and public communications.

“The task is to determine if transfer of the new system was carried out in the best possible way, if any improvements are necessary.”

To take place at the council offices in Market Street, the review, chaired by Mr Bedwell, is expected to last no longer than a couple of hours.

“Afterwards, the council's chief internal auditor will compile the findings of the meeting and recommendations will then be presented in front of the OSMC for them to conclude on June 28,” Mr Bedwell added.

West Berkshire Council's executive would then be presented with the findings.

An ongoing row which has caused several arguments between councillors and local politicians inside and outside of the council chamber, the decision to take the review was approved in March, following a request from West Berkshire's shadow portfolio holder for community safety, Roger Hunneman (Lib Dem, Victoria).

Mr Hunneman, a frequent attendee at Newbury Retailers Association meetings, said he was concerned over the length of time the transfer had taken.

Despite assurances from council officers in December that the switch-over to the new digital set-up in, aimed at improving service and saving £250,000 a year, would be complete by mid-January, the system was still not fully operational several months later.

The ongoing row continued last week when it emerged a CCTV camera in Thatcham, thought to be decomissioned but as yet not replaced, had been pointing towards a bush for over a week.

West Berkshire Council said it would not explain the status of the camera “for reasons of safety”.

The leader of the opposition Jeff Brooks (Lib Dem, Thatcham West) stated he would bring the matter to the attention of the council's executive.