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U-turn on decision to cut public space CCTV funding
28/01/2022
The controversial money saving proposal had received widespread criticism
It appears that plans by the controlling Conservative group at Cherwell District Council to cut the funding for the town centre public space CCTV system have been abandoned. Savings of £99,000 had been included in the council’s draft budget for 2022-23.
Banbury FM has been told that the decision was announced to group leaders on Wednesday with other Councillors due to be notified.
The controversial idea had caused widespread concern with Labour Councillor Sean Woodcock, leader of the opposition at Cherwell, proposing to recommend the removal of cuts to CCTV funding altogether, inviting the council to “come up with something else”. The motion at a Budget Planning Committee meeting was voted down by six of the seven Conservative members on the committee.
Subsequently Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Barber was asked to intervene by Labour Councillor Perran Moon, who described the proposal as “idiotic”.
Mr Barber said the most efficient way of managing CCTV across the whole of Thames Valley was a matter of ongoing discussion. He said: “I am very keen to work with all local authorities and there is a varied picture across Thames Valley around the way authorities fund CCTV.
“I would always argue for the greatest contribution from local authorities to support this but there is a mixed economy.”
On being told of the decision to reverse the decision to cut funding for the CCTV system Councillor Sean Woodcock said: “It seems Conservative chaos has spread from the national to the local party, with this latest screeching u-turn.
“Months ago, it was obvious to all except them that this was a daft and dangerous plan. But they decided to plough on regardless, rather than admitting they’d got it wrong and dropping it last year.
“Labour in Cherwell, under my leadership, will always be tough on crime and anti-social behaviour and do all we can to ensure that residents across the region feel safe and secure.
“As the Conservatives go soft on crime, rest assured we will continue to hold them to account and not compromise on such vital crime prevention measures.’’
The public space CCTV system is a jointly funded initiative with Thames Valley Police. The CCTV network consists of 80 cameras in Banbury, Bicester and Kidlington which are connected to a central control room staffed by four Thames Valley Police employees, who operate and monitor the cameras and provide evidential material to support Police investigations.
The proposed removal of funding for the CCTV system was put forward as part of £2.6million worth of savings that the council says it needs to make in the financial year 2022-23.
Published: by Banbury FM Newsteam