The Climate Action, Environment and Highways Policy and Scrutiny Committee met on Tuesday 16 January 2024 to discuss the future use of CCTV across Westminster and the procurement of Highways Services. The committee made recommendations regarding the prioritisation of CCTV locations and the incorporation of net-zero commitments into future contracts.

CCTV in Westminster

The committee reviewed the current provision and future direction of CCTV use in Westminster, with a focus on its role in tackling crime and anti-social behaviour (ASB). Councillor Adam Hug, Leader of the Council, introduced the report, highlighting the importance of CCTV as a deterrent against issues such as fly-tipping and noise nuisance. Councillor Aicha Less, Cabinet Member for Communities and Public Safety, echoed these sentiments.

Members raised several questions regarding leaseholder charges, the status of existing CCTV cameras, and the potential for sharing a consultant's report on CCTV. Concerns were also raised about partnership work with other agencies, the legal considerations under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) 2000, and balancing public safety with privacy concerns. The committee discussed various camera types, including nomadic, mobile, and re-deployable options, and the criteria for selecting deployment locations, with an emphasis on avoiding deployment on housing estates. Questions were also posed about the redeployment of cameras from lifts, the possibility of live-feed CCTV on housing estates, and the ease of redeploying proposed cameras. The effectiveness of CCTV signage as a deterrent, the process for accessing footage for residents and the police, and measures to prevent camera damage were also discussed. The committee sought clarity on the distribution of cameras across Westminster wards, data storage policies, and the progress of pilot CCTV programmes for fly-tipping and nuisance noise. The potential use of cameras for issues like illegal parking and noisy deliveries, methods for measuring success, and the involvement of ward panels were also debated.

Following the discussion, the committee made five recommendations:

• Prioritise locations with a high incidence of crimes against the person, particularly thefts and muggings.
• Consider installing cameras on quieter streets, away from businesses, to combat issues such as drug-dealing.
• Permit residents to contribute to the selection of CCTV locations, potentially through a bid system.
• Use cameras, in part, to monitor and reduce graffiti at hotspots.
• Ensure cameras are mobile and reactive to flagged issues.

The committee also requested a version of the consultant's report on CCTV in Westminster and that future CCTV developments be made available for engagement with the Policy and Scrutiny process as details are finalised.

Highways Services Procurement

Councillor Paul Dimoldenberg, Cabinet Member for City Management and Air Quality, introduced the report on Highways Services Procurement, assisted by Philip Robson, Interim Director of City Highways. The committee discussed the procurement process for highways services, including the assets owned and the work involved.

Questions were raised regarding preparedness for extreme weather conditions, the synchronisation of contract start and end dates, and the benefits of economies of scale. The committee also inquired about the consideration of insourcing aspects of the contract, streamlining drainage and surface run-off, and the inclusion of electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure. Given that the contract is set to extend beyond the Council's 2030 net-zero target, members recommended that the Council consider incorporating net-zero and emission reduction commitments into contract awards. The advantages and disadvantages of a long contract length, the Council's ability to address inadequate service from contractors, and the confidence in the bidding process for the contract were also discussed. Members sought assurance on value for money and whether the service would be willing to return to the committee at the point of offer or decision-making.

The committee made one recommendation:

• Consider incorporating net-zero commitments into contracts.