Decision details

To procure a repairs and maintenance contract for CCTV to cover all of Thanet District Councils current and future CCTV cameras and systems including for the installation of new items relating to CCTV and other technologies including but not limited to cameras, infrastructure, software, hardware and control room expansion.

Cabinet agreed the following:

1.  For the Authority to use Crown Commercial Service Framework, Network Services 3 RM6116, Lot 3a: IoT and Smart Cities (Smart shared and connected spaces) to procure a repairs and maintenance contract with British Telecommunications Public Limited Company;

2.  To allow the procurement and award of a contract (under the above framework), to implement a repairs and maintenance contract, installation of new items relating to CCTV and other technologies including but not limited to cameras, infrastructure, software, hardware and control room expansion;

3.  To update current additional CCTV equipment for the efficient running of CCTV;

4.  The necessary supplementary budget amendments, as set out within the Financial Implications sections, be recommended to Council for approval.

CCTV is at the forefront of crime prevention within Thanet, they work with partner agencies to try and keep Thanet safe, by protecting residents, visitors and property/assets. By updating the system, making vast improvements to infrastructure and cameras will help towards achieving this aim.

Alternative 1 - Do Nothing - This  means stay as we are and keep the Bosch system, cameras and not pursue a maintenance contract. Not having a repairs and maintenance contract for CCTV would mean that the Authority would be in breach of the Surveillance Camera Commissioner’s Code of Practice, leading to reputational damage, possible legal challenge and financial loss incurred to remove all cameras that we have in place across the district. Even if the system continued on in spite of the risks, CCTV cameras and systems would not be repaired and would lead to the failure to support key partners in the prevention and detection of Crime and Anti-social behaviour. This option was rejected as this would have a negative impact on the Authority leading to reputational harm and also provide zero value for money/protection for the residents of Thanet and may incur legal challenges.

Alternative 2 - Agree to just a Maintenance contract - all current cameras are out of warranty, as they age there is an increased cost to repairing them, year on year this would get more and more expensive to keep the system going, the VMS is out of date and is very expensive to maintain, again this will increase year on year. This is not a system that can be relied upon and will induce risks towards the Authority and its partners who have a responsibility to protect the local residents. This will also create a reputational risk to the authority too. This option was rejected as this would bring reputational harm and also provide zero value for money/protection for the residents of Thanet, It would also be very expensive to run and would need to be upgraded in the future anyway.