Taunton Town Council to pay for CCTV, Vivary Park, and tourist centre

At a full town council meeting held yesterday (Tuesday, February 13) councillors agreed to pay for the following Somerset Council services in 2024/25 for a total cost of £289,030.

• CCTV (with relevant Service Level Agreement to be delegated to the Clerk to agree) - £167,000

• Vivary Park Gates Opening and Closure - circa £8,030

• Tourist Information Centre - £114,000

This is allocated from the previously agreed budget headings outlined in the 24/25 budget relating to Service Devolution.

Chris Hall, executive director for community services at Somerset Council, also attended the meeting to give an overview of the services the town council was deciding upon.

He said: “I thought it could be quite helpful to come along and give you a high-level overview of services that are included in your budget this evening for consideration to whether you fund these services.”

Mr Hall gave details about CCTV cameras, the Tourist Information Centre, and the opening and closure of Vivary Park gates, which will continue to be run by Somerset Council.

He also said: “The question is whether you will support fund those for the benefit of the people of Taunton.”

The council agreed to subsidise three services at risk due to Somerset Council's financial crisis (Image: Newsquest)

CCTV

Somerset Council has operated CCTV cameras under different guises since 1994. The cameras are permanently monitored 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

The council has trained staff able to take calls which also has direct access to the police, Mr Hall said.

“The proposal in front of you is whether Taunton Town Council chooses to fund the continuation of Taunton cameras,” he also added.

The cost of the cameras is £167,000 for 2024/25.

Mr Hall also said: “Management responsibility sits with Somerset Council so we directly manage the members who are monitoring these cameras.

“We have two operators in the control centre monitoring calls and downloading very quickly the information that’s required.”

The cameras cover the majority of the town centre and periphery.

Vivary Park

Somerset Council employees unlock the park each morning at 7.30am. They overtake safety inspections and report damage that’s occurred.

Mr Hall also explained the locking operations are carried out by an external contractor as a security company would include this as part of their routine around town.

They would clear anybody in the park who shouldn’t be there and lock the seven gates.

The cost is just over £8,000 and there’s no cost in that sum included in the unlocking, so the council only had to consider the cost of the external security contractor, Mr Hall said.

Taunton Visitor Centre

This is a continuing service by Somerset Council and the town council was not asked to accept responsibility or liability for the employees, who will be retained by Somerset Council or the contractors.

At the end of his overview, Mr Hall also added: “We are aware there are CCTV cameras that operate at a lower cost we are completely open to having conversations about how that service is delivered in the future. If it becomes cheaper, so will your contributions.”

He also explained there are different models on which CCTV cameras can operate and some areas in the country rely on volunteers or part-time managers.

Cllr Amber Packer-Hughes asked: “I just want to ask if you have asked the police to contribute to the CCTV costs.”

Mr Hall said police contribute £10,000 per annum. The council asked for additional funding, but police have declined to fund this service any further.

Cllr Ed Firmin asked what the biggest cost was in running the information centre and Mr Hall identified staffing as the biggest one.

Cllr Caroline Ellis said: “I strongly support that we confirm to save these services. This is Taunton. We need to save these services by subsidising them, we don’t have other options.

“CCTV play a key role in deterring crime. Vivary Park is not just about locking a few gates but it’s making sure people who shouldn’t be there are not there and referring things on.

“The Tourist Information Centre is vital for people and visitors.”

Cllr Bev Fernandes said: “This is public money that we are using if we can look at different options, and I completely agree we have to keep CCTV that is without question, but I do think moving forward we may need to look at different things to ensure value for money because it’s public money that we’re using.”

Cllr Ray Tully said: “That’s unbelievable. I'm not happy about this at all. Yes, we will have to do it, but who's actually supplying the service for the camera?

Mr Hall said: “So I just want to be clear. I understand the frustration. Somerset Council have a considerable budget gap, we know the story.

“The question is do you want to support these services for the benefit of your community? I understand that you have been placed in a very difficult position but there is a choice, not a pleasant choice, whether you want to continue that for your community or not.”

He then also said the CCTV service will be run by the council’s employees monitoring the camera in the contact centre.

Cllr Tully: “Why aren’t we doing it ourselves? It may be done cheaper. I need to explain to people why they have to pay more money and I can’t give them an answer.

“I can explain the reason, I understand what happens in Somerset, I understand the problem and the problem didn’t start two or three years ago, the problem started 10 years ago and that’s when something should have been done about it and that concerns me that nothing was done.

“Now we have no options. What happens next year if we are in the same problem? Are you going to ask for more money?”

Mr Hall said that there could be different models that could be looked at like volunteers, outsourcing, and change to staffing.

Replying about the future and what Somerset Council will do in the future, he said devolution of services might continue “for a long time”.

Cllr Deakin said: “CCTV is not a statutory service, full stop. It should be, I agree, but it’s not, by law.

“it could have been taken away from us and they could have gone down that route, but they asked towns and parishes whether we wanted to take them on.”

The majority of the council voted to fund the three services discussed at the meeting.