Issue - meetings

Report of the Cabinet Member Corporate Services

RESOLVED THAT

The Policy for the operation of CCTV surveillance systems on Cheltenham Borough Council property be approved.

The Cabinet Member Corporate Services introduced the report and explained that this related to the use of all CCTV surveillance systems within and on Council owned property excluding town centre equipment operated by Gloucestershire Police.

He explained that the purpose of the policy was twofold, firstly to ensure that individuals and the wider communities had confidence that surveillance cameras are deployed to protect and support them, rather than spy on them. Secondly, it was to provide assurance that where Cheltenham Borough Council used these complex technologies it would do so in line with the requirements for Data Protection Act 1998.

The Cabinet Member reported that each service manager who had responsibility for a CCTV scheme must have a specific Code of Practice in place before it becomes operational or within 6 months of the approval of this document. The corporate policy provided guidance to service managers and enables them to agree and publish a system specific Code of Practice for their service area and would assist system owners, management and operators to understand their legal obligations whilst reassuring the public about the safeguards within it. An annual review would ensure compliance with CCTV policy and the basic principals contained within it. Any major subsequent changes made to this Code would be approved by Cabinet.

When asked whether the policy applied to the webcam which looked out on to the Long Gardens the Cabinet Member invited the Corporate Governance, Risk and Compliance officer to address Cabinet. He stated that the CCTV policy allowed for additional surveillance systems and this particular webcam required its own Code of Practice.

RESOLVED THAT

The Policy for the operation of CCTV surveillance systems on Cheltenham Borough Council property be approved.