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Issue

Issue - meetings

Use of Camera Technology to improve Road Safety and Network

Meeting: 28/09/2017 - Cabinet Member for Traffic & Transportation (Item 15)

15 Use of Camera Technology to improve Road Safety and Network Management pdf icon PDF 151 KB

The purpose of the report by the Director of Transport, Environment and Business Support is to provide the Cabinet Member with an update on the current use of camera technology in the city as it relates to the Traffic and Transportation portfolio. This includes bus lane and school zig zag enforcement as well as the use of the city's CCTV camera network. The report also makes recommendations as to the future use of these various technologies.

 

RECOMMENDED:

(1)  That the Cabinet Member notes the current use and effectiveness of camera technology for the benefit of enforcement and network management and approves the continued use of such technology.

 

(2)  That the Cabinet Member approves the purchase of additional cameras and associated equipment that will facilitate the deployment at additional sites; the locations and purpose of which will be agreed by the Cabinet Member in consultation with officers

 

(3)  That the Cabinet Member instructs the Director of Transport, Environment and Business Support to carry out a study to identify how better equipped the city's road network should be so far as visual and virtual technology and for a report on the findings, including associated costs, to return to a future decision meeting.  

Additional documents:

Decision:

The Cabinet Member:

 

 (1)      Noted the current use and effectiveness of camera technology for the benefit of enforcement and network management and approved the continued use of such technology.

 

(2)       Approved the purchase of additional cameras and associated equipment that will facilitate the deployment at additional sites; the locations and purpose of which will be agreed by the Cabinet Member in consultation with officers.

 

(3)       Instructed the Director with responsibility for Transport to carry out a study to identify how better equipped the city's road network should be so far as visual and virtual technology and for a report on the findings, including associated costs, to return to a future decision meeting. 

Minutes:

Alan Cufley, Director for Transport, Environment and Business Support, presented the report which was an update on camera technology used for a variety of uses around the city, with enforcement of transgressions of bus lanes since March 2014 (with updated guidelines in 2015) and used to enforce zig zags outside schools since 2016.  The report requested an extension to the current two mobile cameras used for schools which were in high demand, and this would also help deploy Civil Enforcement Officers (CEOs) elsewhere.  More information was needed on how cameras changed the behaviours of drivers on the city's road network and a study was therefore proposed to look at the cost of cameras and to see where they would be most effective.  Due to the imminent retirement of Mr Cufley the third recommendation was adjusted to give this task to the Director who would be responsible for transport.

 

Questions were then asked of the officers who included Pam Turton and Matthew Crowler, which included:

 

·         Levels of abuse encountered by the CEOs when enforcing transgressions at schools - these were not specific to schools but some incidents were reported further due to the level of physical or verbal aggression

·         The reduction in numbers of PCNs issued when cameras were at schools, leading to improved safety

·         Councillor Chowdhury asked about the extent of camera use to prevent crimes in hotspots such as Victoria Road North, and it was reported that the Lighting Strategy was also seeking to make safety improvements and that trees were cut back to allow more light where the need was identified.

 

Councillor Bosher, as Cabinet Member for Traffic & Transportation, reported that StageCoach were seeking to increase their vehicles in order to maintain their current levels on the No.21 and 23 routes due to congestion, so enforcement of bus lanes was important for sustainable transport routes.  He stressed that where there were no infringements PCNs were not issued so that this was not a finance raising initiative but an attempt to increase safety around schools (as requested by a previous TECS Scrutiny Panel) and improve public transport routes. This would also release teachers for their other duties.

 

Councillor Sanders asked that Councillor Stagg be given the results of the study, and they welcomed the development of the bus lane enforcement.

 

DECISIONS

 

The Cabinet Member:

 

 (1)      Noted the current use and effectiveness of camera technology for the benefit of enforcement and network management and approved the continued use of such technology.

 

(2)       Approved the purchase of additional cameras and associated equipment that will facilitate the deployment at additional sites; the locations and purpose of which will be agreed by the Cabinet Member in consultation with officers.

 

(3)       Instructed the Director with responsibility for Transport to carry out a study to identify how better equipped the city's road network should be so far as visual and virtual technology and for a report on the findings, including associated costs, to return to a future decision meeting.