Agenda item

Subject to the required notice being given, Members of the Council can ask questions of the Chairman of the Council, the Leader of the Council, Portfolio Holders or Chairmen of Committees.

The time allocated for receiving and disposing of questions shall be a maximum of 30 minutes. Any question not disposed of at the end of this time shall be the subject of a written response, copied to all Members the following working day unless withdrawn by the questioner.

Subject to the required notice being given, Members of the Council could ask questions of the Chairman of the Council, the Leader of the Council, Portfolio Holders or Chairmen of Committees.

Two questions on notice had been submitted by Members on this occasion as set out below:-

Question One

Councillor Chris Griffiths asked Councillor Gina Placey, the Portfolio Holder for Partnerships:-

“As you are aware, the previous Conservative led administration secured £317,000 from the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex Safer Streets Fund towards projects that include upgrades to our existing CCTV cameras and 29 new CCTV cameras for Clacton Town Centre, along with an improved Control Centre and increased monitoring.

Can you please update this Council as to when you expect to see this much needed project completed and fully operational?”

The Partnerships Portfolio Holder replied as follows:-

“The Council successfully secured Safer Streets funding early in 2023. Due to the cost of the cameras and installation, the Council has had to go through a procurement process in accordance with the Council’s procedures.  At the end of May 2023, the successful bidder was informed and the Council has very recently received the signed contract from the Supplier.

It is envisaged that the work will commence in mid July 2023.  Completion of the CCTV and additional lighting (first stage) of the project should be completed within 3 months of the start date (mid October).

The improvements to the Control Centre and monitoring of the CCTV cameras will be taking place whilst the CCTV and lighting works are carried out in the Town Centre. It is predicted that the Community Safety Team and two part time CCTV operators will be recruited and commenced employment before the completion of the project to enable the system to be fully operational.

The system will be fully operational by early October 2023.”

Question Two

Councillor Paul Honeywood asked Councillor Mick Barry, the Portfolio Holder for Leisure & Public Realm:-

“This June, I have received more emails and phone calls raising concerns about our Clacton seafront and beaches than ever before.

Volunteers, using their spare time to remove large amounts of litter from our seafront and beaches, have also been in touch to highlight their concerns.

Concerns include both black and blue waste bins left overflowing, insufficient bins to cope with demand and a clear impression that our current services are being overwhelmed.

It is worrying to hear that used blue gas canisters are being found amongst the litter left on our beaches.

Given we have the peak season ahead of us can the Portfolio Holder tell this Council what additional action, above that already planned, will be taken to tackle these problems?”

The Leisure & Public Realm Portfolio Holder replied as follows:-

“Thank you very much Councillor Honeywood for your question, which is highlighting an issue that I am sure previous administrations have had to deal with on many occasions.

It is a difficult seasonal issue and one that is covered by the Summer Plan for our beaches and seafronts.

May I firstly say that I am grateful for the time taken by volunteers in helping to keep our beaches and open spaces clean and free from litter.

Our officers and staff continue to monitor and inspect our seafront areas and I can confirm that additional blue seafront bins are being installed by our contractor to assist with the collection and storage of litter and waste generated by the very welcome visitors to our beaches and promenades.

Whilst these blue seafront litter bins provide a greater capacity to store litter we will continue to raise awareness and ask visitors, when confronted with a full litter bin to either take their waste home with them or find a bin with spare capacity.

With the main school holiday period commencing later this month the frequency of litter bin emptying will be further increased to reflect the increased footfall and demand placed upon the seafronts.

As Portfolio Holder for this area I am pleased that we are attracting visitors and confirming our strong tourist economy, but also mindful that we have to deal with the problems that comes with this success.”

Councillor Honeywood then asked a question of clarification to which Councillor Barry then responded.