Concern at move to turn off Somerset CCTV cameras

PCC Mark Shelford said "CCTV is a valuable investigative tool for the police"

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Somerset has said he is concerned turning off CCTV cameras in the county would put people's safety at risk.

It is one of the proposals unveiled by Somerset Council to stop the local authority going effectively bankrupt.

Council Leader Bill Revans said the cuts are "heartbreaking", but necessary to save £100m.

Other measures could include raising council tax by 10 per cent, closing recycling centres and selling assets.

Details set to be considered on 15 January show Somerset Council, which declared a "financial emergency" last year, is facing cost pressures of £108.5 million in 2024-25, an annual increase of 20 per cent.

Speaking on BBC Radio Somerset, Liberal Democrat Mr Revans admitted stopping the council's CCTV service would make the county a less safe place to live.

"This is not something we would want to do," he said, but added that CCTV is a discretionary service that councils don't legally have to provide.

Council leader Bill Revans said "it's devastating to bring forward a set of options" that involve cutting services by £35m

Mark Shelford, Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset, said he shared the concerns of residents, particularly those in retail and business, who are worried "this will put their safety at risk".

"So far I'm unaware of any formal consultation process with the police about the impact that switching off CCTV may have on crime prevention or from an operational perspective," he said.

Mr Shelford saidhe is seeking assurance from Chief Constable Sarah Crew that she's working with the council to provide information and evidence to ensure a decision is made based on value and not just cost.

'Upsetting' council tax rise

Under the proposals, Somerset Council will also ask the government to be allowed to raise council tax by 10 per cent.

The local authority needs special permission to do this, as it is twice the maximum rise usually allowed.

On an average, Band D, property council tax would rise by £163.80 a year.

This amount excludes projected rises for fire, police and any imposed by town or parish councils.

Colin Hyde from south Somerset says he's "upset" by the proposed 10 per cent council tax increase

"I'm retired, my energy bills have astronomically risen in the last 12 months, we'll have to make economies," said south Somerset resident Colin Hyde.

"I'm reasonably well-off but I can see a lot of people are going to be desperately struggling if the council tax goes up by 10 per cent."

Somerset Council said its council tax is currently one of the lowest in the country and a ten per cent increase would bring the average bill just below the national average for UK councils.

John Turner, the Chief Executive of Visit Somerset" said it will be a blow to Somerset's tourism industry if this busy information centre at Cartgate is closed

The proposals also involve closing tourist information centres in Taunton and at Cartgate on the A303.

The Chief Executive of Visit Somerset John Turner said the move would be "dreadfully sad" as both centres are "very, very busy".

John Allen from Falmouth, Cornwall, who had stopped to walk his dog at Cartgate said "I've often popped in for information, sometimes just looking at the gifts they have. I'd miss it."

Andrew Robinson said "a lot of people from all around" use the Cartgate visitor centre

Under the proposals, five of the county's recycling centres could shut.

Funding for highways maintenance for things like potholes and verges could be squeezed and money for council owned public toilets stopped entirely.

Subsidies for bus services will be reviewed and so will support for the county's theatres.

Asset sell-off

Somerset Council says it hopes that in all the areas where they decide to make cuts to discretionary services, other bodies, like parish or town councils, will step in to help run them instead.

Increases in fees and charges for things like parking are also on the cards.

To balance the books, the council also plans to spend almost £37m from its reserves.

It also plans to ask the government if it can borrow money, or sell assets, to fund day-to-day running costs.

The council also said in future years, it will need to reduce the authority's size and staffing so it can be financially sustainable.

A public consultation is taking place ahead of the final council budget meeting on 20 February.