To comment on the report being considered by Cabinet on 23 November 2017.

The Head of Communities, Enforcement and Partnerships introduced the item and explained that the Budget Preparation paper was being brought to Overview and Scrutiny two months earlier than usual in order to set a budget in challenging financial circumstances; however, more details on the budget would be available in the new year. He explained that this was the first time that a Budget Preparation paper had been brought to the Crime and Disorder Overview and Scrutiny Panel.

The Head of Communities, Enforcement and Partnerships explained that an overall efficiency saving of £4.1million had been identified; of most relevance to the Panel was the saving of £202,000 which had come from the optimisation of the expected upgrade of CCTV. The Head of Communities, Enforcement and Partnerships informed Members that £1.3million had been brought forward from the Capital Programme in order to fund the CCTV network upgrade, and that this figure had already been through the Cabinet cycle and agreed. Members were informed that a basic Council Tax increase had been proposed, as had a three per cent increase on the Adult Social Care levy.

The Vice Chairman asked about funding of the permanent Hostile Mitigation Factors in Windsor, noting that the current mitigation was temporary. He also noted that a budget of £1.8million had been agreed in principle for this project, of which half would be paid for by Thames Valley Police. The Head of Communities, Enforcement and Partnerships reminded Members that the National Barrier Asset had been deployed as a temporary measure in response to the Westminster terrorist attack in March. Since then the Council had, along with Thames Valley Police, looked into what integrated mitigation factors were needed, especially when the historic setting and conservation issues were taken into consideration. The Head of Communities, Enforcement and Partnerships said the permanent structures were being developed with the specialists who had installed the temporary Hostile Mitigation Factors, and this was being managed by a project group. A proposed scheme had recently been submitted; however Members were reminded that before it could be fully implemented it would need to be considered for possible  planning consent and conservation approvals. Members were informed that other factors, such as when they would be implemented and where, and the impact on the flow of traffic through Windsor when they were deployed, were also being taken into consideration. It was hoped that identifying strategic locations for the mitigation factors would minimise disruption to traffic and residents.

The Chairman asked if the specification for the upgraded CCTV system had been agreed in writing with Thames Valley Police, in order for funding to be obtained. The Head of Communities, Enforcement and Partnerships informed Members that Craig Miller had previously written to TVP to confirm that the Council was developing specifications that would allow TVP to use the system in line with their own arrangements. These would be discussed again at a meeting on December 7^th. The Chairman asked to be kept updated on any developments regarding the specifications as he intended to raise it at the next PCC Panel in the New Year if no progress had been made.

Parish Cllr MacDonald queried the £1.8million being set aside for spending on the mitigation factors in Windsor, noting that it was higher than the proposed budget for the installation of the new CCTV system for the whole of the Royal Borough. The Head of Communities, Enforcement and Partnerships reminded Members that the Council would have to pay half of the net cost, with contributions being made by other bodies. Initial assessments had identified the proposed budget was the right amount to spend on the required security mitigation factors with funding from partners.