Coventry City Council proposes the demolition of its Jackson Road premises that includes its 20-year-old CCTV and alarm monitoring centre; and to re-instate this land as extra burial space – up to 300 graves – for St Paul’s cemetery. The council says this review of its major operational property means ‘significantly lower running costs of the new build’ will save it money, in terms of heating, cooling and maintenance and ‘agile working’ – namely fewer desks. Jackson Road, newer than the council’s 1960s-era main Whitley depot, comprises the monitoring building, ICT hub, a collection of small offices, a poison store and kennelling for stray dogs. Jackson Road services will re-locate to Whitley.
As for security of the redeveloped Whitley site – that the council hopes will bring scope for efficiencies – externally contracted security that does patrols can be cancelled. “Instead, we will utilise the security staff in our Monitoring & Response Service that will by default be based on site 24/7 to carry out deterrent patrols and provide an on-site security presence.”
The Coventry Communications Centre, the security arm of Coventry City Council, dates from 1999. The NSI Gold accredited site works 24-7-365 and also offers Coventry TeleCareline and key-holding. According to the council’s most recent, 2017 report, it has some 250 CCTV public space cameras, covering the city centre, car parks and some subways. Among the CCC’s recent work, it’s been migrating cameras from various platforms to the Bosch video management system; and working on IT with West Midlands Police to allow remote access to CCTV.
At a total cost of £5.1m, the council anticipates completing the programme of works by April 2020, as discussed at the council cabinet meeting on April 10. This redevelopment of Whitley is part of a plan to rationalise the number of council office buildings.
Picture by Mark Rowe; Coventry bus station.
