CCTV upgrade plan to go before Moray's councillors
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A TRIAL is proposed to revamp Moray's aging public space CCTV system.
Although operated by the police, Moray Council owns and finances the surveillance equipment.
But there are major issues with its age and condition and live feeds are now only working in Elgin.
In Buckie, Forres, Keith and Lossiemouth, the system still records images which can be accessed later. However, problems such as condensation on the lens cannot be addressed at the time.
On Tuesday, Councillors will be asked to give the go-ahead to works which aim to return its full functionality.
A report to go before the council's economic growth, housing and environmental sustainability committee states: "The system's live feed currently relies on two matrices delivering the public space CCTV pictures.
"These matrices are old and are working at or just above their maximum capacity and have been estimated at £30,000 to replace.
"One of these matrices has failed and a temporary repair made earlier this year has also failed. This has resulted in reduced capacity of public space CCTV."
Alternative technology which does not require a matrix is proposed and that would initially be trialled in one town.
The report states: "A potential system has been identified but it is not guaranteed to work and there is an offer of a trial which if it fails will not incur any costs to the council.
"An indicative cost for the trial works, if successful, at one population centre is £1400."
Should the trial get the go-ahead from councillors and then prove successful, the report says the system could be rolled out within the authority's CCTV budget.
That is currently set at £17,000-a-year for maintenance and £5500 for repairs.
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