Please can you let me know EXACTLY what the proposed average speed cameras on the new South Devon Highway have cost so far in meetings to discuss the issue, the expected “maintenance” costs of the cameras once installed and that is to include how the cameras are monitored and penalties issued etc. I am keen to know EXACTLY what these cameras will cost the tax payer to a). Discuss (past, present and future meetings) b). install and c). Maintain (including all monitoring etc).
We can confirm that the available information on costs of installation, maintenance and monitoring are contained within the 3 committee reports which can be viewed via the following link :
In relation to internal discussions within Devon County Council, the time spent is not recorded separately and we therefore do not hold this information.
In relation to external advice obtained, we can confirm the following:
1) The time charged by the Chief Engineer who prepared and presented the reports for the 3 November 2016 and 30 March 2017 meetings of the Highways and Traffic Orders Committee. The time he charged to the South Devon Highway project for the 4 weeks leading up to each Committee meeting is as follows
Week ending Activity Hours Charge
14/10/2016 Supervision – Contract super in chief [CSC] 10.65 £690.12
21/10/2016 Supervision – Contract super in chief [CSC] 6.5 £421.20
28/10/2016 Supervision – Contract super in chief [CSC] 1 £64.80
04/11/2016 Supervision – Contract super in chief [CSC] 15 £972.00
10/03/2017 Supervision – Contract super in chief [CSC] 0.5 £32.40
17/03/2017 Supervision – Contract super in chief [CSC] 7 £453.60
24/03/2017 Supervision – Contract super in chief [CSC] 1.5 £97.20
31/03/2017 n/a 0 £0.00
However, we should clarify that this time would not have been exclusively on the average speed cameras report and we do not hold details as to what exactly what time would have been spent on the average speed cameras report.
2) The fees charged by the County Council’s partner consultant Jacobs for feasibility work on the average speed cameras project, including preparing the report for the 26 July 2018 meeting of the Highways and Traffic Orders Committee.
The charges to the end of July 2018 are £4,345.96
With regard to future maintenance costs, we do not hold information with regard to the future. However, the March 2017 HATOC report contains the following statement:
“With regards to maintenance, experiences of the Safety Camera Partnership would suggest that the electronic equipment has a typical life of 7 to 10 years before requiring replacement. The annual maintenance and calibration costs quoted to Cornwall Council for their average speed systems are between £11 – 15k per site”