This is quite an interesting response from Alec Shelbrooke MP. Whether what he is stating has come about as a result of recent changes I don't know, but we have been told on several occasions that the council does not have any responsibility for speeding, nor does it have any powers to do anything about it.
There's nothing to suggest that any action will be taken, but it does put a different complexion upon things.
"............ I have spoken with colleagues in the Department for Transport this week to get some clarification on this for you.
Under the previous Government, local authorities received funding from central government specifically for speed cameras. This is no longer the case.
Ministers state that local authorities, police and safer road partnerships can still use speed cameras if they wish – however, Ministers will not mandate either the installation or decommissioning of speed cameras. I understand that it is up to these organisations to decide whether to install or decommission speed cameras, and how to use their own funding in this area.
The Government is clear that local government needs increased flexibility to take decisions locally to deliver the solutions that suit them best. Through removing ring-fencing of budgets, I understand that local authorities are now free to determine their own spending priorities and to make decisions on how to achieve cost savings.
If you have been told by Council officers that the Government now prevent them from installing speed cameras then this is incorrect and I would hope that Cllr Bruce would be able to look into this and see than in future only correct information is relayed."
