CCTV camera funding approved – but councillors demand value for money

By John Baron

An application to maintain closed circuit television cameras in West Leeds has been approved by councillors on the Outer West Community Committee – despite concerns over its value for money.

LeedsWatch applied for £13,000 from the committee to maintain cameras to deter crime, reduce anti-social behaviour and improve community safety and confidence. Leedswatch is a CCTV and security service offered by Leeds City Council, providing monitoring and security services at various public locations.  

The cameras are sited in public places in each of the four wards covered by the committee – Bramley & Stanningley, Calverley & Farsley, Farnley & Wortley and Pudsey.

Councillors meeting this afternoon at Farnley Hall approved the application – but called for better reporting of outcomes to councillors so they know money is being well spent.

Councillor Craig Timmins (Lab, Farsley & Calverley) said the cameras were ‘fantastic’ but said: “I do not not know whether we get value for money as the reporting is so poor.”

Cllr Trish Smith (Ref, Pudsey) backed calls for better reporting on the cameras’ impact. She added: “We are stuck between a rock and a hard place. We have to have cameras as they are a deterrent.”

“It is time for them to come here and talk turkey,” added Cllr Andrew Carter (Cons, Calverley & Farsley). “They have to prove they are working.”

Meeting Chair, Councillor Adrian McCluskey (Lab, Farnley & Wortley), agreed to invite representatives to speak to councillors at the next Outer West Community Committee meeting.

Councillors Outer West Community Committee expressed similar concerns over CCTV camera funding last year.

Also invited to the next meeting will be representatives from West Yorkshire Police. Farnley resident Peter Allison raised concerns that officers had repeatedly failed to attend Police and Communities Together (PACT) meetings with residents in Farnley. “Residents are losing confidence,” he said.

His concerns were backed by ward members in other parts of West Leeds, including Cllr Timmins and also by Cllr Tom Hinchcliffe (Lab, Bramley & Stanningley).

Cllr Peter Carlill (Lab, Calverley & Farsley) added the meetings in his ward were well attended: “These are really important meetings and the public deserve something better.”

Approved funding applications included:

• £1,080 for Leeds International Concert Season’s Summer Bands in Leeds Parks 2026, two in Victoria Park, Calverley, one in Westroyd Park, Farsley.
• £1,477 for Calverley hanging baskets.
• £3,988 towards Farsley Festive Light Switch On 2026 for Breeze Team.
• £7,732 towards Bramley Festive lights switch on for Breeze Team.
• £1,828 for New Farnley In Bloom for seasonal planting and maintenance of planters across New Farnley. Chair Adrian McCluskey said: “These volunteers do an awful lot to keep that part of the ward in tip-top condition.”
• £750 for Pudsey Scarecrow Festival.
• £2,088 for Leeds Rhinos Foundation Multi Sport Camp in Calverley & Farsley ward.
• £1,787 for weekly Sunny Bank Mills Youth Club, Farsley.
• £1,560 for Andy’s Youth Project, towards room hire.
• £2,000 for Leeds West Academy Basketball Club to deliver free weekly basketball sessions for Leeds Youth Services.
• £2,000 for Barca Junior Youth Group in Bramley, run by Barca Leeds.
• £2,925 for Breeze in the Park 2026 in Calverley & Farsley, delivering summer holiday events.
• £900 for barrier and handrail at Pudsey footpath to improve safety.
• £2,000 for a storage container at Wortley Rec for Leeds City Council for use by the Friends of Wortley Rec group.

Two applications to fund construction training for young people from Pudsey-based Building Futures Together – £8,300 for a Vocational Boot Camp in Bramley, and £11,600 for a similar camp in Pudsey, were deferred by councillors to allow for discussions with the applicant.

An application for £5,935 for Flourishing Families in Farnley to deliver family cookery clubs, community cooking sessions and early years oracy activities was also deferred.

The Outer West Community Committee was held in the Farnley Hall Boardroom.

• Agenda and papers can be found here.