CCTV footage from Blaenau Gwent is now being monitored in Newport, after the city council bid for the contract earlier this year.

As of this month, Newport City Council are monitoring CCTV and handling out-of-hour calls for the neighbouring authority.

Blaenau Gwent Borough Council asked for expressions of interest in running their service earlier this year and it was Newport council who made the successful bid.

Cameras in Blaenau Gwent town centres will be monitored from the CCTV suite in Newport and operators will also take emergency out-of-hours calls made to Blaenau Gwent council. Two members of staff have transferred from Blaenau Gwent council to boost the city’s CCTV team.

Councillor Bob Poole, Newport City Council’s cabinet member for licensing and regulatory services, said: “I am pleased that we are able to work in partnership with our colleagues in Blaenau Gwent to help keep Ebbw Vale’s residents, businesses and visitors safe and I’m proud of the quality of our staff and service that helped to secure this contract.”

The transfer of CCTV services to Newport Council is aiming to save Blaenau Gwent Council £300,000 per year. Blaenau Gwent’s budget for CCTV for 2013/14 was approximately £457,000.

In the wake of cuts Blaenau Gwent Council announced they were to make £20m of savings, £10m of which were to be made in the next financial year.

This year’s budget included a 4.6 per cent rise in council tax, the biggest hike of all the Gwent councils. Changes to the CCTV operation were part of phase one of the £10m cuts.