Agenda item

          The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Policy and Resources, which sought approval for the Street Lighting Strategy and Policy which had been prepared following a previous report to Executive Board on 29 March 2012. The Executive Board, at its meeting on 26 March 2015 approved an Invest to Save bid of £4.7m for a programme of work to replace the current conventional street lighting with energy saving light emitting diode (LED)  lighting units. The Executive Board also considered potential measures to achieve street lighting savings. It was noted that the cost of street lighting maintenance was constantly rising, mainly as a result of energy costs which were increasing well above inflation. The cost of energy for all the Council’s highway electrical assets (including street lighting, traffic signals, illuminated signs, etc.) was approximately £1,216,000 per annum. It was noted that there was no statutory duty to provide street lighting, however, it was recognised that street lighting had a vital role to play in reducing fear of crime and improving community safety after dark. Due to increased energy costs for street lighting, it was recognised that action must be taken to minimise future growth in energy consumption and was one of the reasons for preparing a Street Lighting Strategy and Policy.

          The report highlighted the following proposals which were contained within the Street Lighting Strategy and Policy:-

·       There should be no net increase in the highway electrical equipment stock that would increase the demand for and cost of energy other than those detailed in the report;

·       There should be a presumption against new lighting schemes or additional highway electrical equipment funded through Area Forums or from the Council’s other capital budgets, unless the additional revenue budget was available to fund the on-going lighting/highway electrical equipment and maintenance indefinitely;

·       Consideration would need to be given in the future to the removal of lighting from secondary independent footpaths and gated routes to the rear of residential properties;

·       Where there were suitable alternative lit routes, then consideration would also be given to no longer installing lighting on independent footpaths, unless it was a primary route to a school or major employment areas;

·       A presumption against any future growth in street lighting provision would be difficult due to the need to provide it on new residential roads and high profile regeneration schemes;

·       The developer shall pay the Council a commuted sum to cover the cost of 10 years maintenance, based on the current HBC Term Maintenance Contract or 10% of the new works costs, whichever was the higher, plus the energy charges for the equipment based on the current energy supply contract rates for 10 years.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)      the Street Lighting Strategy and Policy document attached as Appendix 1 be endorsed and submitted for approval to the Executive Board;

(2)      endorsement be given to the proposal to remove street lighting from rear passageways and independent footpaths where these routes were not the primary means of access to properties and when existing equipment is no longer serviceable; and

(3)      endorsement be given to the proposal to require a commuted sum to be paid where non-standard equipment is installed as part of a development (see paragraph 4.7).