Decision details

Decision:

(1) That the 2020/21 revenue budget for street lighting improvements is utilised to replace those corroded steel lamp columns identified to be of the highest priority.

(2) That the revised dimming strategy be adopted for future street lighting installations on traffic routes and residential roads. 

Reasons:

The capital investment in the street lighting invest to save project is due to be fully repaid in 2020/21 leaving £388k to be utilised for further street lighting projects. Recent structural tests have shown that a further 649 lamp columns have a service life of less than five years; it is proposed to use the residual budget to replace the columns with the highest priority, also converting the lanterns to LED in accordance with current practice.

Current British lighting standards recognise the need for local authorities to develop street lighting schemes which avoid over-lighting and excessive energy consumption, providing appropriate lighting for each location at appropriate times. Following a trial period, the Council’s dimming strategy, first approved in 2008, has been revised to allow increased dimming in appropriate locations on traffic routes and residential roads in accordance with current guidance and traffic flows. 

The proposed decision was scrutinised by members of the Environment and Community Services PDS Committee via submission of written comments.