Issue - meetings

To consider the report from the Corporate Director of Highways & Engineering

The Corporate Director for Highways and Engineering presented the report and illustrated the difference of the Light-emitting Diode (LED) options that were considered as part of the report and detailed the financial and environmental impacts of the recommendations.

Following the presentation there was a wide-ranging discussion that considered several key areas and emphasised points in the process leading to and final policy considered by Cabinet after consultation.

·       Environmental, wildlife and human impact of lighting

·       The limitations of options of the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) arrangements in terms of options and supply chain considerations.

·       The importance of being bound by reality and what was deliverable and feasible

·       Technical and financial issues

·       Regional and local differences of requirements and the importance of zoning appropriately.

The Place and Resources Overview Committee’s key considerations and recommendations for the development of the policy

·       The timings of street lighting and when they should be on or off and the potential of dimming options.

·       The potential of using shading/shielding to access the better value options without causing residents issues via light spilling

·       The definition and reassessment of the environmental zones and the importance of local choice and area differentiation.

·       Minimum or no lighting as the default position with the need for the light to be justified based on safety or legal requirement.

·       To clarify the cost to Town and Parish councils and the options for early replacement or preference-based changes.

·       The replacement rate and the cost implications of increasing that rate.

·       The lighting in new developments would be required to align with the policy adopted.

·       last train or bus times to be coordinated with lighting switch off times.

·       Safety considerations and the opportunity with adaptive lighting.

·       Coordination and partnership working with developers, housing providers and others who may have their own lighting provision.

·       The importance of a thorough consultation and engagement with the local communities to create a robust policy.

It was proposed by Cllr Taylor and seconded by Cllr Tarr that the policy be referred to Cabinet in September with the above considerations and recommendations.