Agenda item

(A report by John Monk, Group Manager, Design Services, in connection with proposals to update the Street Lighting Policy following the Scrutiny Review and to recommend to the Executive Councillor for Highways, Transport and IT whether an updated Street Lighting Policy, including its Annexes, should be adopted or not)

The Committee received a report in connection with the Street Lighting Policy 2019, including actions included as a result of the Part Night Street Lighting Scrutiny Review. The report was due to be considered by the Executive Councillor for Highways, Transport and IT and the views of this Committee would be reported to the Executive Councillor.

Members' attention was drawn to the principal amendments incorporated in the updated Policy following the Scrutiny Review in connection with the Protocol for reversal of part-night lighting and Exemptions to Part Night Lighting.

Members' attention was drawn to an error on page 16, paragraph 1.2, bullet point 9 ("Annex 2 Exemptions to Part Night Lighting") – the word "physically" should be replaced by "publicly".

Comments by members and the responses of officers included:-

·    Requests to turn the lights back on were more relevant to rural areas than urban areas.

·    Specific cases were highlighted where street lights had been turned off and which were causing safety issues. In some cases, Parish Councils had requested that some lights should be permanently turned off and that Parish Councils should be asked if they had any lights which could be switched off permanently. Officers stated that requests had been received to switch off lights permanently but every visit to a light incurred a cost, so consideration was given when the lights came to the end of their useful life. Officers agreed that Parish Councils should be encouraged to make requests for lights to be permanently turned off. Once a light was switched off and removed the cost of reinstallation was considerable.

·    Some lighting columns were of architectural interest; was there potential for community use? Officers stated that those lights switched off were outside of community areas and electricity suppliers did not like non-active equipment attached to their cable networks.

·    Was District Councils' help sought to fund the cost of turning lights back on? Officers stated that there had not been any consultation with District Councils to seek their help to fund the cost of returning to part-night lighting.

·    Was there an on-going cost of turning the lights back on especially if numerous lights were turned on? Officers stated that the one off cost for turning each light on detailed in the report also covered the cost of supplying electricity for the next twenty years and officers agreed to inform Parish and Town Councils of this information.

·    How many LED lights had been installed? Officers stated that as part of the street lighting transformation project approximately 17,000 lights were converted to LED.

·    Officers stated that the removal of the lighting which had already been switched off for a couple of years on the A46 between Riseholme roundabout and Nettleham would be examined in consultation with the Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership. Officers stated that approximately 850 lights across many roads in Lincolnshire had been permanently switched off.

·    Officers stated that the Police always alerted the Council first if they had concerns.

·    Officers stated that some District Councils had located dog and litter bins on some lighting columns which prevented use of the access to maintain the electrical equipment.

·    Officers stated that the County Council took the lead in connection with any changes to lighting and communication with local authorities.

·    The use of reactive lights should be investigated as this would help to deter crime and reassure residents. Officers stated that new light technology was being developed all the time. However, reactive lights could upset residents because they would be going off and on and also lights would have problems reacting to fast moving vehicles.

·    Could the risk assessment procedure be explained before a decision was made to switch off lights? Officers explained the risk assessment process undertaken before lights were switched off, which included consultations with the Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership, the local Parish Council and the Police.

·    Some Parish Councils might have difficulty completing the Equality Impact Assessment (EIA). Officers stated that the pro-forma being developed for part-night reversal requests would include sections on completing the EIA.

The Committee supported the recommendations to the Executive Councillor.

RESOLVED 

(a)  That the comments by members and the responses of officers on the report be noted.

(b)  That the Street Lighting Policy 2019, including the recommendations from the Part Night Street Lighting Scrutiny Review, in respect of the Protocol for reversal of part-night lighting and Exemptions to Part Night Lighting, be supported and submitted to the Executive Councillor for approval, subject to the County Council (in line with its duty as a Street Lighting Authority) ensuring that sufficient safeguards are in place within the protocol to enable future changes to the Street Lighting policy as required.