Agenda item

Cabinet Agreed:

1.      To proceed to tender for the purchase of 6,000 LED lanterns and the conversion of 6000 sodium street lights, in residential roads.

2.      In principle, to apply for the maximum interest free loan available under the Salix Energy Efficiency Loan Scheme (SEELS) of £770,000 to part fund this project.

3.      To add the funding of the scheme as set out in Appendix A to the Capital Budget 13/14, and to refer this recommendation to full Council.

4.      To delegate award(s) of the contract(s) set out at (a) above to the Group Director of Culture, Community and Economic Development.

Councillor Barry Tebbutt, Cabinet Member for the Environment, introduced the report.

The report before Cabinet set out a proposal to commence relevant processes in order to convert 30% (6000) of the Council’s sodium street lights to modern Light Emitting Diode (LED) technology. The proposal would bring significant longer term savings in energy usage/costs, maintenance costs and reduction in carbon emissions.

Cabinet noted that the estimated cost of the project was £1.3 million with a resultant annual energy cost saving of £154k and £59k maintenance saving, at current prices, meaning a payback period of 6.1 years. An interest free loan should be available to the Council to fund 59% (£770k) of the total capital cost with the remaining funding coming from existing capital budgets and TfL Local Implementation Plan (LIP) funding.

Reasons for the decision:

The change of 6,000 sodium street lights across the borough to LED lighting would have a number of benefits including:

·         Reduced annual energy costs

·         Help future proof the street lighting electricity budget against inevitable future energy price increases

·         The installation of the LED lanterns will enable the Head of StreetCare to renegotiate the current maintenance contract to reflect the lower requirement for maintenance of the new lanterns.

·         Help residents feel safer safe and more secure. Through superior colour rendering and a higher perceived brightness, the white light of LED lighting  makes it easier to distinguish objects, colours, shapes and other details. In particular, facial recognition is easier. White light also gives the most even illumination with fewer areas of intimidating shadow.

·         Ensure the light is directed downwards instead of upwards into the night sky. In contrast to the old orange/yellow lighting this will dramatically reduce light pollution in the sky.

Other options considered:

1.    Do nothing

Not implementing energy efficiency measure in the council’s street lighting will leave the street lighting energy budget vulnerable to the inevitable future increases in UK electricity costs.

2.    Turning off selected lights at night:

               Where implemented by other local authorities this option had often resulted in     

               significant social pressure from the communities affected and in a number of               

cases lights had been restored back into operational service.

3.    Switching lights off completely during hours of low traffic and pedestrian movement:

This option would reduce energy costs considerably, but it would also place roads into darkness and was likely to meet with the same public resistance as the previous option.

Cabinet Agreed:

1.      To proceed to tender for the purchase of 6,000 LED lanterns and the conversion of 6000 sodium street lights, in residential roads.

2.      In principle, to apply for the maximum interest free loan available under the Salix Energy Efficiency Loan Scheme (SEELS) of £770,000 to part fund this project.

3.      To add the funding of the scheme as set out in Appendix A to the Capital Budget 13/14, and to refer this recommendation to full Council.

4.      To delegate award(s) of the contract(s) set out at (a) above to the Group Director of Culture, Community and Economic Development.