Agenda item

Cabinet agreed

1.            That the Service proceeded to tender for the purchase of 10,600 LED lanterns and the conversion of 10,600 existing street lights across the borough. 

2.            In principle, to apply for the maximum interest-free loan available under the Salix Energy Efficiency Loan Scheme (SEELS) of £1.4 million to part fund the project.

3.            The addition of a capital scheme to the value of £2.7m to the Council’s Capital Budget for 2015/16, as detailed in the Financial Implications, paragraph 7 of the report and to refer this recommendation to full Council.

4.            To delegate award(s) of the contract(s) set out at (1) above to the Group Director of Culture, Community and Economic Development.

5.            To the undertaking of small-scale trials of dimming street lights during hours of low movement on selected roads to assess the suitability and benefit of adopting a dimming regime.

Councillor Roger Ramsey, Cabinet Member for Value, introduced the report

Cabinet was informed that the report set out a proposal to commence a tendering process in order to convert a further 60% (10,600) of the Council’s sodium street lights to modern Light Emitting Diode (LED) technology which would bring significant longer-term savings in energy usage/costs, maintenance costs and a reduction in carbon emissions.

Cabinet was reminded that in October 2013 the council had agreed to convert 6,000 street lights in residential roads to LED.  This project was due to be completed by November 2014.  The report sought agreement to commence phase two of the LED rollout by converting a further 10,600 street lights.

The estimated cost of the project was £2.7 million with a resultant annual energy cost saving of £280k and a further anticipated component replacement cost saving of £83k at current prices (effective from 2017/18), meaning there would be a simple “payback period” of under 8 years - 9 years if measured on a net present value basis. 

Cabinet was informed that an interest-free loan should be available to the Council to fund 52% (£1.4 million) of the total capital cost with the remaining funding coming from resources to be identified at the appropriate time by the Director of Resources.

A Member observed that the appendix referred to in the report was not attached and it was requested that it be made available and appended to the minutes.

Reasons for the decision:

The change of 10.600 sodium street lights across the borough to LED lighting had 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 would enable the Head of StreetCare to achieve savings as part of the re-tendering of the street lighting maintenance contract (due Nov 2016) to reflect the lower requirement for maintenance of the new lanterns.

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

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

Other options considered:

·           Do nothing

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

Cabinet approved:

a)           The Service proceeding to tender for the purchase of 10,600 LED lanterns and the conversion of 10,600 existing street lights, across the borough. 

b)           In principle, to apply for the maximum interest-free loan available under the Salix Energy Efficiency Loan Scheme (SEELS) of £1.4 million to part fund this project.

c)            The addition of a capital scheme to the value of £2.7m to the Council’s Capital Budget for 2015/16 as detailed in the Financial Implications, paragraph 7 of the report and to refer this recommendation to full Council.

d)           The delegation of award(s) of the contract(s) set out at (a) above to the Group Director of Culture, Community and Economic Development

e)           The undertaking of small-scale trials of dimming street lights during hours of low movement on selected roads to assess the suitability and benefit of adopting a wider dimming regime.