Issue - meetings

This report results from a Motion brought to Runnymede Borough Council at their meeting of 18 July 2019 concerning the impact of Surrey County Council’s Part Night Lighting Programme. Officers from both councils have contributed to this report which presents various options for the Committee to discuss.

The Joint Committee (Runnymede) noted:

       i.        The resolution of Runnymede Full Council and wishes to recommend it is reconsidered following LED technology being implemented at Environment and Sustainability Committee.

Reasons:

1.    The Committee felt that as the LED technology would have such an impact on future running costs that it would be reasonable to readdress the issue once this change over had been completed.

This report resulted from a motion that was brought to the Runnymede Full Council meeting on 18 July. As this has implications for both the Borough and County Council, It was decided that this should be considered by the Joint Committee.

The report lays out the background to the County Council’s decision to introduce the Part Night Lighting scheme. This included the budgetary and environmental reasons why the programme was implemented and the research and resident feedback that informed this decision. The report goes on to look at the specific locations affected in the borough including the individual streets and number of lights affected and concerns that have been raised by the introduction of this scheme.

In discussing the report, the Committee noted that there was already an established  process for getting lights switched back on for safety reasons, on a street-by-street basis.. The County Council would absorb the cost in these cases provided the measures were endorsed by the local police. It was also noted that certain areas such as footpaths already remain lit throughout the night to facilitate safe travel for residents in hours of darkness.

Committee members did not believe that there was strong enough evidence to show a causal link between the lights being switched off and the crime rate in the borough and some members reported that they had received feedback that switching off the lights had actually been welcomed by some residents who had found the bright lights invasive.

In addition, it was noted that the County Council would soon embark on a three year programme to replace the existing lights with LED (Light Emitting Diode) technology which would vastly reduce energy costs as well as being more environmentally friendly. The Committee expressed that they would like Runnymede to be considered as one of the early adopters in this scheme.

In view of this anticipated change and in light of there being very little evidence to suggest that they was any urgent need to turn Runnymede’s lights back on, the Committee suggested that this issue should be reconsidered after the LED technology has been implemented.

The Joint Committee (Runnymede) noted:

       i.        The resolution of Runnymede Full Council and wishes to recommend it is reconsidered following LED technology being implemented at Environment and Sustainability Committee.