Agenda item

RESOLVED:

1. That the implementation of a part-night lighting policy across Surrey commencing with residential roads where assessed safe to do so be approved resulting in lights in selected roads being turned off from midnight to 0500 hours each night.
2. That authority be delegated to the Assistant Director for Highways and Transport in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Flooding to determine the final programme of roads included and in future to vary the road categories to be included and future timings of part-night lighting in response to local circumstances where assessed to be safe to do so.

Reasons for Decisions

The introduction of the Central Management System for controlling street lights initially allowed the Council to introduce a dimming regime in 2010 but also provided the future flexibility to adapt lighting profiles including turning lights off. The expected £210,000 annual saving represents a 7% saving on the Council’s electricity budget.  The reduction in CO2 output by 1250 tonnes per annum as a result not only contributes to the Council’s objective to reduce its CO2 impact but achieves a further £22,500 saving in avoided Carbon Tax.

The recommendations follow a review of the increasing number of local authorities implementing part-night lighting and the outcome of the research by the LANTERNS project as described in point 8. Whilst the Council’s public consultation identified concerns around personal safety and road safety with implementing part-night lighting, over 75% of respondents were in favour of switching off at least some street lights.

Building on good practice in other local authorities, the introduction of part-night lighting will only be implemented in locations where it is deemed safe to do so based on a combination of factors including a site visit and risk assessment and, consultation with the Council’s Road Safety Team and Surrey Police to mitigate against the concerns highlighted

An introduction to the report was provided by the Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Flooding who advised that the Cabinet was being asked to take a decision on whether to reduce street-lighting further in certain areas of the County where it is deemed appropriate to do so following consultation with highways officers and police officers. Reducing the number of street-lights turned on would generate savings for SCC while also reducing the Council’s carbon footprint. The Council was aware that residents would have concerns about a lack of street lighting at particular locations, such as at train stations, and members of the public would therefore be able to request that the Council turn on street-lights in certain areas.

The Chairman of the Economic Prosperity, Environment and Highways Board asked to contribute to this item. He expressed his support for the policy and advised the Cabinet that the significant savings identified through the introduction of part-night lighting would be achieved at relatively low risk to residents and the Council. He welcomed the Cabinet Member’s comments that residents would be able to make the case for street-lights being turned on in certain areas. The Chairman suggested that an amendment be made to the recommendations to state that requests from residents to change patterns of street-lighting would be given consideration by the Council. The Cabinet agreed the suggested amendments to the recommendations contained within the report.

Other Members of the Cabinet made the following comments:

·         Important that residents will be able to request that lights remain on in certain locations as vital to ensure that shift workers and those returning home after a night out feel safe.

·         LED lights have the potential to deliver further savings for the Council and consideration was being given to developing an iterative process for introducing these across the County.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the implementation of a part-night lighting policy across Surrey commencing with residential roads where assessed safe to do so be approved resulting in lights in selected roads being turned off from midnight to 0500 hours each night.

2.    That authority be delegated to the Assistant Director for Highways and Transport in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Flooding to determine the final programme of roads included and in future to vary the road categories to be included and future timings of part-night lighting in response to local circumstance where assessed to be safe to do so.

Reasons for Decisions

The introduction of the Central Management System for controlling street lights initially allowed the Council to introduce a dimming regime in 2010 but also provided the future flexibility to adapt lighting profiles including turning lights off. The expected £210,000 annual saving represents a 7% saving on the Council’s electricity budget.  The reduction in CO2 output by 1250 tonnes per annum as a result not only contributes to the Council’s objective to reduce its CO2 impact but achieves a further £22,500 saving in avoided Carbon Tax.

The recommendations follow a review of the increasing number of local authorities implementing part-night lighting and the outcome of the research by the LANTERNS project as described in point 8. Whilst the Council’s public consultation identified concerns around personal safety and road safety with implementing part-night lighting, over 75% of respondents were in favour of switching off at least some street lights.

Building on good practice in other local authorities, the introduction of part-night lighting will only be implemented in locations where it is deemed safe to do so based on a combination of factors including a site visit and risk assessment and, consultation with the Council’s Road Safety Team and Surrey Police to mitigate against the concerns highlighted.