Agenda item

The Committee considered a report and presentation of the Corporate Director of Neighbourhoods and Climate Change, delivered by Paul Watson, Strategic Highways Manager which provided a review of the Street Lighting Energy Reduction Project II (2021/2022) (for copy of report and presentation see file of minutes).

The Strategic Highways Manager stated the year 2 mid-project review, reported the project is progressing well despite delays due to COVID-19 and supply issues in respect of component parts.  Providing background, the Strategic Highways Manager explained that the Street Lighting Policy implemented the removal of street lights where safe to do so and the dimming of street lights by 25% between 10 pm and 12 midnight and by 50% between 12 midnight and 5 am.  Independent road safety auditors were commissioned to undertake risk assessments and they consulted with local members and Town and Parish Councils to ensure risk assessments reflected all factors.  Phase 1 was completed in March 2019, financial performance exceeded expectations and significant energy savings were achieved. 

A report to Cabinet in December 2019 recommended the commencement of the Street Lighting Energy Reduction Project II.  However, year 2 faced problems caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the lack of semi-conductors which resulted in a slight dip in performance.  Members heard that, in total, the project aims to save 2.5 million kilowatt hours and to illustrate the scale of the project, the Strategic Highways Manager explained that 1 kilowatt hour equates to the toasting of 160 slices of bread.  The Strategic Highways Manager also informed the Committee that a pilot scheme is underway to consider the impacts on ecology, recognising that actions taken should not have a detrimental impact on the environment and ecology.

Councillor Nicholls welcomed the ecology considerations and referring to the replacement of street lights in his ward, he raised an issue regarding a disused street lighting column which had been left in situ and a new column installed, causing obstruction.  The Strategic Highways Manager expressed concern, however, he recognised that delays removing columns occur on occasions and he undertook to discuss the matter with operational teams.

Councillor Quinn asked whether the council had explored the use of solar panels on street lights. Darren Hubbard, Street Lighting Manager, explained that the lack of solar power is problematic however advances in technology have enabled the council to trial solar lighting in the West Rainton area and feedback on this project would be shared with the Committee in due course.

Councillor Adam was pleased to see the success in respect of carbon reduction and energy savings and he referred to the rapidly increasing energy costs and asked if this was likely to have an impact on the outcomes of the project. 

The Street Lighting Manager explained how both costs and savings were increasing and he added that the extent of the impact was uncertain at this time.

In response to a question from Councillor Adam as to whether the County Council had carried out any safety studies to ascertain if dimming had a detrimental impact on pedestrians, the Street Lighting Manager agreed to share any information available on the matter with the Committee. 

A further question was received from Councillor Adam regarding the cost of replacing street lighting with footway lighting, commenting that there seemed to be little difference between the two. The Strategic Highways Manager replied that the particular scheme Councillor Adam referred to had taken place at the request of residents and, as footway lighting columns are shorter than streetlighting columns, the residential area, rather than the carriageway, is illuminated.

Councillor Jackson thanked officers for the work carried out on the project and asked that if the second phase of the project could look to improve the reduced strength of light due to the distance between lighting columns.  The Strategic Highways Manager responded that the service aims for the British Standard at all times and improvements will continue to be made as technology advances. 

Councillor Jackson also asked if the council had considered the use of motion sensors.  The Street Lighting Manager pointed out that the use of motion sensors requires a high cost metered supply.  The Chair commented that the issues raised would be included in the future work programme.

Resolved:

That a further project update on the Street Lighting Energy Reduction Project be considered, on completion of the scheme in 2023.