Agenda and minutes

To receive the minutes of the meeting held on 20^th November 2019.

Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting held on 3^rd September 2019, be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

(Report to follow)

The Head of Highways and Transport submitted a report updating members on the progress of the LED street lighting conversion programme. In introducing the report Mr Price, Head of Highways and Transport, drew members’ attention to the following points:

·        The programme to replace 28,000 street lights within the Borough with LED lights over an eighteen month period commencing in March 2020.

·        That once completed the replacement programme could reduce costs by around 50% and would cost in the region of £7.2 million.

·        That street lighting accounted for approximately one third of the Council’s total energy consumption and was a major component of the Council’s energy costs and carbon footprint.

·        Replacement of old lights with LED’s would contribute to reducing energy costs and the Council’s carbon footprint.

·        A budget of up to £2.5 million had been identified for column replacement.

Following his presentation Mr. Price answered Members’ questions in respect of the following issues:

·        That those roads currently not adopted in the Borough would be included in the LED replacement and column replacement programme once they were adopted.

·        All non LED lanterns and around 10% of street light columns, depending on state of repair, were scheduled to be replaced as part of the programme.

·        There were around 5,000 concrete street light columns in the Borough which would be replaced depended on their condition and as they came to the end of their working life.

·        A proportion of both concrete and steel street light columns were tested annually and RAG rated; those classified as red would be replaced within 12 months and amber would be inspected more regularly.

·        Some street light columns were not designed to take additional loads and therefore would not be used for purposes such as Christmas or other decorations or signage.

·        Where a street light column was replaced its replacement would include a LED light; likewise when a traditional lantern was replaced it would be with an LED light.

·        It was anticipated that lights would their average life extended from four to ten years.

·        The replacement of other lighting such as car park lighting and traffic signals as well as lighting at the waterside depot was being investigated.

·         The use of LED solar powered lighting for street and road signage.

·         The use of the Central Management System "smart" control system to remotely monitor the new lanterns in the case of failure and to offer opportunities to remotely fine tune lighting levels to suit the individual needs of each street and further increase energy savings.

·         The storage of information from the Central management System and potential ways of using and sharing this, for instance, with other Council departments or Parish Councils in the future.

·         The disposal and recycling of old columns and how this could be undertaken in the most environmentally friendly manner.

·         The newly fitted lights had less light spillage and the criteria for turning off lighting.

·         The timetable for energy, cost and carbon savings accrued from the programme.

Resolved – That the report be noted and the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

(Report to follow)

The Head of Streetsmart submitted a report updating members on the progress on the installation of Electric Vehicle Charging Points within the Borough. In introducing the report Ian James, Head of Streetsmart, drew members’ attention to the following points:

·         The study on the installation of Electric Vehicle Charging Points within the Borough was just commencing and would probably take a year to complete.

·         This work related to the Council’s priorities and pledges in that Priority one of SBCs Vision is to “improve infrastructure and housing to support a growing, low carbon economy”. More specifically, Pledge 2 sees this priority secured in part through “…facilitating the move to electrified transport, … to reduce carbon footprint.”

·         This Study sought to establish a mechanism for delivering the Pledge by assessing the options to facilitate the growth in electric cars. More specifically, the Study would assess the scope to introduce new electric vehicle charging points, reflecting the fact that one of the most significant deterrent to the ownership of electric vehicles is the perceived difficulty in finding suitable charging opportunities, particularly when away from home.

Following his introduction of the report Mr James answered Members’ questions in respect of the following issues:

·         This work was separate from the Local Plan Review which sought to ensure all new housing developments were fitted with electric vehicle charging points or that properties could be retrofitted with them.

·         The role of the new Local Plan in progressing electric vehicle friendly policies in the non-domestic setting.

·         The proposed study included the examination of the Council’s property portfolio to identify how this could be coherently retrofitted with electric vehicle charging points.

·         How the Council’s experience and findings might be shared with Parish Council’s to enable them to undertake such work and the possibility of partnership working with them.

·         How the Council was working to learn from other local authorities who might be more experienced in this area; including the use of private/public partnerships to bring in the leaders in this field in larger scale projects and in the use of cutting edge technology.

·         Funding streams that might assist with the provision of electric vehicle charging points including, but not limited to, Government grants and the Regional Development Fund.

·         The potential to use energy generated by solar farms within the Borough to supply electric vehicle charging points.

·         Whether new street lighting columns could be adapted to include charging points for electric vehicles.

·         How the Council can best future proof any work undertaken as part of this project.

Resolved – (1) That the report be noted and the Head of Streetsmart be thanked for his presentation.

(2) That officers be requested to consider ways in which the Council might assist Parish Councils in the provision of electric vehicle charging points.

(3) That officer be requested to investigate whether electric vehicle charging points can be included in street light columns when these are replaced.

(4) That officer investigate how the Council might apply for Government Grant funding for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 22.

The Committee considered a report by the Chief Legal Officer setting out the Committee’s proposed Work Programme for the Municipal Year 2019/20.

Resolved – That the report be noted.