Contact: A L Stephens, ext 6938 email: [email protected]

1. Introduction

1.1 This report comments on the progress made in Street Lighting Maintenance, Column Replacement, Community Safety Initiative and the purchase of energy from April 2004 onward.

2. Street Lighting Maintenance

2.1 The maintenance contract continues to produce good results with over 99% of all lights on at any one time. Three of the five contract key performance indicators (KPIs) are currently being met to the standard set down for the first year of the contract. However, for various reasons, the completion of ordered works and the reduction in repeat visits has not yet reached the desired level. It is hoped that further progress will be made towards achieving the second year KPI targets whilst at the same time continuing the partnering arrangement with the contractor to achieve further improvements in the service. For reference, the KPIs are listed in the Appendix.

3. Column Replacements

3.1 Phase I of the column replacement programme for the present year commenced on time and is currently on target for completion at the end of March 2004. Phase II is due to start in September with a similar completion date. The total number of columns to be replaced is about 400 at a cost of £0.5 million.

3.2 The list of sites where street lighting is being replaced during this current year is as follows:

2003/04 Column Replacement Programme

(i) Bell Road - works programmed to start 01/12/03

(ii) Whitney Road - worked programmed to start 01/12/03

(iii) Heather Way - works programmed to start 16/02/04

(iv) Gershwin Road Subway (East) - works programmed to start 24/11/03

(v) Bernstein Rd/Barry way f/p - works programmed to start 24/11/03

(vi) Carpenters Down - works programmed to start 03/11/03

(vii) Popley Way - works started 15/09/03

(viii) Buckland Avenue - works programmed to start 08/12/03

(ix) Queen Mary Avenue - works completed

(x) Vyne Road - works completed

(xi) Armstrong Road - works programmed to start 01/12/03

(xii) Wade Road - works programmed to start 12/01/04

(xiii) Faraday Road - works programmed to start 12/01/04

(xiv) Pinkerton Road - works programmed to start 05/01/04

(xv) St Michaels Road - works programmed to start 05/01/04

3.3 The County Council did consider making an `expression of interest' for Private Finance Initiative (PFI) funding from the Government for the replacement of its street lighting stock. However, after taking into consideration all the factors it was decided that a bid at this stage would not be successful due to the estimated low rate of return on the investment. Other means of funding the £50 million required to replace approximately 50,000 lighting units over the next 10 years will now need to be considered.

4. Community Safety Initiative (CSI)

4.1 The CSI programme for 2003/04 has been confirmed by the Executive Member for Environment and work will now proceed to install approximately 120 columns between now and the end of the current financial year. The programme for the Basingstoke area is as follows:

2003/04 Community Safety Initiative Programme

(i) London Road, Laverstoke & Freefolk

(ii) Rotherwick Road to Gravelly Close f/p, Tadley

(iii) Brookside Walk to Main Road f/p, Tadley

5. Energy

5.1 The present energy supply contract with Scottish and Southern Energy will end on 31 March 2004.

5.2 Steps are now being taken to procure the supply of energy from April 2004 which, in all probability, will be through the Local Government Central Buying Consortium (CBC). Rates for a range of options are being requested, which include 100% brown to 100% green energy. Whilst the final solution will in part depend upon the price, the County Council will endeavour to increase the percentage of `green' energy it purchases.

Recommendation

That this report be noted.

8351/ALS

APPENDIX

Street Lighting Contract Key Performance Indicators

KPI 1 - Performance on reactive repair attendance by the contractor - this is the attendance at site following a scout or public report of a defect such as a light out.

KPI 2 - Performance on the completion of more extensive work which takes 10 or 25 days to complete - covers complete replacement of columns and lanterns within a quality threshold.

KPI 3 - Performance of the contractor in completing planned maintenance work within a quality threshold

KPI 4 - Performance of scouting - a check on the night scouts picking up defect reports of lights out.

KPI 5 - Performance of the contractor in quality of repairs under KPI 1 - ie not having to return to site again within 35 days of the initial repair.