Contact: Tony Stephens, ext 6938 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

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.

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

2003/04 Column Replacement Programme

Alecto Road - works complete.

Alver Road - works complete.

Linden Grove - works complete.

Napean Close - works complete.

St Marks Road - works complete.

Burney Road - works complete.

Vectis Road - works complete.

York Crescent - works complete.

Chester Crescent - works complete.

Salisbury Terrace - works complete.

Hollybank - works complete.

Lancaster Close - works complete.

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 ten 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.

4.2 Although not included in this year's CSI programme, Gosport Borough Council has made a contribution of £2,000 to assist with the cost of improvements to the lighting on the cycletrack from Military Road to Holbrook. This money will be spent on upgrading the standard of lighting by installing infill columns to reduce the large spacings between some columns on this section of the path as well as changing the light source to white light.

5. Old Railway Line Cycletrack

5.1 Lighting improvements to the majority of the cycletrack have been ongoing through the summer period. Funding for the works has come from a number of sources, including the Local Transport Plan Capital Programme, the Minor Works Capital budget, Developer Contributions and Gosport Borough Council Amenity Lighting budget.

5.2 In sections not affected by the Light Rapid Transit proposals, from The Crescent to South Street and from Spring Garden Lane to Newtown School, comprehensive improvements have been made, with new columns and lanterns being installed at existing and infill positions.

5.3 Along the remainder of the cycleway, from Newtown School to Rowner Road, all existing columns have been raised to six metres in height, with the existing low pressure sodium post top lanterns replaced with new high performance white light source lanterns. In addition, in the section between Whitworth Road and Military Road, new infill columns have been erected to further improve the lighting.

5.4 A minor section of work remains between Military Road and Holbrook, where further infill columns are to be erected. Also, part of Station Road will have columns replaced to complete this project.

5.5 The white light lamp used on this scheme has only been used previously in a small trial scheme; this is the first full installation of this type of lighting in Hampshire. Initial reports would indicate that this system of lights has produced a very effective lighting solution which may in turn be rolled out across the county in the near future.

6. Energy

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

6.2 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.

8285/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.