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

1. Introduction

1.1 This report comments on the current position of Street Lighting Maintenance, Column Replacement, Community Safety Initiative and the purchase of energy from April 2004 onward as well as any local issues that might be relevant.

2. Street Lighting Maintenance

2.1 The maintenance contract continues to show that 99% of all lights are on at any one time. However the contractor is experiencing some difficulty in keeping up with the level of work, due in part to the increased number of orders being placed in the system.

2.2 On a more positive note the reuse of redundant materials will be actively pursued this coming year utilising materials recovered from site for whatever reason. In addition, the contractor is now completing a recycling audit report on a regular basis which it is hoped will also indicate where waste materials are being sent and to what use they are being to for the future. This will provide a more complete picture about the recycling activity.

3. Column Replacements

3.1 The county programme for this year was split into two phases and both continue to maintain their respective programmes and are due to be completed by the end of March 2004. The current position on schemes within the Hart area for 2003/04 is that all works have now been completed. The draft programme for 2004/05 contains no schemes for the district.

4. Community Safety Initiatives

4.1 The current year's programme was late in starting but is now progressing well and should be complete by the end of the financial year.

4.2 In addition, for the first time, the number of bids received is insufficient to spend the whole budget and consideration will be given to changes that encourage submissions.

4.3 The current position on Community Safety Initiative Schemes for the Hart area is as follows:

Aylesham Way, Yateley - complete.

5. Energy

5.1 A new energy tender has been actioned through the Central Buying Consortium, a group of local authorities who work together to bulk buy various commodities, which has resulted in the County Council accepting a new contract from Scottish and Southern Energy. The new contract will provide for 100% green energy but unfortunately the cost of energy overall has increased by approximately 20%. This however very much reflects the overall upward trend of energy prices to industry at the present time. There was no difference between the price of brown and green energy.

6. New Computer System

6.1 The County Council's main frame computer system will be switched off in April 2005, as a consequence a new street lighting management system is being developed. This will lead to major changes in the manner in which maintenance reports and returns are handled as well as providing an Internet page to enable the public to view the current situation on their road.

6.2 This is now not likely until the autumn of 2004 and may in the short term create some problems during the change over period from SLIMs.

7. Yateley Town Council

7.1 Due to difficulties being experienced by Yateley Town Council in the early part of 2003 with regard to obtaining a suitable maintenance service for its large stock of street lights, the Town Council has now joined the County Council maintenance contact.

7.2 The County Council's system of maintenance is more comprehensive although in the meantime will cost slightly more. However, the signs are already encouraging for the Town Council to make a considerable saving in its energy bill. In addition the Town Council is already considering the need to renew its lighting stock and, when improved, to place it in the County Council's ownership.

Recommendation

That this report be noted.

8522/ALS