Archived decisions

APPENDIX

ENVIRONMENT AND TRANSPORTATION POLICY AND REVIEW COMMITTEE

SCRUTINY WORKSHOP - 8 FEBRUARY 2007

Room 320, Elizabeth 11 Court, The Castle, Winchester

SUBJECT: STREET LIGHTING

PRESENT

Chairman

p Councillor P.R.C.Hutcheson

Councillors:

p Mrs.C.A.Bailey p K.D.Evans

R.J.Baulk a K.L.Gill

Mrs.A.Buckley Mrs.C.A.Leversha

p Mrs.E.M.Byrom p P.K.Mason

p A.P.Collett a Mrs.P.G.Peskett

p M.G.Cooper Mrs.J.A.Porter

p B.D.Dash a D.Simpson

a Mrs.P.M.Devereux p J.K.West

p A.G.Dowden a Mrs.S.A.Wheale

L.T.Dunsdon p D.F.Wright

p P.R.Edgar

Officers:

Philippa Smart

Tony Stephens

Trevor Wallis

1. Introduction

1.1 Councillor Hutcheson welcomed everyone present to the scrutiny, and handed

    over to Trevor Wallis, who outlined the background to the Hampshire wide

    Street Lighting project and the nature of the Private Finance Initiative process

    which is underway.

2. Presentation - service specification and sustainability aspects

2.1 General information about the service specification was provided, including upgrading lights and columns to British Standards, investment, maintenance and handback, and the type of light required.

      Questioning took place by Members on various aspects including:

      - how the Private Finance Initiative fits with local street lighting replacement work that is ongoing

      - whether other councils, in addition to West Sussex and Southampton are likely to become involved

      - the time frame for column replacement, the quality of column coatings

      - what the evidence base was in relation to associating night time light dimming with increased community safety

      - whether the project will specify the energy providers

      - how to safeguard against contractor refinancing

      Following discussion, the group agreed to recommend :

      That the project is informed by more detailed data on community benefits of dimming and part time night lighting

      That the specification include specific requests to the bidders to say what savings dimming or part time night lighting would create

      That the project proceed on the basis of a preference for green over brown energy

      That the contract contains an expectation that column and lantern replacement will be carried out as promptly as possible in the early years of the contract rather than spread over a longer period

3. Presentation - partnerships, performance management

3.1 Members received information about the District, Parish and Town Council

aspects of the project, covering matters to do with discretionary lighting,

with participation and non participation within the scheme, and with aspects of

performance management such as repair and complaints response times

Questioning took place by Members on a number of aspects, including:

      - how the project will respond to variability and local preferences in local villages eg. flower basket brackets on columns

      - the scope for local influence on decisions about the replacement of lights

      - how local partners are engaged in the project and the stage of the bid at which District, Parish and Town Councils would indicate whether they wish to be part of the initiative

      - the place of sanctions for under performance

      - the reliability of column identification to support complaints handling and monitoring

      Following discussion the group agreed to recommend:

      That members of the scrutiny group be advised which Districts, Parishes and Town Councils have said to date that they wish to be part of the Private Finance Initiative.

      That the District, Parish and Town Councils be provided with up to date information about the Private Finance Initiative and encouraged to indicate now to the Street Lighting Project Director whether they wish to be part of that initiative, as well as what standard of lighting and/or other specific requirements eg. brackets, they envisage being required

      That sanctions for non compliance with performance targets be explicit within the tender.

4. Presentation - proposals for income opportunities

4.1 Two possible sources of income generation were outlined: advertising and

communications equipment.

Questioning took place by Members on various aspects, including:

      - the proposed size of illuminated advertising panels and advertising banners

      - the scope for controlled advertising

      - which local authority tiers are included as income generation beneficiaries in the project

      Following discussion, the group agreed to recommend:

      That the' in principle' agreement to include income generating opportunities in the Street Lighting Private Finance Initiative should rest with the full council

      That if income generation is supported `in principle', that income generated from advertising, or other source such as WiFi, should be devolved to Districts, Parishes or Town councils if the apparatus is in their ownership

5. General discussion

      Members were interested to know if the Highways Agency was a partner in

      the Private Finance Initiative. An additional recommendation was agreed:

      That the potential for collaboration with the Highways Agency be explored

6. Outcome

      The chairman thanked the Members and presenters taking part in the Street Lighting scrutiny workshop. The recommendations would be reported back to the Environment and Transportation Policy and Review Committee, and conveyed to the Executive Member for the Environment.