Agenda item

To receive a report that gives details on the review of Phase 1 – Trial Switch Off of Surplus Lights and presents recommendations for the closure of the SSSL project.

1.            The Commissioning and Contract Support Manager, Mr Robert Clark, introduced a report that set out the review of phase 1 – Trail Switched Off Surplus Lights and presents recommendations for the closure of the Safe and Sensible Street Lighting (SSSL) project.

2.            Mr Clark advised that there was an error on page 110 in the papers recommending that Romney Marsh road in Ashford was to be switched back on, but in fact it was to be removed as detailed in the Appendices to the report.  He then sought Members recommendation of either Option 1 or Option 2 as set out in the report advising that he had attended all the Joint Transport Boards during the winter of 2015 and all agreed the proposals detailed in the Appendices bar the Dover JTB that opted to switch the lights back on.

3.            Mr Wilkin and Mr Clark responded to comments and questions by Members as follows:

Ÿ  Dr Eddy, Local Member for Dover, spoke on why Dover JTB asked for the lights to be switched back on advising that there were outstanding decisions within the local area where the light columns are situated. There were potential land redevelopments close by to these sites related to economic regeneration projects and the removal of the columns may be detrimental to those opportunities.

Ÿ  Dr Eddy proposed Options 2 – “that was similar to Option 1, but the sites in Dover would be switched back on and the columns would not be removed”.

Ÿ  Mr Wilkin stated that he understood the concerns of Local Members and that it had been a bold decision to switch off the lights which had enabled officers to learn a great deal amounting to very few of the lights needing to be turned back on.  The evidence pointed to this being a great success and had not impacted on community safety.  He stressed that if lighting was required due to new developments then the light column could be reinstated at the cost of the developers.

Ÿ  Mr Clark explained that where districts/boroughs were not mentioned in the lists, this was because they did not have sites allocated for the trial switch off.  There were 2500 street lights across the 12 districts with 1200 across 9 districts put forward.

Ÿ  Mr Baldock raised concerns of light columns being removed in his local district Swale and the way the list of sites was evaluated. He said that the only option he could support was Option 3 –“to return the entire trial switch off in the County back on….” As set out in the report.  Mr Clark stated that these sites had been assessed during the trial for 2 years and during this time were minimal requests to switch the lights back on. Additionally the street lights in Love Lane (Swale) were to be switched back on in accordance with the appendices to the report contrary to the recommendation in the paper. Mr Wilkin assured Members that the Options were part of the evidence gathered over the trial.

Ÿ  Mr Caller advised that officers had listened to comments made at his local JTB meetings.  He suggested that it was worth considering what might happen in the future particularly for Dover. 

Ÿ  Mr Caller seconded Dr Eddy’s proposal for Options 2 as set out in the report.

4.            The Chairman asked Members to vote on Option 2 as set out on page 111 in the report.  The votes cast were as follows: 7 votes for and 3 against.  The proposal was carried.

5.            Mr Balfour advised that he would revisit the issues for Dover in the coming months.

6.            RESOLVED that:-

(a)   the comments and responses to questions by Members be noted; and

(b)    the Cabinet Committee recommended the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport proceed with Option 2 as detailed in section 8 of the report.