Decision details

RESOLVED

KEY DECISION

That the Executive:

a)    Confirmed approval to proceed with the LED replacement and Central Management System (CMS) upgrade of streetlights within the PFI agreement with Connect Roads/ Balfour Beatty.

b)    Delegated authority to the Executive Member for Highways, Travel and Assets, in consultation with the Executive Member for Finance, the Executive Director for Finance and the Executive Director for Place and Economy to:

                               i.        secure and allocate appropriate funding, through Prudential Borrowing;

                              ii.        agree the necessary changes to the PFI funding agreement with Connect Roads/Balfour Beatty to complete the required works.

Reason for Recommendations: The recommendations will deliver against the Council’s priorities to provide efficient services that deliver value for money, whilst maintaining a safe public highway and reduce carbon emissions in line with the Council’s commitment to becoming carbon net zero by 2030.

Alternative Options Considered:

·         An alternative is to continue with the current street lighting lanterns, which would avoid the need to provide capital funding for investment. This option would not deliver the financial, social or environmental objectives of the proposed recommendations

·         It would be possible to change the lanterns to LEDs, but not install the CMS. This would not deliver the operational and potential financial and environmental benefits of having remote control over the network of streetlights, so this is not recommended.

·         The Council owns and manages streetlights, inherited from the former district and boroughs, which are not part of the street lighting PFI. In order to convert those assets to LED, they would first need to be transferred into the PFI. It is not proposed to transfer those assets to the PFI through this project as it will require additional inspection and upgrade of those assets in order to meet the strict specification requirements of the PFI. This is a separate consideration, and investment, that the Council may want to explore at another time.