Issue - meetings

As detailed in the recommendation.

Councillor Attridge introduced the Capital Investment in the Streetlighting Infrastructure and Upgrading to LED Lanterns report which provided details of the financial case to replace approximately 12,000 of the Councils lighting units.

            An opportunity to apply for Welsh Government (WG) Green Growth Invest to Save funding to replace the existing units with more cost effective Light Emitting Diode (LED) lanterns had become available.

            The Chief Officer (Streetscene and Transportation) explained that the design and reliability of LED lanterns had improved greatly over the last decade, with the latest technology producing a clearer white light, providing higher lumen output from a much lower wattage, thereby using less energy and producing lower carbon emissions than the current lanterns.  The LED lanterns could provide energy savings of up to 73% when compared to the existing units.

            The overall cost of the replacement project was greatly reduced by utilising the Council’s own Street Lighting team to carry out the replacement work over a two year period, during the current two yearly inspection visit to each lighting column.  An estimated payback period of approximately 8 years could be achieved.

            The LED lamps had an approximate expected design life of up to 20 years, compared to a typical lantern lamp life of 2 to 5 years.  This produced an additional benefit of the new lighting regime from the reduction in the number of faults on the network which in turn reduced ongoing maintenance costs.

            Any interim energy savings accrued by the early installation of the new lanterns would be reinvested into the service to complete the replacement of remaining life-expired concrete columns.

            The pilot part-night lighting scheme in some residential areas across the County would also be reviewed as part of the project as the lanterns on those roads would also be replaced.  Consideration would be given to retaining the full night provision, subject to discussion with the local Member and local residents.  The part night lighting arrangements on the Council’s Industrial Estates would remain.

Discussions would take place with Town and Community Councils on the potential for them to also bid for funding from the Salix funding stream to update their own lighting network.

RESOLVED:

That the Wales Funding Submission for Capital Funding to replace the appropriate Street Lighting lanterns with new and more efficient LED lighting units be approved.