Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Director of Economy, Transport and Environment seeking approval, following a public consultation, to implement a part-night lighting policy for street lights owned and operated by the County Council across Hampshire. Commencing with street lights on residential roads, it is proposed to switch street lights off for part of the night where assessed safe to do so.

To pre-scrutinise a report regarding proposed savings from street lighting, prior to decision by the Executive Member for Environment and Transport in the afternoon.

The Select Committee received a report and supporting presentation on behalf of the Director of Economy Transport & Environment, regarding proposals to make savings from street lighting (see Item 7 in the Minute Book). The report was due to be considered by the Executive Member for Environment and Transport at his decision day later that day.

Members heard that:

·         It was proposed to reduce street lighting between 1am and 4am in residential areas, and therefore town centres and major roads would not be affected

·         The lighting system in place enabled discreet areas to be switched on or off. Therefore, if following implementation of the proposals there were concerns about particular areas, the lighting times could be adapted, based on evidence of need. 

Members commented:

·         Some villages didn’t want street lights due to the light pollution, and there was no evidence that this impacted on accident rates in those areas

·         Street lighting had been reduced already, and there hadn’t been complaints on that occasion, so it seemed a logical area to seek to make savings with minimal impact on the public

·         A Member was concerned about the impact on students walking home at night

RECOMMENDED:

The Economy, Transport and Environment Select Committee support the recommendations being proposed to the Executive Member for Environment and Transport in section 1 of the Street Lighting T19 Savings report.