Minutes:
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The Chair introduced Tracy Brooker and Peter Gray to the meeting to give a presentation on the Refit Programme.
Tracy Brooker explained that she would be giving an update on the Refit Programme. She advised that successfully introduced air source pumps had been fitted into several Council buildings. Also, as part of Refit 2, air source pumps had been fitted into enterprise works, which was a multi-occupied building by a number of tenants – those were works were on schedule and should be completed by the end of March 2023.
In terms of street lighting, a survey of all Borough Council streetlights was being undertaken totalling over 995 individual streetlights within the Borough. Some of these streetlights had been deemed as dangerous and had been replaced. 126 had been identified as dangerous and were going to be replaced with LED lighting. A further report was being submitted to arrange for a 3-year rolling programme of LED replacement for the rest of the Borough and were investigating the possibility of introducing solar lighting for certain areas.
The Chair asked whether the positioning of lighting was correct. In response, it was explained that a survey was currently being undertaken of all the Borough’s streetlights and the positioning was looked at as part of the survey, but some streetlights were the responsibility of Norfolk County Council. It was also explained that some streetlighting had historically been put in strange locations and explained that some at Fairstead were in people’s rear gardens, which made it difficult to maintain them. In those difficult to reach areas there was a rise and fall lamp which folded down and was easier to maintain and would not disturb residents with heavy plant and machinery.
The Chair asked what the procedure was for reporting a streetlight, which was the responsibility of Norfolk County Council, and was in a bad location or there was a problem with it. It was reported that both Councils had reporting mechanisms on their website but there might be an economic reason why a lamppost could not be moved, so each case had to be considered on its own merits.
It was explained that Norfolk County Council had originally been responsible for all streetlights but had handed them to the Borough Council and Freebridge, so there would be 3 columns of streetlights which belonged to different authorities. The costs to relocate the power supply was outlined to the Committee.
Councillor Mrs Wilkinson stated that one of the issues was that the lights could be shining into people’s bedroom windows.
Councillor Rust added that one of the reasons that the Committee had asked for this update was that when looking at the Special Expenses for King’s Lynn there had been a significant increase in the charge for footway lighting, it seemed a lot for the number of lampposts in the King’s Lynn area. With regards to Freebridge, she asked who paid for those, and also asked whether developers were responsible for streetlights on new developments or whether the Council had to pay for them.
With regards to the increase in costs for streetlighting in Special Expenses, it was explained that this was due to the increase in utility costs.
It was explained that some developers used commuted sums
Following discussion, it was identified that further information was required in relation to:
· the Special Expense charge for street lighting, how the charges were split and whether the charge for King’s Lynn was picking up other areas of special expenses.
· Commuted sums
· Timings on streetlights
· Whether a comprehensive list of streetlights that the Borough Council was responsible for could be made available.
The Chair thanked Tracy Brooker and Peter Gray for attending the meeting.
AGREED: That the item be brought back to a future meeting of the Committee.