Agenda and minutes

The minutes of the meeting held on 5 June 2025 were taken as read, confirmed and signed.

The Chief Executive reported that no questions had been received under Standing Order 35.

The Chief Executive reported that no questions had been received under Standing Order 7(3) and 7(5).

There were no urgent items for consideration.

The Chairman invited members who wished to do so to declare any interest in respect of items on the agenda for the meeting.

No declarations were made.

There were no declarations of the party whip.

The Chief Executive reported that no petitions had been received under Standing Order 36.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Environment and Transport, the purpose of which was to advise the Committee of the outcome of the 18-month street lighting dimming trial and to seek its views on shaping the future street lighting service, prior to presenting a report to the Cabinet on 12 September 2025. A copy of the report marked ‘Agenda Item 9’ is filed with these minutes.

Arising from discussion, the following points were made:

(a)  Members welcomed the work undertaken and the outcome of the pilot. Members agreed that this had been an innovative approach taken by the County Council, noting it was the first authority to trial this level of street light dimming.  Members were also pleased to note the level of savings it had delivered which could now be factored into the MTFS year on year.

(b)  The Committee supported the proposal to permanently dim street lights within this trial to 30% between the hours of 8pm and 7am across the County, on the basis there would be continued monitoring of road collisions and crime. Whilst the pilot had not raised any definitive issues and it was noted the reduced lighting levels  had largely gone unnoticed, Members agreed this should continue to be monitored, with the opportunity to increase lighting in specific areas if and were deemed necessary for safety or crime related reasons.

(c)  It was noted that as part of the public consultation undertaken prior to the pilot, many respondents raised concerns and these had been monitored as part of the pilot scheme.

(d)  It was highlighted that the areas across the County that were under the ‘part night lighting regime’ (switching off street lights from midnight to 5.30am) would stay the same and that regime would not be affected by the proposal outlined in the report. Members were informed that not all local authorities operated a Central Management System used by the Council to control street lighting which had been fundamental in being able to take this approach.

The Lead Member for Highways and Transport welcomed the report and Members comments on the success of the dimming trial. He said as a result of the outcome of the pilot he would recommend to Cabinet that this be made a permanent feature and thanked officers for the work undertaken.

RESOLVED:

That the outcome of the 18-month street lighting dimming trial be noted and welcomed and that the comments now made by the Committee be presented to the Cabinet for consideration at its meeting on 12 September 2025.

The next meeting of the Highways and Transport Overview and Scrutiny Committee will be held on 6 November 2025 at 2.00pm.

RESOLVED:

It was noted that the next meeting of the Committee would be held on 6 November 2025 at 2.00 pm.