Agenda item

To consider and agree the proposal for future management, repairs & maintenance, and funding for Parish street lighting

Members considered the Parish Street Lighting report presented by Councillor Mrs Hay, with revised recommendations.

The amended recommendations were: 

·       Cabinet endorse the proposal for FDC to provide management and street lighting repair & maintenance services to those Parish Councils that agree to the arrangements as outlined in this report with effect from 1 August 2018.

·       Parish Councils are to be responsible for funding repairs and maintenance costs during the term of the agreement.

·       FDC agree to fund energy costs for a period of 12 months starting from 1 August 2018.  Those costs will be covered in full for those Parish Councils agreeing to FDC managing their Parish street lights.  For those Parishes who assume responsibility for their own Parish street lighting a grant will be paid by FDC of either the estimated cost of annual energy as presented to the Parish in their ‘Parish Estimate’ or the actual cost paid by the Parish Council whichever is the lesser amount.  Where based on the FDC estimate the figure will be proportioned for part year as appropriate.

·       Amended Service Level Agreements will be prepared taking into account the above with effect from 1 August 2018.

·       Authority to implement the proposals with the Parish Councils is delegated to the Portfolio Holder for Finance and the Corporate Director Growth and Infrastructure, including updated Service Level Agreement and transfer arrangements for those Parishes opting out.

Councillor Gavin Booth was invited to address the Cabinet.  He stated this has been a long running issue and the parishes are annoyed with the way the whole situation has occurred.  Fundamentally there are some issues that have not yet been discussed or acknowledged going back to 1974 wherein the assets were divided between the rural and district councils.  Now we have this report coming to Cabinet that has not been discussed with the whole Council.  The whole issue is around equitability, as parishioners are now going to have to pay for district council lighting stock through Council Tax as well as their own parish lighting stock through precepts. There is anger that everything is being foisted on the Parish Councils to pay because there is no cap on precept setting.  By going ahead with this proposal, we are doing a disservice to those parishes and villages of this district and we are here to represent the whole of Fenland to make sure the whole of Fenland gets a good deal. 

Members asked questions, made comments and received responses as follows: 

·       Councillor Mrs Hay made a statement in response to Councillor Booth.  Regarding the issue of 1974, lights were transferred to the parishes as prescribed by legislation that abolished the urban and rural councils.   Most Parish Councils have accepted that they are responsible for the assets on their register. 

Cabinet AGREED that:

·       The proposal for FDC to provide management and street lighting repair and maintenance services to those Parish Councils that agree to the arrangements as outlined in this report with effect from 1August 2018 be endorsed.

·       Parish Councils are to be responsible for funding repairs and maintenance costs during the term of the agreement.

·       FDC to fund energy costs for a period of 12 months starting from 1August 2018.  Those costs will be covered in full for those Parish Councils agreeing to FDC managing their Parish street lights.  For those Parishes who assume responsibility for their own Parish street lighting a grant will be paid by FDC of either the estimated cost of annual energy as presented to the Parish in their ‘Parish Estimate’ or the actual cost paid by the Parish Council whichever is the lesser amount.  Where based on the FDC estimate the figure will be proportioned for part year as appropriate.

·       Amended Service Level Agreements be prepared taking into account the above with effect from 1 August 2018.

·       Authority to implement the proposals with the Parish Councils is delegated to the Portfolio Holder for Finance and the Corporate Director Growth and Infrastructure, including updated Service Level Agreements and transfer arrangements for those Parishes opting out.