Purpose

To seek area committee opinion on the outcome of the Festive Lights Policy Review consultation process.

Decision

The Committee agreed to provide the following comments to the Infrastructure Services Committee on the proposed change in approach for approval and management of Festive Lighting Installations in our towns and villages:

1. Further information is required on the cost implications of the proposed arrangements, including the basis for any charges and the reasons why some settlements may be unfairly disadvantaged. 
2. Details should be provided on the cost differential between standard lighting and LED lighting.  Members also requested information on how the proposed switch off policy would affect overall costs. 
   
   
3. Members considered that requiring communities to make a five-year advance payment would be unreasonable and requested that charges be payable at the end of each year rather than upfront.    
4. Further work is required on the funding allocation per settlement based on population.      
5. An Integrated Impact Assessment should provide evidence of the potential additional administrative burden on community groups and volunteers, including the risk of volunteer burnout. 
6. The proposed policy should be reported back to Area Committee for further consideration.