Decision - Approval to procure street lighting energy contract

(1)         That the Cabinet Member authorises the Director of Environment to:

(a)         Enter into an arrangement with ESCC to utilise the Buying Solutions’ framework agreement to procure the electricity for highway street lighting and illuminated signs for a period of 18 months until April 2011.

(b)         Carry out a review, including soft market testing as to the options and costs for the future procurement of electricity for highway street lighting and illuminated signs and to report back to the Cabinet Member with recommendations following the review.

1.      The Council has a duty to maintain regulatory signs / bollards and also to maintain the public highway street lighting in a safe condition.  Energy supply is an essential element of providing illumination on the city’s streets.

2.      This proposal would succeed the current Street Lighting energy Contract tendered by ESCC on behalf of both authorities terminating on 30^th September 2009.

1.      At this current time, this form of framework agreement with East Sussex is considered to be the most suitable because timescales for disaggregation mean that the council is unable to pursue alternatives.

2.      The only other alternative is not to enter into this framework but this would leave Brighton & Hove City Council without any contract for the energy of the street lighting, illuminated signs and bollards, with a resulting safety risk.