Purpose

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

Decision

To provide comment to the Infrastructure Services Committee on the proposed change in approach for approval and management of Festive Lighting Installations in our towns and villages as follows:

1. Welcomed the intention for a more flexible policy rather than the prescriptive high-footfall area approach.
2. Questioned whether the population-based funding formula was the fairest approach, considering that settlement size may not be reflective of the population a display would serve, for example smaller settlements on busy commuter routes.
3. Noted that Lumphanan appeared to be missing from the table of settlements.
4. Raised concerns about the proposed five-year charging model and the burden it could place on community groups that relied on fundraising and grants.
5. Queried how the system would work if a settlement came forward that didn’t currently have a display.
6. Queried risks relating to the increased load on street light columns and potential impacts on asset lifespan.
7. Queried whether communities would also become responsible for insurance, repairs and replacement and what would happen if an upgraded asset was damaged.
8. Suggested that officers should look at funding available to support communities with the additional costs.
9. Questioned whether the cost of powering festive lights, particularly modern LED lights, were significant enough to justify the additional charging mechanisms, especially when accounting for the costs of administering the scheme.