Purpose

The
purpose of this decision is to approve capital expenditure of
£135,000 to progress the next phase of the Council’s
LED lighting replacement programme, as outlined in the report
presented to Informal Cabinet on 10 March 2026.
This
phase focuses on converting remaining non?LED lighting assets
across the Council’s operational HQ site (South Cambs Hall)
to energy?efficient LED technology. The proposed works
will:

Deliver significant reductions in electricity consumption, with
projected efficiencies
of 70–80% compared with existing
luminaires.
Contribute to the Council’s carbon?reduction commitments
and sustainability objectives through lower energy use and
decreased maintenance requirements.
Improve lighting quality across buildings, enhancing the working
environment and long?term asset resilience.

Approval is now required to proceed with procurement and
delivery of the installations in accordance with the
Council’s financial and governance procedures.
 
This
decision has been considered previously by informal cabinet on
10/03/26.

Content

To
proceed with the remaining Phase 2 LED lighting works at South
Cambs Hall.

Reasons for the decision

This
decision is made to enable delivery of the projected energy
efficiencies, cost savings, and environmental benefits.

Alternative options considered

Option:  (Do Nothing)
Defer all Phase 2 activity
Reason for Rejection: To pause all Phase 2 LED replacement activity until after Local
Government Reorganisation (LGR) is complete.
Implications of this option:

No immediate expenditure
While deferring the programme would avoid capital outlay in the
short term, this does not remove the need for future investment.
The existing non?LED lighting stock continues to age and will still
require eventual replacement.
Lost opportunity for significant energy
savingsPostponing the programme
would delay realising the forecast 70–80% reduction in
electricity usage achievable through LED technology. This
represents a substantial missed opportunity for in?year revenue
savings and would prolong higher utility costs during a period of
increasing financial pressure.
Risk of cost
escalationDeferral may expose the
Council to higher installation and materials costs in future years
due to market inflation, supply chain pressures, and the ongoing
transition away from older lighting technologies. The overall
scheme could therefore become more expensive to
deliver.
Reduced contribution to carbon?reduction
goals
Continuing with inefficient lighting would delay progress against
corporate energy?reduction and sustainability targets, undermining
the Council’s wider environmental commitments.
Operational inefficiencies and increased
maintenance burden
Retaining outdated luminaires results in higher maintenance demand,
increased failure rates, and reduced lighting quality across the
operational estate.

 

Conclusion
This
option was rejected because, although it avoids immediate spend, it
results in higher operating costs, increased medium?term financial
risk, and delayed environmental benefits, with no strategic
advantages gained by postponing Phase 2.