Decision Maker: Council

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Date of Decision: January 21, 2026

Purpose:

Content: RESOLVED: 1.      This Council notes: a)      That residents can feel unsafe when long stretches of grid roads, including roundabouts, bridges and busy junctions, are left without functioning streetlights. Whilst some of these areas benefit from basic lighting from nearby buildings or roadside lighting, some are obscured by trees and remain in complete darkness. These locations include various areas across the city, and the list has been forwarded to the relevant Cabinet Member. b)      That residents walking or cycling along redways are also at risk from widespread outages, particularly at busy junctions. Cyclists and pedestrians often have to share narrow pathways, which are frequently covered by debris or slippery leaves, all of which pose additional hazards in poor lighting. c)      Accidents that involve vehicles and pedestrians and/or cyclists are proportionally more likely to result in casualties and/or fatalities. Due to financial constraints, the City Council prioritise grid roads with the highest repair priority and redways and underpasses are among the lowest. d)      That given the number of redways and underpasses with streetlights across the city, which is a very large network to maintain, some of these routes can be left in darkness for extended periods of time. e)      That these conditions can discourage active travel, as residents are understandably reluctant to walk or cycle during the darker months. f)       That both councillors and residents have expressed frustration at the difficulty of obtaining clear updates on the causes and timescales of long running faults. 2.      This Council further notes: a)      That many streetlight repairs depend on National Grid, and that close collaboration is essential to reduce delays and improve safety. b)      The lack of clear information often leads to residents to believe the City Council is solely responsible, which can be damaging to its reputation. 3.      This Council therefore asks: a)      The Executive to continue to engage proactively with National Grid to minimise delays to streetlight repairs and to establish a clear and regular communication process so that councillors and residents can receive timely updates and explanations for prolonged faults. b)      The Environment and Place Scrutiny Committee to consider, as part of its work programme, the current prioritisation process for streetlight repairs with a focus on resident and community safety.