Caerphilly Council sticking with street lighting switch-off policy

Caerphilly County Borough Council will not be changing its policy on street lights – despite recommendations from its scrutiny committee.

Since late 2019, street lights across Caerphilly County Borough have been switched off each night between midnight and 5.30am.

Following a review of street lighting, on Wednesday, November 16, cabinet members agreed to maintain the current policy and reject a suggestion from Labour councillor Carl Cuss to “implement a central management system which is fit for purpose”.

At an environment and sustainability committee meeting held on October 25, nine councillors on the scrutiny committee voted in favour of Cllr Cuss’s proposal, and five voted against.

What is a council scrutiny committee?

Caerphilly County Borough Council has six scrutiny committees covering a variety of areas.

These are: Education; Social Services; Partnerships; Policy and Resources; Environment and Sustainability; and Housing and Regeneration.

Each scrutiny committee is made up of 16 councillors who meet every six weeks. The role of each committee is to ensure the council is carrying out its responsibilities correctly and to hold the council accountable.

Visit the council’s website to read more about scrutiny committees.

Cllr Cuss, who represents Twyn Carno in the north of the borough, described the current street lighting system as “pre-historic”.

Cllr Carl Cuss, Labour councillor for the Twyn Carno ward

He added: “The policy states that if there’s antisocial behaviour issues or the police feel it’s necessary we should be able to put them back on. We need to invest in street lighting.”

At the cabinet meeting, Marcus Lloyd, head of infrastructure, said the council had considered the central management system – which would allow more control over individual street lights – but said it is “exceedingly expensive” at a cost of £3.5 million.

What is Caerphilly County Borough Council’s cabinet?

A council’s cabinet is made up of councillors in charge of different policy areas – such as education, environment, local economy, etc – and a leader.

It is separate to the council’s corporate management structure, which is headed up by its chief executive and various directors. Cabinet is made up of councillors, who are elected and have the ultimate say.

Typically, cabinet members are councillors from the party with the most elected council members.

Caerphilly County Borough Council’s cabinet is made up of:

Cllr Sean Morgan (Nelson) – Leader
Cllr Jamie Pritchard (Morgan Jones) – Deputy Leader; Prosperity, Regeneration and Climate Change
Cllr Nigel George (Risca East) – Corporate Services and Property
Cllr Eluned Stenner (New Tredegar) – Finance and Performance
Cllr Carol Andrews (Gilfach) – Education and Communities
Cllr Shayne Cook (Morgan Jones) – Housing
Cllr Elaine Forehead (Van) – Social Care
Cllr Philippa Leonard (Risca East) – Planning and Public Protection
Cllr Chris Morgan (Machen and Rudry) – Waste, Leisure and Green Spaces

Corporate management is made up of unelected employees of the council and has responsibility for day-to-day management of services, such as making sure the bins are collected. Corporate directors work with cabinet members to come up with policy which is then agreed upon by the cabinet.

_{Last updated October 13, 2023}

He added that it would be a significant investment and would not be proportionate to what’s achieved.

The Labour-led council has previously said its policy is intended to limit environmental impact. But Plaid Cymru and Independent councillors have argued it’s to do with cost-cutting.

Council deputy leader, Cllr Jamie Pritchard, said: “There’s not many residents in the borough who would be looking to increase their electricity usage at this time. I think most people, if not everybody, is looking to reduce their energy and electricity consumption.

“I think the current policy is the best policy.”

Council leader Sean Morgan said: “We are, in this council, concerned about climate change but we’re not just concerned, we’re taking action on climate change.”

Cllr Morgan added: “This decision was taken in light of the climate emergency, and for our future generations I believe it’s certainly a policy we should stick with.”

In October, Gwent’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Jeff Cuthbert, said it would be his “preference” that street lights are switched on.

At the meeting, Mr Lloyd said: “There’s been no discernible increase at all in crime statistics as a result of the part-night lighting policy.”

Since the policy was implemented, the council has received 316 complaints about street lights. Across the county borough 22,344 out of 27,373 are switched off at midnight.

At the scrutiny meeting, Labour councillor Ceri Wright suggested that residents who come home from late shifts in the dark could buy head torches which “aren’t too expensive”.

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Council sticking with street lighting policy, despite recommendations

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