Agenda item

- to consider the financial implications of the provision of additional lighting and Health and Safety works and to determine the format for the new Christmas Illuminations Tender for 2007-2009.

Consideration was given to a report of the Head of Service, Culture and Leisure, which set out the financial implications of the provision of additional lighting for Christmas Illuminations and health and safety works during the current financial year, together with the need to determine the format for a new Christmas Illuminations Tender for 2007-2009.

The Cabinet Member was asked to consider:

-                       the additional costs for lighting in All Saints’ Square and additional budget required for this provision

-                       the additional costs for health and safety works for the treatment of metal bolt fixings and additional budget required for this provision

-                       the content/format of Christmas Illuminations for 2007-2009, including a decision on the provision of district trees

-                       direction on the provision of diverse lights and identification of additional budget

Christmas Illuminations are currently provided under a contract entered into with Blachere Wonderland Illuminations UK Ltd. (2004-2006).  Last year a considerable amount of additional work had been carried out to install a permanent lighting infrastructure via the lighting columns, apart from High Street where this was not feasible.  However, under the existing contract there is no provision for lighting in All Saints’ Square other than on the Christmas tree. 

The report highlighted a number of issues for consideration this year, in all areas of the town centre which are lit at Christmas, including a breakdown of spend against the current budget for Christmas Illuminations of £40,900, the whole of which is committed to the hire, erection and dismantling of the lights, and sponsorship issues.

The new three year tender will have to be specified in order for the tender sum to be within the available budget.

Resolved:-  (1)  That a report on the content/format of Christmas Illuminations for 2007-2009 be submitted to a future meeting, as discussed.

(2)   That, due to the budgetary implications for the provision of lamps and barriers, the provision of district trees cease after this financial year.

(3)         That, for health and safety reasons, the number of people on the stage area on switch on evening be reduced to Hallam FM staff and The Mayor only, and that the remainder of the Civic party take up a position in the Square.

(4)         That a meeting be arranged with the Chamber of Commerce to further explore the possibility of external funding towards the cost of extra lighting in All Saints’ Square.

(5)         That in view of the demolition of All Saints’ building, lights on Corporation Street be not included in the 2007-2009 tender specification, due to the siting of light fixtures attached to the building.

(6)         That lighting be not provided on Moorgate Street within the 2007-2009 tender specification, in view of its close proximity to other lighting features in All Saints’ Square and High Street.

(7)  That a suggestion to explore funding through Community Partnerships be fully explored.

(8)  That a suggestion to use the Big Screen in All Saints’ Square for the advertisement of other religious festivals, such as Diwali, Eid and Chinese New Year, be explored, in view of the cost for bringing contractors in at different times throughout the year to erect lighting.