Members were reminded that Brentwood Borough Council currently provided festive lights to Brentwood Town Centre and Shenfield.

In 2012 a number of lamp columns failed the stress tests that were undertaken as part of the licence to erect festive lights (banners, hanging baskets etc.) Essex County Council considered that the festive lights could potentially increase the stress to the lamp column which was designed purely to provide street lighting.  As a result some of the motifs that had been attached to the lamp columns had to be replaced with rope lights that would not significantly impact onto the stress of the column.

For 2014/15, Officers were asked to explore ways in which the festive lights and activities in and around the Town Centre and in Shenfield in particularcould be enhanced.

Costs of the proposed improvements were before Members and a more detailed  breakdown was circulated at the meeting.

Cllr Chilvers MOVED and Cllr Mrs Squirrell SECONDED the recommendation within the report and it was RESOLVED that Members agree to support in principle the additional festive lights and the Lighting Up Shenfield event, subject to budget agreement at Finance and Resources Committee on 29 October 2014.