Freedom of information response
Christmas Light Spending
I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. The purpose of this request is to gather data on the average figure the council spends on Christmas lights and decorations.
Specifically, I am seeking information on the following:
1. The annual spend on Christmas lights per year, for the following years:
• 2020
• 2021
• 2022
• 2023
• 2024
2. The annual spend on Christmas decorations (e.g. trees), for the following years:
• 2020
• 2021
• 2022
• 2023
• 2024
3. The estimated energy consumption (in kWh) of the Christmas lights, for the following years:
• 2020
• 2021
• 2022
• 2023
• 2024
Council funding for Christmas trees and lights has historically been limited to Grays Town Centre. In 2023/24 this budget was accepted as part of the Council’s savings proposals, so no funding was provided in December 2023 and there is no ongoing budget. Prior to this both tree and lights each year were procured through a single contract whose costs excluding VAT were:
- 2020 - £9,238
- 2021 - £9,238
- 2022 - £9,958 (offset by £2,000 in business sponsorship)
- 2023 – Zero (Grays tree and lights in this year were funding entirely by sponsorship and led by a community organisation, supported through Council officer time)
- 2024 – Zero (there is no budget but officers will look to support community efforts to secure funding).
Power for festive lighting schemes in Grays is drawn from public street lighting columns and no estimate is available for energy consumption.