Telensa Wireless Street Lighting Rollout

The request was successful.

Dear City of Edinburgh Council,
Please can you provide the following information in regard to the Telensa Street lighting system.

1. The location of ALL the streetlights connected to the system
2. How much will this cost the taxpayer?
3. How much are the running costs?
4. How soon does the council expect the system to pay for itself (if atall)?
5. Why were the citizens of Edinburgh not consulted before rolling this out?
6. Has the council conduced any studies into the the potential health effects of this system?
7. If no studies in to effects have been done prior to rollout, why not?

Yours faithfully,

Stephen

Mail Delivery System,

2 Attachments

  • Attachment

    attachment.delivery status

    0K Download

  • Attachment

    Freedom of Information request Telensa Wireless Street Lighting Rollout.txt

    1K Download View as HTML

This message was created automatically by mail delivery software.

A message that you sent could not be delivered to one or more of its
recipients. This is a permanent error. The following address(es) failed:

[Edinburgh City Council request email]
host smtp1.edin.org [194.32.48.33]
SMTP error from remote mail server after RCPT TO:<[Edinburgh City Council request email]>:
550 5.1.1 <[Edinburgh City Council request email]>: Recipient address rejected:
User unknown

Sent request to City of Edinburgh Council again, using a new contact address.

City of Edinburgh Council

Mr Stephen

Our ref: 20244

Dear Mr Stephen

Acknowledgement of Request

Subject: Telensa Wireless Street Lighting Rollout

Thank you for your request for information received on 24/08/2018. I can confirm that your request will be processed under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, Environmental Information Regulations (Scotland) 2004, or the INSPIRE (Scotland) Regulations 2009.

You will receive the information requested within 20 working days unless the Council does not hold the information, or there is a reason for it to be withheld. We will write to you in any event. This means we have until 21/09/2018 to respond to your request.

In some circumstances a fee may be payable and if that is the case we will let you know.

If you have any requirements regarding the format any information should be supplied in, e.g. the language to be used, audio, large print and so on, then please let me know.

If you have any queries or concerns, do not hesitate to get in touch. Please quote the reference number above in any future communications.

To promote transparency and accountability, please note it is the Council’s policy to publish all request details and responses made under the freedom of information legislation. This information will be made available through the Council’s website and will not include your personal details. The disclosure log is available at the following link: http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/homepage/175....

Further information about your rights and accessing information is available on our website at: www.edinburgh.gov.uk

Yours sincerely,

Information Governance Unit
Level 2:1, Waverley Court, Edinburgh EH8 8BG Tel 0131 200 2340
[Edinburgh City Council request email] www.edinburgh.gov.uk

City of Edinburgh Council

Mr Stephen

[FOI #512619 email]

Our ref: 20244

Dear Mr Stephen

Request for Clarification

Subject: Telensa Wireless Street Lighting Rollout

Thank you for your request for information of 24/08/2018 in which you asked the following:

Please can you provide the following information in regard to the Telensa Street lighting system.

1. The location of ALL the streetlights connected to the system
2. How much will this cost the taxpayer?
3. How much are the running costs?
4. How soon does the council expect the system to pay for itself (if at all)?
5. Why were the citizens of Edinburgh not consulted before rolling this out?
6. Has the council conduced any studies into the potential health effects of this system?
7. If no studies in to effects have been done prior to rollout, why not?

Unfortunately, we cannot identify the information you have requested from the details you have provided. To help us meet your request, could you please provide the following:

Please could you confirm that this is this specifically in relation to the Central Management System (procured from Telensa) that is being introduced to allow the Council full autonomous control of the Council’s street lights (as part of the Energy Efficient Street Lighting Programme)?

On receipt of these further details, we will respond to your request within 20 working days. Please note that the statutory 20 working day deadline for responding to your request does not start until we receive the requested clarification from you.

If we do not hear from you within 40 working days, we will assume that you are no longer seeking the information you have requested and we will take no further action.

If you wish to discuss further, please get in touch. Please quote the reference number above in any future communications.

Further information about your rights and accessing information is available on our website at: www.edinburgh.gov.uk

Yours sincerely,

Mark Hepworth
Information Rights Officer

Information Governance Unit
Level 2:1, Waverley Court, Edinburgh EH8 8BG Tel 0131 200 2340
[Edinburgh City Council request email] www.edinburgh.gov.uk

Dear City of Edinburgh Council,

Yes, my request is "in relation to the Central Management System (procured from Telensa) that is being introduced to allow the Council full autonomous control of the Council’s street lights (as part of the Energy Efficient Street Lighting Programme)"

Many thanks
Stephen

City of Edinburgh Council

Mr Stephen

[FOI #512619 email]

Our ref: 20244

Dear Mr Stephen

Request for Clarification - Receipt

Subject: Telensa Wireless Street Lighting Rollout

Thank you for providing clarification on the above request for information of 24/08/2018. We will respond to your request within 20 working days. Please note that the statutory 20 working day deadline for responding to your request starts upon receipt of clarification. This means we have until 28/09/2018 to respond to your request.

To promote transparency and accountability, please note it is the Council’s policy to publish all request details and responses made under freedom of information legislation. This information will be made available through the Council’s website and will not include your personal details.

Further information about your rights and accessing information is available on our website at: www.edinburgh.gov.uk

Yours sincerely

Mark Hepworth
Information Rights Officer

Information Governance Unit
Level 2:1, Waverley Court, Edinburgh EH8 8BG Tel 0131 200 2340
[Edinburgh City Council request email] www.edinburgh.gov.uk

Information Rights Officer 1, City of Edinburgh Council

1 Attachment

Mr Stephen

[1][FOI #512619 email]

Our ref: 20244

 

Dear Mr Stephen

Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 - Release of
Information

Subject: Telensa Wireless Street Lighting Rollout

Thank you for your request for information of 24/08/2018. Your request has
been processed and considered under the Environmental Information
(Scotland) Regulations 2004 (EIRs) and the information is provided below.

Your questions have been answered in order:

Please can you provide the following information in relation to the
Central Management System (procured from Telensa) that is being introduced
to allow the Council full autonomous control of the Council’s street
lights (as part of the Energy Efficient Street Lighting Programme).

Q1. The location of ALL the streetlights connected to the system.

A2. Please find attached a document detailing the streets on which the
street lights have been connected to the Central Management System (CMS).

Q2. How much will this cost the taxpayer?

A2. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide you with the specific cost of
this system rollout as it is not held by the Council as a standalone item.
The Council is therefore relying on the exception under regulation
10(4)(a) of the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004.

The Central Management System, is delivered via our outsourced ICT
contract with CGI, costs are not structured based on the CMS as a
standalone price. Costs include provision of all services required, out
with the CMS, such as Infrastructure, Training, Hardware, Service Desk and
Support. All costs have been captured within the overall budget for The
Street Lighting programme, as per the Finance and Resources Committee
report of 23^rd January 2018, link below.

[2]http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/download/mee...

[3]http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/news/article...

Please note that this letter constitutes a formal notice under regulation
13 of the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004.

Q3. How much are the running costs?

A3. The Council has approximately 65,000 street lights, costing around £3m
in energy alone every year. Energy costs continue to rise and the current
lanterns are becoming obsolete, making them harder and costlier to
maintain. 

To pre-empt these increases, £24.5m will be spent on upgrading all the
city’s street lights; replacing inefficient lanterns with modern, energy
efficient and environmentally friendly ones. This will achieve savings for
the taxpayer of £54m over 20 years.

Q4. How soon does the council expect the system to pay for itself (if at
all)?

A4. The total cost of the Energy Efficient Street Lighting Programme,
which is primarily a cost avoidance programme being funded by Prudential
Borrowing, at £24.518m will have been “recovered” in 2029/30.

Q5. Why were the citizens of Edinburgh not consulted before rolling this
out?

A5. It is not mandatory for the Council to consult on the introduction of
asset management systems (such as the Street Lighting CMS).

Q6. Has the council conducted any studies into the potential health
effects of this system?

A6. The Council have not conducted its own studies as Telensa’s CMS is an
inherently low-power wireless device, when compared with devices such as
mobile phones or Wi-Fi hotspots. As with all wireless devices, their
operation is tightly regulated by Ofcom (the UK communications regulator).

Telensa’s products have been tested to comply with the following British
and International best practice guidelines:

o BS EN 62311:2008 Assessment of Electronic and Electrical Equipment
Related to Human Exposure Restrictions for Electromagnetic Fields; and

 

o ICNIRP Guidelines for Limiting Exposure to Time Varying Electric,
Magnetic and Electromagnetic Fields (up to 300 GHz).

 

The Telensa CMS operates in an unlicensed frequency band 868MHz.

The Telensa products comply with the European Radio Regulations mentioned
in EN300-220 and all equipment is CE approved.
 
The transmit power of Telecells, which are being installed onto each
street light, is limited to just 25mW. (mW = miliwatts)

The Telecells transmit for just a few seconds each day, in order to send
back data relating to the status of each street light.

The Telecells do not all send their data back at the same time. Instead
they all have a pre-programmed transmit time, so there is not a time when
all the Telecells transmit at the same time.

As street lights do not need to transmit large amounts of data, Telensa
are able to use a radio system called UNB, (Ultra narrow band radio),
which inherently has a very low data rate due to the narrow bandwidth of
the signal.  This technique enables Telensa to receive down to very low
levels. e.g. -135dBm.

These devices are also mounted on the top of street lights, which further
reduces power at ground level as they are normally mounted several metres
up in the air.

Q7. If no studies in to effects have been done prior to rollout, why not?

A7. Please refer to the detailed information provided above.

To promote transparency and accountability, please note it is the
Council’s policy to publish all request details and responses made under
the freedom of information legislation. This information will be made
available through the Council’s website and will not include your personal
details. The disclosure log is available at the following link:
[4]http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/homepage/175...

Your right to seek a review

If you are unhappy with the way we have dealt with your request, you can
ask us to review our actions and decisions by writing to the:

Head of Strategy & Insight 

The City of Edinburgh Council,

Waverley Court Business Centre 2:1,

4, East Market Street,

Edinburgh,

EH8 8BG or:

Email: [5][email address]  

Please note that your request must be in a recordable format (email,
letter, audio tape etc.), and that you have 40 working days upon receipt
of this letter to ask for a review. You will receive a full response to
your review request within 20 working days of its receipt. Please remember
to quote the reference number above in any future communications.

If you are not content with the outcome of the review, you can ask the
Scottish Information Commissioner to review our decision. You must submit
your complaint to the Commissioner within 6 months of receiving our review
response. The Commissioner can be contacted at:

The Office of the Scottish Information Commissioner

Kinburn Castle

Doubledykes Road

St Andrews

Fife

KY16 9DS

Telephone: 01334 464610

Fax: 01334 464611

Website: [6]www.itspublicknowledge.info/Appeal

Email: [7][email address]

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

Mark Hepworth

Information Rights Officer

 

 

 

Information Governance Unit

Level 2:1, Waverley Court, Edinburgh EH8 8BG Tel 0131 200 2340

[8][Edinburgh City Council request email]  [9]www.edinburgh.gov.uk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

show quoted sections

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[FOI #512619 email]
2. http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/download/mee...
3. http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/news/article...
4. http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/homepage/175...
5. mailto:[email address]
6. http://www.itspublicknowledge.info/Appeal
7. mailto:[email address]
8. mailto:[Edinburgh City Council request email]
9. http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/

Dear City of Edinburgh Council,
Thank you for providing the information requested

Yours faithfully,

Stephen