Replacing Staffordshire Moorlands District Council's indoor and outdoor lighting with energy saving LEDs could come at a total cost of £435,000, a committee was told this week.

The council's Community Overview and Scrutiny Panel met on Monday and received an update on progress to install LED lighting in council buildings and in the council's outdoor areas as part of the authority's efforts to tackle climate change.

The council's head of assets, Katy Webster, gave a presentation to councillors on current and future projects involving LED lights in council buildings.

She explained that EON are currently delivering a project to upgrade a total of 283 lights across 35 outdoor council areas, which has cost the council £135,000.

She added that Norse Infinity are also currently investigating the feasibility of a scheme to replace all lights with LEDs inside the council's main building of Moorlands House. If this went ahead, it would be likely to cost the council £300,000.

This would be undertaken in phases, with the first phase being replacing the lights in the council chamber, Churnet room and entrance, at a cost of £50,000.

However, she also explained that the new lights could cut the council's lighting bill by 72% Lighting costs currently makes up around 55% of the council's overall electricity bill, and the new lights could potentially pay for themselves within five years due to the decreased electricity bills.

Several projects are also underway to make other buildings more eco-friendly with funding from elsewhere, including an application for £1.9 million in funding being submitted to upgrade the heating at Biddulph Valley Leisure Centre.

Future work could also include major retrofits to Leek Market Halls, Brough Park Leisure Centre and South Moorlands Leisure Centre.

Plans could also be put in place to upgrade to LED lighting at Biddulph Town Hall, the council's sports pavilions, and public convenience and cemetery buildings.

You can watch the meeting in full on the council's webcasting portal on its website.