Scarborough Town Council’s Christmas lights future cost

An extraordinary meeting of Scarborough Town Council (STC) will be held to discuss the provision of next year’s Christmas lights in Scarborough.

​There will be an update on future provision of Christmas lights in Scarborough, which is likely to cost more than £50,000, on Friday, January 16.

​STC’s community and place committee will receive an update from its Christmas Lights Working Group at the meeting, which is open to members of the public.

​North Yorkshire Council will no longer procure or pay for the Christmas lights in Scarborough, leaving the town council, created last April, to pick up the bill.

​​Whitby Town Council and Filey Town Council pay for their towns’ respective festive illuminations from precepts and other income.

​​The current annual cost of providing Christmas lights in Scarborough is estimated to be £53,000, excluding VAT, town councillors have been told.

​The committee’s budget for 2026-27 is also on the agenda, but has not yet been published.

​At the meeting, which is scheduled for 2pm and will be held at Scarborough Town Hall, residents can ask questions or make representations.

​The agenda states: “Members of the public may make representations, answer questions, and give evidence at a meeting which they are entitled to attend in respect of the business on the agenda.

​“The period of time designated for public participation at a meeting shall not exceed 15 minutes unless directed by the chair of the meeting.”

​Local planning applications will also be debated by the committee, including the proposed public realm improvements to Scarborough Station’s forecourt, proposals at Scarborough College, and plans for two new flats at 67-69 Castle Road.

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