Change of council phone lines toned down
     Kevin Unitt
     11 September 2008

     PLANS to change council telephone numbers to a 'premium' 0845 line could be toned down.
     Warwickshire County Council and Warwick District Council are currently exploring the possibility of introducing a centralised number for all calls, making it easier for residents to reach the right people.
     But district councillors at a meeting on Tuesday (September 2) were not hung-up on the idea of a new 0845 number, given it could leave mobile phone users out of pocket.
     Coun Bill Gifford, chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee which discussed the plan, said: “Many of our council tenants only have mobile phones, which charge premium rates for when calling 0845 numbers, so the general feeling is that we should look again and try to introduce a system whereby calls are free, or at worst are no more expensive than at present.
     “The general idea of having a centralised number is a good one, because often people do not know which council it is that they need, but we do not want people to be charged exorbitant rates when calling.”
     Council officers are now set to talk to various phone line suppliers and report back their findings next month, when the matter will next be discussed at a district council executive meeting.
     Numbers starting 0300 are thought to be a suitable, cheap, option.