Agenda item - Future of Emergency Phones

Executive Summary

Emergency phones are in place at 22 locations along the North Norfolk coast from Morston to Horsey. Providing emergency telephones on beaches is not a statutory requirement, however North Norfolk’s have remained in place for over 30 years. Usage data shows not a single emergency telephone anywhere along the coast has been used for a documented emergency for many years.

BT have announced their move to digital by 2025 raising uncertainty about the future viability of the emergency phones. Unfortunately BT have been unable to say one way or another whether an alternative option will be available following the change.

The cost of keeping these phones operational is over £30k per year. The necessity of providing these phones has now vastly reduced and an opportunity to consider their future now exists.

Options considered

Option 1: Do nothing and keep the phones in operation. This option will be affected by the move to digital but we are not sure exactly how at this stage as BT are unable to confirm if there will be an alternative option following the change.

Option 2: Remove all emergency phones from the districts coastline.

Option 3: Remove only the emergency phones where mobile phone signal is known to be adequate, leaving those where signal is particularly poor. This option will be affected by the move to digital but we are not sure exactly how at this stage as BT are unable to confirm if there will be an alternative option following the change.

Consultation(s)

Discussions have been held internally within the Leisure Team and the IT department.

Externally discussions have been held with the RNLI and Coastguard, who showed no concern about the proposal and indicated that they are reviewing their own processes as a result of BT’s digital move.

Recommendations

The Council takes the decision to remove all Emergency Phones in the district.

Reasons for recommendations

1.1 It is proposed that the necessity for Emergency Phones is no longer as important as it once was. Their lack of use and the imminent move by BT to go digital mean that we believe the requirement for these phones no longer exists.

1.2 BT are unable to provide assurances that an alternative to analogue lines will be available to keep the emergency phones operational post digitilisation. However they have given assurances that mobile phone signal is being targeted for improvement throughout the district.

1.3 The Council could make a financial saving of over £30k per annum by removing this service.

1.4 It is not deemed that removal would cause significant community safety issues. Partners such as the RNLI have been consulted and raised no concerns either.

Background papers

NA

Wards affected

Coastal, Sheringham South, Beeston Regis and The Runtons, Cromer Town, Suffield Park, Poppyland, Mundesley, Bacton, Happisburgh, Hickling.

Cabinet member(s)

Cllr. Liz Withington

Cllr. Harry Blathwayt

Contact Officer

Colin Brown, Leisure & Locality Services Manager, 01263516001

Links to key documents:
Corporate Plan:	NA
Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS)	This could generate a saving to the Council of £30k+
Council Policies & Strategies	NA

Corporate Governance:
Is this a key decision	Yes
Has the public interest test been applied	Yes
Details of any previous decision(s) on this matter	None

Decision

RESOLVED

To agree to remove all Emergency Phones in the District

Reason for the decision:

1.1 It is proposed that the necessity for Emergency Phones is no longer as important as it once was. Their lack of use and the imminent move by BT to go digital mean that we believe the requirement for these phones no longer exists.

1.2 BT are unable to provide assurances that an alternative to analogue lines will be available to keep the emergency phones operational post digitilisation. However they have given assurances that mobile phone signal is being targeted for improvement throughout the district.

1.3 The Council could make a financial saving of over £30k per annum by removing this service.

1.4 It is not deemed that removal would cause significant community safety issues. Partners such as the RNLI have been consulted and raised no concerns either.

The Chairman invited the Assistant Director for Environment & Leisure to introduce this item. She began by explaining that there were currently emergency phones at 22 locations along the North Norfolk coast. They had become redundant and usage data showed that none of them had been used for a documented emergency for many years. BT have announced their move to digital by 2025 raising uncertainty about the future viability of the emergency phones. Unfortunately BT have been unable to say one way or another whether an alternative option will be available following the change.

The cost of keeping these phones operational is over £30k per year. The necessity of providing these phones has now vastly reduced and an opportunity to consider their future now exists. She referred members to page 102 of the papers and advised them that line rental would now increase to £135.57 a month. This meant that the overall saving of removing these phones would now be £57,028.

She concluded by saying that the proposal was to remove the phones from these locations. Officers had tested that mobile phones could make an emergency call from every site. They had also contacted the RNLI and the Coastguard and neither had raised concerns about the removal of these phones. She concluded by saying that although their removal resulted in a saving, the main reason for the proposals was because the technology no longer supported their use.

Cllr L Shires referred to page 103, s12.2 and said that it set out clearly that the reasons for the proposals were due to BT not able to provide assurances that an alternative to analogue lines would be available to keep the emergency phones operational post digitisation.

It was proposed by Cllr T Adams, seconded by Cllr H Blathwayt and

RESOLVED

To agree to remove all Emergency Phones in the District

Reason for the decision:

1.1 It is proposed that the necessity for Emergency Phones is no longer as important as it once was. Their lack of use and the imminent move by BT to go digital mean that we believe the requirement for these phones no longer exists.

1.2 BT are unable to provide assurances that an alternative to analogue lines will be available to keep the emergency phones operational post digitilisation. However they have given assurances that mobile phone signal is being targeted for improvement throughout the district.

1.3 The Council could make a financial saving of over £30k per annum by removing this service.

1.4 It is not deemed that removal would cause significant community safety issues. Partners such as the RNLI have been consulted and raised no concerns either.