Amid concerns about the cost-of-living crisis, Elgin North Councillor Jérémie Fernandes (SNP) has asked councillors officers to look at options to make phone calls to Moray Council free.
Currently, the Council uses a mix of 0300 numbers (16p per minute) and 01343 numbers (between 3p and 65p per minute outside inclusive minutes, according to Ofcom).
Commenting Cllr Fernandes said:
“The cost of calling Moray Council is one of the issues that all organisations and partners helping vulnerable and people on low incomes in Moray have raised when I met with them.
“Call charges can be prohibitive for people who use top-up phones for example, and it may delay or even prevent them from accessing the help they need.
“Access points in libraries are re-opening but they can be difficult to access, particularly in the most rural parts of Moray.
“I appreciate that making calls free would likely have a cost for the Council and we need to look at all options carefully, but it is essential that services are accessible for everyone.
“The SNP have pushed for a cost-of-living working group and this is one of the ideas I am keen to explore fully as part of this remit.”
