Purpose

To approve the objection to the removal of
five public payphones, as proposed by British Telecom (BT). As set
out by The Office of Communications (Ofcom), BT has an obligation
to consult with Herefordshire Council with regard to the proposed
removals. In some cases, a payphone can still be an essential local
service, due to local circumstances

Decision

That the council submits an objection to the
removal of five public payphones in Herefordshire, due to relevant
factors, as detailed in Appendix A

Alternative options considered

There are no alternative options, which are
practicable. It is the role of Herefordshire Council to consult
locally and to make a decision based on the responses and local
information, on whether the payphones can be removed, adopted or
are retained. In accordance with section 49 of the Communications
Act 2003 (‘The Act’), Herefordshire Council is required
to make a decision “in response to a proposal by British
Telecommunications plc for the removal of public payphones pursuant
to Part 2 of the Schedule to a Direction published by Ofcom on 14
March 2006”. More detail is set out in Appendix A which
includes the list of phone boxes affected.