MOBILE phones are improving the efficiency and safety of council workers - and, thanks to independent advice, are saving local council-taxpayers' money.

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council has now supplied almost 200 staff with the mobile phones which means they can react much more quickly to events, improving the service to the borough's residents.

Paul Westbrook, the stores and purchasing manager for the council's Direct Services, said that they had to protect lone workers under health and safety legislation.

The majority of the mobiles have been allocated to repair personnel in both the housing maintenance and highways departments ,but staff in the parks and cleansing departments have also been supplied. Some white-collar staff have also received phones.

"The main reason is for lone worker safety, " said Paul. "We have people who go into properties on their own and sometimes into hostile areas. Some have radios but they are fixed in their vehicles. With a mobile phone they are only a call away from help," said Paul.

In addition, staff can be deployed to another task without physically reporting back to the depot and the increased flexibility means repairs are being carried out much more quickly, which benefits tenants.

"When staff move on to the next job, they can ring to make sure the tenant is in. Before, we just had to turn up and hope," said Paul.

Efficiency has also been improved because staff doing repair work at customers' premises can easily phone in and liaise with other staff regarding parts and deliveries.

The phones are supplied and managed by Bury-based Pennine Telecom who monitor usage on a quarterly basis.

"We do a full-scale review and make sure they have the best value for money on call charges and rentals," said the company's cellular mobile account manager, Sean Lynch.

When the council wanted to switch to a new supplier, Pennine arranged for the existing numbers to be transferred and advised on the best business tariff regime. As a result the council saved more than £25,000 on subscription charges alone, on an annual basis.

"Because we are independent, we can get them the best deal. It is a very competitive market place and we are specialists in it. By delegating the mobile phone management to us, it allows the council staff to do what they know best - looking after customers," said Sean.