We live in a 24-hour society, it is often said.

We work hard, play hard and expect to be able to get what we want, when we want.

It's natural to want the same from our council services, and it is frustrating to find nobody around when you want to speak to someone out of standard working hours.

Not for much longer. City of York Council is joining the modern world. It is pressing ahead with plans that will allow residents to contact it in the evening.

True, it could be some months before you'll be able to ring the council's new customer centre out of hours. And even then, the phones will only be manned up to 7pm on weekdays.

But it is a start.

Councillors have already promised to look at the possibility of extending the centre's opening hours to include Saturday mornings. Let's hope they do so as soon as possible.

Not everyone is delighted at the prospect. It may be great for council tenants whose plumbing springs a leak at 6.45pm on a Friday.

But what about the council staff who have to work late to man the phones?

Union bosses are worried about potential changes to their working hours.

We understand that nobody wants to work longer than necessary.

But York council is there to provide a service to the people of this city, not convenient jobs for its staff.

If they sometimes have to work late like the rest of us, so be it.

Updated: 10:20 Thursday, May 04, 2006