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BBC local radio reprieve expected Local radio cuts: BBC told to review plans
(about 2 hours later)
BBC Trust chairman Lord Patten is expected to announce a reduction in the level of cuts faced by BBC local radio stations later. BBC Trust chairman Lord Patten has ordered the corporation to re-examine its plans to make cuts to local radio.
Forty English radio stations are facing cuts of £15m and 280 jobs as part of plans to cut 20% from the BBC's budget over five years. Forty English radio stations were facing cuts of £15m and 280 jobs as part of plans to slash 20% from the BBC's budget over five years.
But Lord Patten said the cuts would have a "disproportionate impact" on the BBC's output and reputation.
Thousands of listeners, MPs and local authorities complained about the plans, saying the stations had a vital role.Thousands of listeners, MPs and local authorities complained about the plans, saying the stations had a vital role.
It is understood Lord Patten has asked the BBC to look at the plans again. The BBC Trust - which is the corporation's governing body - made its decision after hearing "real concerns" during a public consultation.
The proposals were announced last October by director general Mark Thompson, following the licence fee settlement and the Delivering Quality First (DQF) initiative. Lord Patten said: "Local and regional services in England provide something unique for audiences that can otherwise be neglected by the mainstream media. The BBC cannot afford to get these changes wrong."
Several stations faced losing between a quarter and a third of their staff, with neighbouring stations sharing programmes in the afternoon. The proposals were announced last October by director general Mark Thompson, following a lower-than-expected license fee settlement.
Several stations faced losing between a quarter and a third of their staff, with neighbouring stations expected to share programmes in the afternoon.
Staff warned Mr Thompson at the Radio Festival in Salford last November that cuts would damage programme quality.Staff warned Mr Thompson at the Radio Festival in Salford last November that cuts would damage programme quality.
Radio Merseyside presenter Roger Phillips said the station would lose 15 of its 46 staff, meaning "we can't provide quality at all".Radio Merseyside presenter Roger Phillips said the station would lose 15 of its 46 staff, meaning "we can't provide quality at all".
A group of writers and cultural figures from Liverpool - including Willy Russell, Alan Bleasdale and Roger McGough - wrote an open letter to The Times complaining of the proposals, saying the station gave "voice to the beating heart" of the community.A group of writers and cultural figures from Liverpool - including Willy Russell, Alan Bleasdale and Roger McGough - wrote an open letter to The Times complaining of the proposals, saying the station gave "voice to the beating heart" of the community.
Lord Patten is expected to acknowledge the strength of the opposition at the Oxford Media Convention later and say he has asked Thompson to reassess the cuts. Lord Patten said the trust had asked the BBC to review three key areas.
However, with the BBC committed to making the cuts announced in October, any reduction in local radio's cuts would need to be made up elsewhere in the corporation.
  • To scale back plans for local radio to share programmes in the afternoon, "although we accept that in some cases that might still be the best option".
  • To ensure that local stations have "an adequately staffed newsroom".
    •
  • To protect specialist content outside peak times - for example local sports or specialist music shows.
The Trust also asked the BBC to re-consider plans to merge regional current affairs programming, meaning fewer shows covering larger geographical areas.
And it suggested that the weekly current affairs show on BBC 5 live should be saved from cancellation.
However, with the BBC committed to making the cuts it announced in October, any money re-routed to local radio would need to be saved elsewhere in the organisation.
Lord Patten said he hoped the changes would cost the BBC "no more than £10m", which should come from "non-content budgets".
Director General Mark Thompson said the process "will be challenging" but he was glad that the trust had "endorsed the great majority of our proposals" to save money.