BBC Scotland Annual Review 2005/2006 Front cover image: BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra Purpose, vision and values Our purpose Environment Policy Our purpose is to enrich We take pride in delivering The BBC supports maximum people’s lives with programmes quality and value for money energy efficiency, the reduction and services that inform, of waste and the use of recycled educate and entertain Creativity is the lifeblood materials and the control of of our organisation pollutants including vehicle Our vision and ozone emissions. The Our vision is to be the We respect each other paper used in the production most creative organisation and celebrate our diversity of this document is from in the world so that everyone can give sustainable forests. The inks their best used in the printing process Our values are biodegradable and not Trust is the foundation We are one BBC: great harmful to the environment. of the BBC: we are things happen when we independent, impartial work together and honest Audiences are at the heart of everything we do Designed by Elmwood Contents 2 16 36 National Governor’s Controller’s overview Interactive Overview 18 37 4 Television BBC Scottish Broadcasting Symphony Orchestra Council for Scotland 24 Radio 38 6 Transmission BBC Scotland 28 Advisory committees News and Awards current affairs 7 39 BBC Children in Need 32 Finance Gaelic 8 40 Review of Progress against 34 Getting in touch objectives 2005/06 Gàidhlig 15 BBC Scotland’s objectives 2006/07 BBC Scotland Annual Review 2005/2006 1 Jeremy Peat National BBC National Governor for Scotland Governor’s Overview In a year of major debate was room for improvement in the White Paper on the future of the BBC. regarding the BBC, and cultural representation of Scotland on The Council welcomes the decision significant governance local and network services. Research has to include members on the new BBC restructuring, BBC Scotland made been commissioned in this area and the Trust carrying specific responsibilities significant progress to improve quality results will be considered in the for the UK’s nations and regions. As and enhance value for money for the year ahead. the sole National Governor to transfer licence payer in Scotland. to the new body, I intend to ensure New approaches to political journalism that in its work the Trust will enhance BBC Scotland television, radio and have been introduced, but engaging the accountability of the BBC to its online services continued to perform the wider audience with political audiences in Scotland. strongly, while paying due attention issues remains a challenge. The Council to the needs of specific sections of identified two specific concerns in The White Paper and the associated the audience. relation to network news output. On Draft Charter provide an exciting the first, a view that more attention framework for public service The number of programmes should be paid to explaining the broadcasting in the digital age. In commissioned by the networks from differences between devolved and its work during the year, BBC Scotland BBC Scotland met or exceeded the reserved issues, I believe that significant has ensured that it is well placed targets set. The Broadcasting Council progress is being made. On the second, to overcome the challenges ahead for Scotland welcomed the decision enhancing the reporting of devolved and offer enhanced public value to establish a network commissioning issues for a UK audience, I look for for audiences throughout Scotland. presence in Glasgow. further progress in the year ahead. In the year ahead, preparations for the move to Pacific Quay will add The introduction of regional text The Council and BBC Scotland to both challenge and opportunity. services in April 2006 marked a fully understand that a broadcaster significant step on the route to new dependent on licence fee funding services for the regions of Scotland. must listen to audiences and deliver This had been identified as an audience the highest standards of efficiency in priority in the findings of the 2003 BBC its operations. Additional priorities for Scotland Journalism Review, which had the year ahead include strengthening . been scrutinised and approved by the accountability to audiences, and Council. Further enhancement of this delivering BBC Scotland’s savings and service is a priority for the year ahead. business change plan to maximise value for money for licence payers. A range of initiatives during the year has helped strengthen links with audiences Throughout the year, the Council voiced and communities across Scotland. the concerns of audiences in Scotland Specifically I am pleased that there was on the issues that mattered to them significant progress in discussions with - from the new graphics on network external partners, and primarily with the weather forecasts to the preparations Gaelic Media Service, on developing a for digital switchover. The Council digital service for Gaelic audiences. held events in Galashiels and Dumfries designed both to inform and to act as a However, the Council identified a forum for the concerns of those viewers number of key issues for the future. who will be first to switchover, in 2008. Nurturing creative talent in the Scottish media sector will be crucial In March the Government’s plans to to continuing success and hence this strengthen the BBC’s accountability remains a priority. Members felt there to its audiences were outlined in the SSO Proms in the Park. Photograph by Ian Watson 2 BBC Scotland Annual Review 2005/2006 BBC Scotland Annual Review 2005/2006 3 L-R main shot 8 Graham Houston, Director of Craigton 1 Douglas Chalmers, Lecturer in Economics at Coaching and Consultancy Limited Glasgow Caledonian University 9 Bill Matthews, Director of Management 2 Brian Menzies, Regional Manager, Envirocentre Consultancy M2M2 Limited 3 Namasiku Liandu, Lecturer in Accounting and Not in photo Finance at the University of Abertay, Dundee Prof Vicki Bruce, Vice Principal, Head 4 Dr Rak Nandwani, Consultant Physician of Humanities and Social Science at the University of Edinburgh 5 Jeremy Peat, BBC National Governor for Scotland Alexandra Miller, Director of Strategy and 6 Dr Mark Dames, Senior Consultant with BT Communications at the National Library 7 Dr Eleanor Logan, Chief Executive of Scotland Broadcasting Council for Scotland of the Voluntary Action Fund The Broadcasting Council for Scotland, Council business The Chair/National Governor was keen The Council’s public meeting in Galashiels Accountability Forum in October, the conference on digital switchover and the established under the BBC Royal Charter, In addition to considering detailed reports to ensure that BBC network news staff in October 2005 attracted over 130 local Board of Governors’ public meeting in BBC Charter in the Scottish Parliament exists to ensure that the interests of on BBC Scotland’s performance against remained aware of issues relating to the people, members of community groups Glasgow in November and a meeting with in February 2006. licence fee payers in Scotland are objectives, the Council examined issues reporting of devolved and reserved issues. and MSPs. It was the first public meeting representatives of the Department of properly represented. The Council also such as digital switchover, BBC Editorial The Broadcasting Council continued to in the area on digital switchover, planned Culture, Media and Sport in January 2006. Council membership acts as primary adviser to the Board of Policy, changes to BBC Governance and monitor instances where there had been for 2008, and the first public presentation Membership of the panel which appoints Governors on issues affecting Scotland. the design of BBC Scotland’s Pacific failure to distinguish between the two in by the Chief Executive of Digital UK. Members attended the opening of BBC members to the Broadcasting Council Quay headquarters. network news reporting. The issue had Scotland’s Selkirk premises in October, was refreshed in 2005. It is chaired by the BBC National also been raised at public meetings. A Events Children in Need night in November, the Governor for Scotland, Jeremy Peat, and The Council met formally with the module had now been established, to The Council had representation at a BBC launch in Scotland of BBC jam (the ‘Digital The Scottish Appointments Panel now meets monthly with senior BBC Scotland Ofcom Scotland Advisory Committee be delivered to BBC journalists through Scotland Disability Workshop in April 2005 Curriculum’) in January 2006, and a Joint comprises the BBC National Governor management to debate programme and in December 2005. Matters discussed the BBC Journalism College. and reported that it had been gratifying to Broadcasting Councils’ Conference in for Scotland, the former Council Vice- corporate issues. It also advises the Board included accountability, media literacy see programme-makers involved in debate Cardiff in September 2005 where there Chair Professor Hugh Pennington, former on BBC Scotland’s annual objectives and and digital switchover. Charter Review on how to reflect such issues in output. were discussions on accountability and Council member Donald John MacInnes monitors progress on these. Several members of the Council attended There were location visits to the sets of representation. A follow-up conference and the Commissioner for Public In its discussions the Council was critical the Royal Society of Arts/BBC Scotland Monarch of the Glen and River City and was held in Edinburgh in June 2006. Appointments in Scotland, Karen Carlton. The Council is itself advised by a number of recent changes to the BBC weather event on the Government’s Green Paper members met with presentation and of BBC Scotland advisory groups. These map. Members sought assurances from on the BBC, held in Edinburgh in June production staff on the evening of the The Chair/National Governor and the One advert for new Council members provide feedback to management on management on how consultations had 2005.