The newspaper for BBC pensioners – with highlights from Ariel online Goodbye TVC One man’s personal campaign to save the building – page 8 April 2013 • Issue 2 bbC expenses regional dance band down television drama memories Page 2 Page 6 Page 7 NEWS • MEMoriES • ClaSSifiEdS • Your lEttErS • obituariES • CroSPEro 02 baCk at thE bbC Pollard Review findings On 22 February, acting director general Tim Davie sent the following email to all staff, in advance of the publication of the Nick Pollard. Pollard Review evidence: hen the Pollard Review was made clearer to ensure all entries meet BBC published back in December, Editorial standards. we said that we would The additional papers we’ve published Club gives tVC a great release all the evidence that today don’t add to Nick Pollard’s findings, send off WNick Pollard provided to us when he they explain the factual basis of how he (where a genuine and identifiable interest of delivered his report. Today we are publishing arrived at them. We’ve already accepted the BBC is at stake). Thank you to all the retired members and all the emails and documents that were the review in full and today’s publication There will inevitably be press interest and ex-staff who joined us for our ‘Goodbye to appended to the report together with the gives us no reason to revisit that decision as you would expect we’re offering support to TVC’ on 9 March. The day started with a transcripts of interviews given to the review. or the actions we are already taking. those most closely involved in the review and two-course meal followed by some As you know, the review found no evidence The volume of material is huge we should bear in mind the sensitivities of all entertainment from Beeb Flutes, of any improper pressure to prevent the (comprising of thousands of pages those mentioned in passing. culminating in a nostalgic tour of Television broadcast of the Newsnight investigation or to uploaded this morning). Despite what has We’ve been open and transparent in our Centre. We hope you all enjoyed your day protect the Jimmy Savile tribute programmes. been reported, the limited redactions have not handling of this unhappy chapter in our catching up with old friends and colleagues. However the review did expose failings in our been made because they make uncomfortable history. It has not been an entirely Thank you for the lovely memories and systems, as well as cultural and management reading for the BBC. Roughly 3% of the comfortable process for us to go through but comments you contributed to the guest issues that we need to get to grips with. transcripts are redacted, on the basis of it is right that we did it this way. It is book. TVC Club closed its doors for the We have been getting on with the actions external legal advice and in consultation with important that we now move forward with final time on 28 March, along with many we said we’d take and tackling the problems the BBC Trust, for the following reasons: the lessons learned and continue to regain happy memories. that the review highlighted. To give you just a defamation; data privacy; protection of the public’s trust. You can read the couple of examples: the Managed Risk confidential sources; anonymity of victims of documents and the process we went through the Club lives on Programmes List is being strengthened and is sexual assault; potential prejudice to or ahead of publication here: http://www.bbc. now discussed regularly by the Divisional interference with police investigations or co.uk/aboutthebbc/insidethebbc/ On 6 March we opened the tills for our Directors at Management Board, whilst the ongoing criminal proceedings; legal howwework/reports/bbc_pollard_report_ latest venture in Broadcast Centre. The new guidance on use of the Editors’ blog is being professional privilege and confidentiality appendices_and_transcripts_2013.html. restaurant and coffee bar, along with the 5th Floor Café in Media Centre (opening on 2 April), will be serving the remaining W12 population in true Club tradition with quality staff hospitality, including one dinner costing food, an evening bar and good old Club £275; and controller of Radio 1 Ben Cooper events. Following the success of our retired Expenses down but managers claimed £198.60 three times, in July, August member get-together at TVC, we hope to and September, for internal staff briefings. arrange similar events in other sites in the Patel was one of nine senior staff who future, which will give members the show more hospitality to staff enjoyed free tickets to the Olympics. She opportunity to pick up their Radio Times enjoyed a trip to the opening ceremony, and visit the new sites. These events will be BBC expenses are down 15% on the last quarter, but the cost courtesy of Lloyd’s Banking Group. Former bookable in advance in order that we can of internal hospitality has jumped up by 40%. director general Mark Thompson and his arrange the guest list for BBC security. short-lived successor George Entwistle were Details will be published in our newsletter. he figures, which relate to senior Arizona, in the month after she left the BBC at also there, both as guests of the IOC. management spending, were a cost of £4,190 to the licence fee payer. Thompson also attended the closing radio times update released on 6 March. They cover Thomson left the Corporation at the end of ceremony, was a guest of Bernie Ecclestone at the second quarter of 2012 (July September 2012 with a pay-out of £670,000, the British Grand Prix and was given tickets to Club members can still pick up their Radio Tto September). but agreed with the BBC that she would still the women’s Wimbledon final. Times from our Western House Club in W1. Senior staff are spending less on rail, take the pre-planned transatlantic flight in Director of HR Lucy Adams claimed back Unfortunately we have been unable to find flights, hotels and external hospitality, but October last year. £568 for changing two flights to cut short a a viable mailing solution at this stage, but their taxi bills have risen. They are up by 49% ‘Caroline’s trip to Phoenix was arranged family holiday in August. This was so she we are still pursuing options. on the last quarter, although the BBC says this before her departure from the BBC,’ said a could ‘return to work to play a critical role in is due to an accounting change, with many spokesperson for the Corporation. ‘Even planning for the start of the new director journeys that fell under quarter 1 (April to though the event took place once Caroline general’, the BBC said. bbC Club Prospero June) being charged in quarter 2. had left, it was agreed with management A BBC spokesperson added: ‘Total – renewal time The total taxi bill for the first two quarters that she would honour her commitment to expenses have fallen by 15% compared to For those of you who are members of BBC in 2012 is £49,549, an increase of 2% for the attend the industry-related event on behalf the previous quarter and are down 8% on Club Prospero, it’s annual renewal time same period the year before. of the BBC.’ the same time last year. The bulk of our again. Check out the website for more Peter Salmon, director BBC North, spent Senior managers showed significantly more expenses are unavoidable routine costs details. Membership is just £7 a year with just over £700 on cabs, while former COO hospitality towards staff during the quarter. incurred in running a major international Club membership. Caroline Thomson had a taxi and mini cab bill Controller of Radio 3 Roger Wright broadcasting organisation. totalling more than £1,000. claimed £934.48 for a thank you lunch ‘However, we continue to be mindful Got a question or comment? The long-serving BBC executive was one of for 39 staff who worked on the Proms on of how we spend public money and the biggest spenders between July and 10 September; outgoing chief financial officer have made good progress in tightening Email us at [email protected] September last year. She flew to Phoenix, Zarin Patel spent over £500 in the quarter on our expenditure.’ or call 020 875 26666. Please send your editorial contributions, or comments/feedback, to: Prospero, BBC Pension and Prospero is provided free of charge to retired BBC Benefits Centre, Broadcasting House, Cardiff CF5 2YQ. employees, or to their spouses and dependants. Email: [email protected] Prospero provides a source of news on former Please make sure that any digital pictures you send are colleagues, developments at the BBC and pension scanned at 300 dpi. issues, plus classified adverts. To advertise in Prospero, please see page 12. The next issue of Prospero will appear in To view Ariel online, please visit www.bbc.co.uk/ariel. June 2013. The copy deadline is 3 May 2013. PROSPERO APRIL 2013 baCk at thE bbC 03 BBCPA responses to pensioner access CONTACTS David Allen, Chair of the BBC Pensioners’ Association, writes: Visiting Scheme If you would like a visit or information on en years ago the BBC Pensioners’ The BBCPA committee have tested this and other buildings in W12 and Bush how to become a volunteer visitor, please Association helped negotiate passes procedure successfully. The BBC asks that House and Henry Wood House in ring 0845 712 5529. You will be charged for retired staff. We were holders of passes use them responsibly, central London.