BBC proposals set to empower the regions

The BBC intends to increase its presence in the regions, promising more jobs and a billion-pound investment across the UK, under proposals outlined today as part of the charter renewal process.

According to the BBC's long-awaited contribution to the DCMS consultation on Charter Renewal in 2006, the corporation aims to base half of its public service employees outside London, and will invest £1 billion in operations in other regions of Britain.

This decentralisation of services is part of a process “to reflect the life and experience of the whole UK”, according to the broadcaster.

Proposals concerning the digital television also formed a central plank of Beeb's response.

Ruling out more BBC channels, BBC chairman Michael Grade said that the most urgent priority was not further expansion, but "completing the challenge of creating a fully digital Britain."

To push forward the digital agenda, the BBC said it would work with stakeholders to "fund and co-ordinate DTT build-out for all public service broadcasters". It would also lead the campaign to achieve universal access, assist in the creation of a "successful free digital satellite service", and "pioneer open access to the massive entertainment, learning and civic possibilities of broadband”.

But in order to achieve this, the corporation foresees a switchover date of 2012 - two years later than the government’s target.

The submission also addresses concerns raised by the Hutton Report, which criticised the board of governors for assuming somewhat incompatible roles of defender and regulator of the BBC's output.

The corporation has sought to regain the reputation unimpeachable credibility it once enjoyed through a new independent governance unit - a body separate to senior management.

This is intended to negate any suggestion that the board is too closely involved with BBC executive tier to provide effective supervision.

The BBC has announced that the Board will also apply a ‘public value test’ to all new services, and changes to existing services. The public will be kept informed by the publishing channel budget, remit and performance targets.

Unsurprisingly, the submission is strongly in favour of retaining the licence fee, maintaining that “as long as the British public wants the BBC to be an independent universal broadcaster… the licence fee will remain a powerful and effective means of paying for its services”.

It also suggests that the licence fee’s level should be set by an independent body separate from government, a “depoliticising” move that “could be the final underpinning of the BBC's independence".

(GB)