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Press Releases
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Trust holds first transition meeting
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The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Trust - the body which will replace the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Governors as the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's
sovereign body from 1 January 2007 - held its first meeting today.
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The new Charter sets out provisions for the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Trust's activities before the
Charter formally takes effect on 1 January 2007.
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Michael Grade, Chairman of the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Trust, said: "For the first time, the public
will help set the strategic agenda for its Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ. Today we have begun to put in
place the necessary arrangements to make that happen.
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"One of our first tasks as Trustees will be to consult the public about the
priorities we should set Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ management to meet the 'Six Public Purposes' laid
out in the new Charter.
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"This will include the first of the Trust's regular
major audience research surveys, asking the public how the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ is performing.
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"There will also be an early meeting with the new Audience Councils - whose role
is to help the Trust find out what the public around the UK think about the
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ."
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The Trust was briefed today on the very different system of governance
introduced by the new Charter.
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Key areas included the proposed approach to
engaging with the public; the new regulatory framework of public value tests
and competitive impact codes; and the new Service Licences and Purpose Remits
the Trust will deploy to monitor performance of the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ in delivering its
public service remit.
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Michael Grade said: "The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Trust faces a busy and challenging first year.
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"We
must establish the new regime for overseeing the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's services and in the
months ahead consider the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's latest creative proposals.
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"We must establish
relationships with our key partners - outside and inside the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ.
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"And, most of
all, the Trust must ensure the infrastructure is in place to allow us to work
on behalf of all licence fee payers.
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"We are required to ensure that the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ
provides high quality output and value for money.
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"Accountability to licence
fee payers and understanding their needs and expectations is our key task.
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"All
future judgements will be informed by evidence gathered from licence fee
payers."
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At today's meeting, the Trust agreed that one of its first priorities is to
meet the Charter requirement to issue Service Licences before 1 January 2007 to
each of the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's existing 27 services, reflecting the services as they are
currently delivered.
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Once issued, these Licences will be the baseline against
which the Trust will consider any future proposals from Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ management to
change services or applications for new services.
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The first set of Service
Licences will be 'interim' until the Purpose Remits, which they will sit
alongside, are finalised during 2007.
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Draft Purpose Remits will be published
in the New Year, and a period of public consultation will follow.
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Also at its meeting today, the Trust agreed its own 'Standing Orders' and
confirmed Mark Thompson as Director-General and Chairman of the Executive
Board.
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This appointment, together with that of Mark Byford as Deputy Director-General, marks the first step in establishing the Executive Board.
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The process
for appointment of non-executive directors to the Executive Board, also a
requirement of the Transitional Provisions of the Charter, is underway and
appointments will be announced by the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ in due course.
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The Trust confirmed the appointment of Nicholas Kroll as Director, Trust Unit
and delegated the necessary powers to him to establish the Trust Unit which
will replace the Governance Unit to provide the Trustees with independent
advice and support.
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On behalf of all members of the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Trust, Vice-Chairman Chitra Bharucha said: "We are all very pleased to have started to put the Trust in place.
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"The new
arrangements will take a little time to bed down but we are convinced they will
result in greater clarity, consistency, and transparency - both in how the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ
itself operates and the way in which the Trust will hold Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ management to
account.
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"The purpose of this regime is to ensure the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ provides quality
programmes and services efficiently for everyone throughout the UK.
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"We look
forward to representing the interests of all licence fee payers to that end."
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Notes to Editors
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The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Trust will meet again during December and January before its first
formal monthly meetings on 24 January.
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Further statements will be issued
during the transitional period as decisions are taken.
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The Board of Governors remains the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's governing body with decision-making
authority until 31 December 2006.
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The Transitional Provisions are set out in the new Charter (from page 23) - see right-hand side of this web page.
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Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Governance Unit
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