BBC Annual Report and Accounts 2008/09
HOW WE DID AGAINST OUR PLANS FOR 2008/09
On this page you'll find a summary of what we did compared with what we said we'd do in our 2008/09 work plan, published in last year's report in July 2008.
Each year, the Trust publishes a work plan so that everyone who engages with us, both inside and outside the BBC, or anyone who is interested, can find out what our priorities are, why we have set them, and what we will be doing about them in the year ahead. We report back here on how we did against the work plan for the year, so you can find out to what extent we've done what we set out to do. Of course, since we also respond to events as they occur, the work plan won't contain everything we've done during the year, but we report on other such events elsewhere in this report.
You can find a summary of our work plan for 2009/10 in 2009/10 work plan, with the full version on our website.
2008/09 principles and outcomes
We set ourselves some principles to follow in the way in which we conduct our work. These are summarised opposite together with our assessment of how well we did. Within the workplan we split our work into three main objectives and identified priorities for the year for each. The table opposite summarises what we did on each priority. The results of this work, including the impact it has had, are explained more fully in the relevant sections of this report. Our overall priority was to make the Trust work better for our audiences, the licence fee payers.
Principle |
Outcome |
|---|---|
| We want to be open and transparent in everything we do. We set out on our website what we do and why. |
Our reviews and their supporting evidence have been published on our website during the year. |
| We frequently consult audiences. In doing so we try to avoid using language that is too technical. |
We have undertaken 12 public consultations during the year. While we have made some progress, we recognise that we need to work harder to use more accessible language. |
| We plan to keep audiences and other stakeholders better informed by setting up an electronic mailing list, to which those who wish to can subscribe. | Members of the public who wish to be kept informed of our work can sign up to an electronic mailing list by visiting our website – bbc.co.uk/bbctrust. |
| We plan to review how we can make the best use of the work done by the Audience Councils. | We reviewed the operation of the Audience Councils and are making some changes to improve how we use their work (see Audience Councils). |
| We will review the performance of the Trust Board every year. |
We reviewed Trust performance in May 2009 (see Inside the Trust). |
| We will review the operations of the Trust Unit. | We have reviewed the way in which we support the English regional Audience Councils and agreed some changes. |
Stewardship of the licence fee
Our strategic role
To ensure that licence fee income is spent in ways that meet audiences' expectations and deliver value for money.
Priority 1
Value for money studies
We planned to do three studies on:
a) radio production costs
b) management of strategic contracts
c) asset management
Outcome
a) We commissioned this from the National Audit Office; the report on ‘the efficiency of radio production at the BBC' was published in February 2009.
b) We commissioned this from the National Audit Office; the report on ‘the BBC's management of strategic contracts with the private sector' was published in March 2009.
c) To reduce costs, we decided to defer this review.
Priority 2
Digital switchover
We planned to monitor the progress of digital switchover and the targeted help scheme.
Outcome
We reviewed quarterly reports on the progress of switchover and the operation of the help scheme.
Priority 3
Licence fee collection
We planned to carry out a public consultation on the collection of the licence fee.
Outcome
In 2008 we consulted the public about how the TV licence fee is collected. Our review was published in March 2009.
For more details see Stewardship of the licence fee.
Upholding licence fee payers' interests
Our strategic role
To ensure that the BBC works effectively in the public interest, and is as responsive as possible to what licence fee payers want.
Priority 1
Editorial standards and impartiality
a) Following the editorial lapses of 2007, we commissioned a review of how the BBC management had remedied matters.
b) We commissioned an impartiality review of network news coverage of the nations.
Outcome
a) We published the review of management actions in May 2008.
b) We published the impartiality review in June 2008 (see Securing editorial standards)
Priority 2
Network supply review
We planned to complete our review of network supply examining the amount of content the BBC produces in each nation and region.
Outcome
The network supply review was published in June 2008.
Priority 3
Economic value review
We planned to investigate the economic value of the BBC to the UK.
Outcome
Our report on the economic value of the BBC was published in July 2008 (see The BBC and the wider economy).
Priority 4
Review of the Window of Creative Competition (WOCC)
The WOCC was developed to open more BBC programme commissions to independent producers. We planned to publish a review of its effectiveness and also commission reviews of radio and online commissioning and of the BBC's film strategy.
Outcome
We published a review of the WOCC's effectiveness in July 2008. The other reviews were deferred.
For more details see Upholding licence fee payers' interests.
Effectively promoting the BBC's public purposes
Our strategic role
To ensure that, in all its operations, the BBC promotes the six public purposes set out by Parliament.
Priority 1
Remedying performance gaps
In 2007 we consulted the public about how well the BBC was performing against its public purposes. This revealed gaps, particularly in innovation and distinctiveness – the provision of programmes that audiences find fresh and new. We challenged the Executive to remedy these gaps and planned to monitor their performance.
Outcome
We undertook new research in November 2008 and February 2009 to understand the public's views on how the BBC is performing, and therefore to measure how well the Executive is remedying the gaps identified. Monitoring progress will be a major focus for us in the coming years.
Priority 2
Service reviews
We review each BBC service at least once every five years. We planned to look at BBC radio, television and online services for:
a) children
b) younger audiences
Outcome
a) The children's review was published in February 2009.
b) The younger audiences review was published in June 2009.
For more details see Purposes.
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