Strategy

The BBC Trust is responsible for setting the overall strategic direction of the BBC. This section outlines our work in this area.

In December 2010 the Trust published a strategy for the BBC which establishes four key objectives for the coming years. These are to:

• Increase the distinctiveness and quality of output
• Improve the value for money it provides to licence fee payers
• Set new standards of openness and transparency
• Do more to serve all audiences.

Delivering Quality First

In October 2011 we published the BBC Executive's proposed approach to meeting the constrained funding of the licence fee settlement agreed with the Government in 2010. We put these proposals out to public consultation to test the detail of the Executive's proposals against our strategic objectives and priorities for the BBC.

Interim findings

We have now completed our initial analysis of the Executive's proposals. This document, and accompanying speech delivered by the Chairman, sets out our interim findings, focusing in particular on the overall shape of the savings, and the specific areas where we think changes to the plans are required.

We are also publishing a report from Ernst & Young, whom we commissioned to provide independent advice on the BBC Executive's efficiency programme.

Next steps

We intend to publish our final conclusions in spring 2012. We will also publish a range of supporting information and evidence that sets out how we have reached our conclusions, including:

• A summary of findings from our public consultation
• Consultation responses from our four Audience Councils
• Consultation responses from organisations
• Minutes of relevant Trust meetings
• Summaries of regulatory assessments arising from proposed changes to service licences
• Statements prepared by the Executive which set out the BBC's strategy for each nation of the UK
• Equalities Impact Assessment on the consultation process.

We will also publish the costs we have incurred through this review.