SUBMISSION TO BBC TRUST: DRAFT WORK PLAN FOR 2008-09
This was described as a very comprehensive document, in
keeping with the audience's own priorities.
The strategic goals on page 6 were well thought through although
some of the explanations under the Quality heading could be more
clearly expressed.
Members were pleased to note the references to scrutinising how
well British life is reflected across the UK by means of programme
production across the country, and to diverse reflection which is
a major priority for Audience Council England.
It is important that the Trust’s decision-making process be open and
transparent; with that in mind, Audience Council members wish to be
informed of how they influence that process and how they can input
effectively to the work of the Trust.
Related to this, the proposed alignment of the Trust and Audience
Council business planning cycle is a welcome and positive move,
and will give the Audience Councils the opportunity to influence the
Trust’s Work Plan for the following year, thereby contributing more
effectively to the Trust. The one proviso is that local priorities should
also be accommodated at regional council level in England in order to
reflect fully the needs, interest and concerns of diverse audiences.
The Council would find it helpful to have a priority list drawn from the
Work Plan to use for reference with the regional councils and their
work; there was also a suggestion that consideration of the project to
maximise the effective input of the Audience Councils be added to the
summary work plan.
In conclusion, the style and coherence of the document itself could be
improved; there are some overlong and complex sentences and it is
not easy to read or grasp the overall picture. It is important that any
business plan should make sense to all who might read it as well as to
the Board. One member had carefully considered the overall
structure and the document’s various components, and found it
confusing. A review of the language and a consistency in terms used
would benefit the document, and a clear map of how everything fits
together would help readers understand the logic and linkages within
the Work Plan.
March 2008