MEDIA

BBC told to make up its mind on Salford

Tara Conlan
Wednesday October 11, 2006
MediaGuardian.co.uk
http://media.guardian.co.uk/broadcast/story/0,,1902967,00.html

BBC staff and unions have called for an end to the uncertainty surrounding the corporation's proposed move to Salford.

The Salford MP and the Labour Party chairman, Hazel Blears, has also called on the corporation not to "renege on their promises" to relocate a chunk of the BBC to her constituency.

Just two years ago, the BBC was attempting to soften the blow of its cost-cutting plans by offering to buy the houses of the 1,800 staff it expected to relocate north.

However, last year, the corporation publicly warned the government that the move wouldn't happen unless it got a big enough licence fee settlement.

Last July, the BBC chairman, Michael Grade, pointed out at the launch of the annual report that there was still a "remote possibility" that it would not happen if the BBC could not afford to fund it.

Today, the BBC director general, Mark Thompson made the threat more concrete, saying that the move will not happen if the BBC receives a "low settlement".

While he did not define what figure he would regard as "low", it was enough to cause concern among staff.

One executive said: "The move north is being used as a bargaining tool in the horse-trading over the licence fee. But it affects people's lives so they need to know so they can plan. At the moment they're in limbo."

Broadcasting union Bectu said it still supported the BBC's planned move to Salford, as long as staff who didn't want to go were not forced to, but said the uncertainty should end.

"We are very concerned about our members. The BBC has made a great play of helping people, for example, redeploying them or finding schools for their children. It seems committed to Salford but we need to know what's going to happen so people can argue their cases," said broadcasting supervisory official Luke Crawley.

Ms Blears called on the BBC to make up its mind as soon as possible: "As Salford's MP, I believe it is vital that the BBC comes to Salford. It will bring 15,500 jobs, investment and new business opportunities. It will create a new media city which will benefit British broadcasting. The BBC's DG and board of governors must make their public commitment to Salford a reality.

"It would be a missed opportunity of epic proportions if the BBC board renege on their promises."

Don Foster, the Liberal Democrat shadow culture, media and sport secretary, said "too much uncertainty" still remained over the BBC's future.

"I'm pleased that the BBC has found a way to reduce its demands, but a cut of £250m over 7 years is a drop in the ocean. The BBC should publish its latest calculations so that we can all see where and why they need the money," he said.

"It's the Treasury's failure to decide what has to be included in the licence fee that is creating the greatest uncertainty. We still don't know if the BBC will have to pay a 'spectrum charge' or for the cost of helping vulnerable people switch to digital.

"It's equally disturbing that we don't know for how long the licence fee agreement will last. A three-year agreement, as some are proposing, would be a disaster and would give the BBC no security to plan its future during the switch to digital.

"Too much uncertainty remains and could blight the prospects of the BBC remaining the world's pre-eminent public service broadcaster."