Scottish Broadcasting Commission
1st Meeting
26 October 2007
Minutes of meeting
Attendance
Blair Jenkins
Chris Ballance
Norman Drummond
Rt. Hon. Lord Fraser of Carmyllie QC
Rt. Hon. Henry McLeish
Prof. Seona Reid
Elaine C. Smith
David Wightman
Wendy Wilkinson
Dominic Curran
Introductions and welcome
Apologies were received from Baroness Michie and Murray Grigor.
All were welcomed to the first meeting of the Commission and agreed upon the opportunity the Commission offered.
Context and background
The Chair outlined the background to the Commission's work and in particular raised some significant developments in the industry over the months since its establishment:
- the highly encouraging commitment of the BBC Director General to increase BBC network production in Scotland to at least 9%;
- against this, the concern within the industry surrounding the BBC's planned job cuts - anticipated as 230 in Scotland; and
- the financial situation of SMG.
The strategic nature of the review was emphasised: the Commission should, to the extent possible, look wider than well-known controversies to consider the longer term future of the industry.
Discussion brought out other contextual factors which we should have regard to:
· an insight into the impact of anticipated technological advances; and
· the centrality of placing broadcasting within the context of creative industries.
Remit and scope
The Commission accepted the proposed approach of dividing its work into three phases: economic, cultural and democratic. The Commission agreed to the remit itself, subject to a small alteration to specifically recognise the concept of creative industries as a basis for the work.
The proposed key questions for each section were discussed in turn and these refinements to the draft agreed:
- the cultural section to be expressed in wider and more ambitious terms than suggested by a concentration on Scottish productions for a domestic market: recognising that Scottish programmes had a wider potential audience and that Scottish audiences might beneficially receive programmes exploring links between Scotland and the wider world; and
- similarly, consideration of the role of broadcasting in democratic society should be aware that programmes other than news journalism - for example satire and drama - can and should contribute (although, for the practical purposes of dividing material, the primacy of news journalism within this section will be recognised).
The role of radio within the Commission's work was considered in some detail. The Commission resolved to maintain a primary focus on television, but to make explicit in the work programme that evidence on radio would be accepted to develop our picture of its relationship with television.
Ways of working
The Commission agreed to accept the draft Code of Conduct.
Openness
Members agreed that openness in relations with the public was central to building trust and confidence in and engagement with the Commission's work and recommendations. However, it was accepted that meeting with key stakeholders in public would significantly diminish the opportunity to gather full and constructive views. More effective means of enabling public involvement - through the website and public meetings - were discussed.
Media relations
The Commission discussed and agreed an outline approach to relations with media interest in its work.
Work programme and timetable
Members accepted the draft timetable for the work, while recognising its tightness and the value of flexibly responding to opportunities and demands.
Scottish Broadcasting Commission Secretariat
October 2007