BBC Trust Totally Explained

Everything about the Bbc Trust totally explained

The BBC Trust is a body that oversees the BBC, being independent of BBC management and external bodies. Along with an Executive Board, the Trust took over the role of the old Board of Governors on 1 January 2007.
The Trust was established by the Royal Charter for the BBC which came into effect on 1 January 2007:

In summary, the main roles of the Trust are in setting the overall strategic direction of the BBC, including its priorities, and in exercising a general oversight of the work of the Executive Board. The Trust will perform these roles in the public interest, particularly the interest of licence fee payers. — BBC Royal Charter (2006)

Trustees

The Royal Charter established that the Trust should have twelve trustees, including a Chair, a Vice-Chair and a member for each of the nations of the United Kingdom. At the time of the announcement Michael Grade, then Chairman of the Governors, was to become Chairman of the Trust. After his move to become Executive Chairman of ITV in November 2006, Chitra Bharucha, then Vice-Chair, became the Acting Chair, with Michael Lyons taking up the position from 1 May 2007.
Trustees serve for a four year term, after which they may seek a further and final term on completion of their first. Members of the former Board of Governors continue their existing terms.

The Trust's work

In October 2007, the Trust approved the BBC's strategic vision for the next six years. The major theme was the Trust's push for innovation and distinctivness in BBC content and the need to serve all audiences.
The Trust has approved several new services, including the iPlayer, HDTV and the Gaelic Digital Service through Public Value Tests which weigh up value to the public against likely market impact.

Expenses

Trustees were subject to severe press criticism in February 2008 after it emerged four Trustees had hosted a group of "opinion formers and stakeholders" at the Wimbledon tennis tournament, at a cost of over £20,000 of licence fee payers' money. The Trust members were vice-chairman Chitra Bharucha, Dermot Gleeson, Jeremy Peat and David Liddiment. The Trust has also admitted that Sir Michael Lyons, the Trust chairman, claimed £13,000 in expenses between May and September 2007. This included £2,500 in taxi fares – even though he's provided with £25,000 annually towards the cost of a car and chauffeur. The Trust has since announced Trustees wouldn't be hosting a party at this year's Wimbledon and will review its taxis policy, but criticism has also surrounded Trustee attendance at the Proms and other cultural and sporting events.

The Trust Unit

The Trust is supported by a team of around 50 staff, known as the Trust Unit, including specialists in research, finance, policy and business support. The Trust Unit is headed by Nicholas Kroll.

Further Information

Get more info on 'Bbc Trust'.

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