Dipping

This blog likes to keep you ahead of the game on the BBC and its machinations. So I can confidently tell you that many middle managers are going through a most extraordinary "sheep dip" ahead of formal revelations about Delivering Quality First.  Summoned in small groups into the presence of Executive Board members, there's an awkward silence as the conversation starts....

Executive: "So, what's the mood amongst the troops ?"
Supplicants: (thinking, you're about to make 20% cuts, whaddya think ?) "Oh, not bad, all things considered"
Executive: "Well, my door is always open if anyone's really worried. Difficult decisions ahead, but this is all about managing creativity"
Supplicants: (thinking, you really mean making the same programmes for less money) "Creativity is vital to us all"
Executive: "Excellent. Have you all had enough of your own sandwiches ? Then I must press on to a much more important meeting. But keep the conversation going amongst yourselves...."

These information-lite sessions are expected to last all this week.  Meanwhile, the Guardian has picked up on stuff coming from a meeting of the BBC's Advisory Council For England today. This suggests that Lord Patten has biffed plans for English super-regions, to run regional and local output, based on Salford, Birmingham, Bristol and Norwich. I'm not so sure this is a dead duck - there's some protectionism in the Advisory Council make-up, which in itself might be reduced from 12 jolly-regional-meetings to four as well. Compromise is in the air... .