Minute by minute

The person who knows how to post BBC Executive minutes online is back from their holidays, so we've now got October and November to decode.

For me, the alarming issue is than, three years after Mark Thompson did a deal with Jeremy Hunt for the World Service to be funded from the licence fee, there are still two finance strategies in play. We aren't permitted, as licence-payers, to know what they are - but I'm guessing one relies on ads on World Service radio broadcasts, in all languages, and one doesn't.  And this trio of minutes, about World Service and Investments to 2017 (Charter Renewal) is as transparent as a 15 tog duvet covered in finest Bri-Nylon.

3.7 This paper outlined a plan to deliver both a ‘saving to invest’ strategy for World Service to 2017 (aligned with the overall Global News strategy and the wider benefits of the BBC’s global role) and an associated financial plan, based on the agreed budgets. It was noted that the BBC Trust Operating Licence set a budget for World Service of £245m.

3.8 The Board noted its support for the approach being adopted. It was emphasised that the approach was ex UK and did not relate to UK facing content. 

3.9 The Board approved the investment strategy and savings plan described in the paper for submission to the BBC Trust.

And this is my highlight from the November set - usually, the shorter the note, the bigger the problem, and here I'm guessing recruitment is out of control.

3.2 The Board considered the monthly finance report, noting that further work was being done to understand the forecast position on headcount.