The governance of cuts

Belatedly, we now have minutes from sessions of the BBC Board's England sub-committee for England, led by Sir Robbie Gibb. 

In the record of the March 2022 meeting, there's only one mention of local radio: "After an extended absence because fieldwork was not possible during the pandemic, RAJAR figures for radio have returned using a new methodology – listening to local radio in England stable at 6.7m."

The meeting also considered 'The Annual Plan": "The Committee approved the draft Annual Plan extract for England, subject to including a reference to the impartiality plan and some further concrete examples of change."   That document's section on BBC Local Radio began: "We will build on the success of BBC Local Radio". 

It's hard to believe the Committee didn't have more details of the cuts to local radio to consider, but remember, this is the BBC, and the word 'cuts' is never used.  So in May 2022, presumably with the backing of Sir Robbie Gibb, Director General Tim Davie said "In local radio, we’re going to focus our work where we get most impact – reducing the volume of some of our broadcast programming at times when fewer listeners tune in. We’ll do this carefully – working with our local editors – and we’ll safeguard our commitment to live sport and local news bulletins across the day."

In the meeting of September 2022, the England Committee "heard about the challenge to drive online audience habits as the BBC pivots to digital content as part of the England plans."

A month later, at the end of October, the BBC reported: BBC local radio stations will have a significant number of programmes cut under new plans, the corporation has announced. All 39 networks in England will keep their current schedule from 6am to 2pm, but after that shows will be shared."