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14|03|08

Minute of Advisory Committee for Scotland Meeting held in Sutherland House on Monday, 18 June 2007

Present:

Thomas Prag - Chair ACS

Laura Alexander - ACS

Andrew Anderson - ACS

Susan Neal - ACS

Selma Rahman - ACS

Martin Robertson - ACS

Philip Schlesinger - ACS

Neil Fraser - Chairman, Gaelic Media Service

Fiona Ballantyne - Ofcom Consumer Panel for Scotland

Tim Suter - Ofcom

Graham Howell - Ofcom

Vicki Nash - Ofcom Scotland

Alan Stewart - Ofcom Scotland

Moray Borthwick - Ofcom Scotland

Chair, ACS welcomed the two new members of the Advisory Committee: Laura Alexander and Andrew Anderson.

1. Apologies for absence

1.1 Apologies were received from Andrew Muir and Julie Ramage and Joyce Taylor, Ofcom Content Board Member for Scotland.

2. Minutes of meeting held on 28 February 2007

2.1 The minutes of the previous meeting were approved.

3. Matters Arising

3.1 ACS should continue to keep a watching brief on the Culture Bill currently proceeding through the Scottish Parliament.

3.2 With regard to PSP, ACS was advised that a summary of the 70 plus responses had been published. It was intended to host an event in Scotland.

4. Director’s Report

4.1 ACS was updated on the current position with regard to Gaelic broadcasting.

4.2 ACS was advised that four community radio licences had been awarded in Scotland: Ness FM ( Inverness); Bute FM (Isle of Bute); Jubilee FM (North and South Queensferry and Alive Radio ( Dumfries).

4.3 With regard to digital switchover a National Manager for Scotland had been appointed by Digital UK, covering the area served by STV.

4.4 Chair ACS advised that the inaugural meeting of Ofcom Advisory Committee Chairs on 4 and 5 April had been very useful. A debriefing note had been issued and it was agreed that in future such notes would be circulated as soon as possible after the meetings.

4.5 ACS was advised that The Future of Radio Event held in Glasgow had been well attended

5. PSB

5.1 ACS was updated on the future of news/non-news and children’s programming.

5.2 With regard to news ACS emphasised the importance of plurality particularly in light of the changing political landscape in Scotland. ACS was advised that a discussion document would shortly be published, the authors of which would be happy to address a future meeting of ACS.

5.3 ACS was further advised that a consultation on non-news would be issued in early autumn.

5.4 ACS also emphasised the importance of children’s programming in Scotland which was becoming much more of a societal issue as a result of the work of the Children’s Commissioner. ACS also expressed concern about the emphasis being placed on other media as a provider of children’s programming.

6. Media Literacy

6.1 ACS was updated on the review of priorities for the promotion of media literacy for the next three years. ACS expressed concern that there was too much focus on the technical aspects of media literacy. Feedback and comments from ACS would be welcomed on the proposals outlined. In the coming months a draft business plan will be based on the priorities with a statement of future priorities being published in the autumn.

7. Digital Dividend Review

7.1 ACS was given an update on the DDR which outlined proposals, issues raised by stakeholders and additional work being undertaken to progress DDR. ACS was also advised of the revised timetable.

8. Future of Radio

8.1 ACS was updated on the future of radio consultation and was thanked for its response to the initial document. ACS discussed their draft response to the consultation which closes on 29 June.

9. Consumer Panel Update

9.1 A research report ‘Communications usage by Scottish small business had been published in May 2007 and would be put on the Consumer Panel website.

9.2 A report would be published at the end of June on Children and the Internet and the impact of not having home access.

9.3 Research had been carried out on the consumer experience of digital switchover. A report will be published later in the year.

10. Content Board Update

10.1 As the Content Board Member for Scotland was not in attendance, this report was noted and there was no further discussion under this item.

11. Ofcom Contact Centre Information

11.1 The contents of the Ofcom Contact Centre report were noted.

12. Any Other Business

12.1 With regard to the Celebrity Big Brother issue, ACS was advised that a West of Scotland race forum has sought the services of an advocate to take out a case against Channel 4.

13. Date of Next Meeting

The next meeting of the Advisory Committee will take place on 12 September 2007 in Glasgow.