Minutes of Advisory Committee for Scotland - Meeting held in Inverness on 21 September 2006

Present:

Thomas Prag – Chair ACS
Joyce Taylor – Ofcom Content Board Member for Scotland
Selma Rahman – ACS
Julie Ramage – ACS
Susan Neal – ACS
Andrew Muir – ACS
Philip Schlesinger – ACS
Jim Hunter ACS
Neil Fraser - Chairman, Gaelic Media Service
Graham Howell Ofcom

1. Strategy Session

1.1 Members discussed the ACS’s priorities for the coming year which were recorded in a separate paper and would be raised at the strategy planning day on 18 October.

2. Apologies for absence

2.1 Apologies were received from Martin Robertson and Fiona Ballantyne. The ACS wished to record its delight that Joyce Taylor had been appointed to the Content Board.

3. Minutes and Matters Arising

3.1 The attendee list for the April meeting should be amended (reference to Susan Neal). With this amendment, the minute of the July meeting was approved.

3.2 It was agreed to make “matters arising” a regular item for future ACS meetings.

3.3 There would be a consultation document on the Digital Dividend Review towards the end of the year so there would be time to discuss this topic at the November ACS meeting.

3.4 It was agreed to inform ACS members about the stakeholder event for the Communications Market Statement being planned for October.

3.5 Neil Fraser updated the ACS on work towards the launch of the Gaelic Digital Service.

3.6 The Director updated the meeting on Ofcom’s approval of the Q96 radio station co-location.

4. Director’s Report

4.1 Suggestions were welcomed from ACS members for invitations to the planned Consumer Outcomes event.

4.2 At forthcoming stakeholder events it would be useful to have ACS representation.

4.3 During discussion the possibility of securing a session at the 2007 Festival of Politics was raised. Action: Ofcom Scotland.

5. Changes in Radio Formats

5.1 The ACS was briefed on the various options which would be considered as the time approached when digital services became the dominant medium and the impact on regulation of analogue licenses. The ACS discussed requirements for localness and competition among stations.

6. BBC Radio Scotland

6.1 A representative from BBC Radio Scotland addressed the meeting. He outlined a number of projects being run by BBC Scotland in the Highlands and Islands including one with schools as part of the Highland Year of Culture due to happen in 2007 and Sound Town.

7. Bandsharing

7.1 ACS were updated on Ofcom’s joint bandsharing project which focuses on dynamic management of spectrum. A website has been launched giving further details of the project and its aims.

8. OCC Paper

8.1 ACS were presented the paper on complaints for the last period. It was noted that an increase in broadcast complaints could be attributed to Big Brother. ACS were also made aware of a broadband issue in the Kingswells area of Aberdeen.

9 AOB

9.1 ACS agreed the meeting dates for 2007. Joyce Taylor updated ACS on issue facing the Ofcom Content Board. It was agreed that this should become a distinct agenda item for future meetings. The next meeting of the ACS is 21 November 2006 and will include members of Ofcom’s Advisory Committee for Older and Disabled People. ACS are also to schedule a follow up meeting with the BBC’s Audience Council.