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Notes 15th Meeting 5 September 2005

Chairman’s Introduction

1. The Chairman welcomed Members to the 15 th meeting of the Radio Licensing Committee. All members were present throughout, with the exception of Pam Giddy who had sent her apologies, Martin Campbell who contributed for Items 1 to 6 only, Peter Bury who was present for Items 1 to 6 and 13 only, and Matthew MacIver who was present until AOB. John McInnes (Legal Advisor) and Glenis Rylance (Assistant Secretary to the Corporation) were present throughout. The following colleagues attended for part of the meeting: Andy Causby (Business Analyst, Competition & Markets), Cathy Clifford (Radio Executive, Content & Standards), Neil Gardner (Radio Executive, Content & Standards), Lawrie Hallett (Senior Associate, Radio Licensing), Jon Heasman, (Senior Associate, Radio Licensing), Eva Koekelbergh (Senior Associate, Radio Licensing), Will Jackson (Senior Associate, Radio Licensing), Francesco Lamanna, (Legal Advisor), Louise Rodger (Assistant, Radio Licensing) Soo Williams (Senior Associate, Radio Licensing).

Minutes of the previous Meeting

2. The minutes of the Radio Licensing Meeting held on 25 July 2005 were agreed as an accurate record.

Matters Arising

3. There were no matters arising that were not being dealt with under items on the Agenda.

Local commercial radio licence award – Solent

4. After a full and careful discussion of each licence application, and having regard in particular to the factors set out in section 105 of the Broadcasting Act 1990 and section 314 of the Communications Act 2003, the Committee awarded the licence to Original 106 FM Limited, owned 95% by CanWest MediaWorks UK Limited (a wholly-owned subsidiary of CanWest Global Communications Corp) and 5% Seven Broadcast Limited

Local commercial radio licence award – Torbay

5. After a full and careful discussion of each licence application, and having regard in particular to the factors set out in section 105 of the Broadcasting Act 1990 and section 314 of the Communications Act 2003, the Committee awarded the licence to Palm FM Limited a company owned by the London Media Company (60%) (a wholly owned subsidiary of Sunrise Radio Limited) and Palm Radio Limited, (40%).

Local commercial radio licence award – Swindon

6. After a full and careful discussion of each licence application, and having regard in particular to the factors set out in section 105 of the Broadcasting Act 1990 and section 314 of the Communications Act 2003, the Committee awarded the licence to Ridgeway Radio Limited (“ NOW FM”) a wholly owned subsidiary of The Local Radio Company plc.

Local commercial radio licence award – Barrow-in-Furness

7. The Radio Licensing Committee discussed the two applications received for the Barrow-in-Furness licence. The Committee was scheduled to make its final decision at the 3 rd October 2005 meeting.

Community Radio licence awards: West Yorkshire

8. The Committee discussed the ongoing frequency planning work relating to the applications in the West Yorkshire area. It was noted that investigations were still ongoing in respect of frequencies in the areas of Leeds, Wetherby, Wakefield and Dewsbury. Therefore, the Committee agreed to consider only the awards for Bradford and Halifax at this time, with the remaining awards being considered at a later meeting pending further investigation.

9. After a full discussion of the applications for Bradford and Halifax, and having regard in particular to the factors set out in section 105 of the Broadcasting Act 1990 (as modified by the Community Radio Order 2004), the Committee awarded a licence to each of the following:

BCB ( Central Bradford)

Phoenix FM (Halifax)

Community Radio licence awards: Greater Manchester

10. The Committee discussed the ongoing frequency planning work relating to the applications in the Greater Manchester area. It was noted that investigations were still ongoing in respect of frequencies in the areas of Oldham, Tameside, Stockport and Salford. Therefore, the Committee agreed to consider only the awards for Chorley, Inner South Manchester, Wythenshawe (South Manchester), and Rochdale at this time, with the remaining awards being considered at a later meeting pending further investigation.

11. After a full discussion of the applications for Chorley, Inner South Manchester, Wythenshawe (South Manchester), and Rochdale, and having regard in particular to the factors set out in section 105 of the Broadcasting Act 1990 (as modified by the Community Radio Order 2004), the Committee awarded a licence to each of the following:

Chorley FM (Chorley, Lancashire)

All FM (Inner South Manchester)

Wythenshawe FM (Wythenshawe, South Manchester)

Crescent Radio (Rochdale, Lancashire)

12. The Committee agreed that in light of weaknesses in the application of Canalside Community Radio in Bollington, Cheshire, that this application would not be awarded a licence.

Community Radio licence applications, preliminary discussions: West Midlands

13. The Committee discussed the ten applications in the West Midlands area. After a full and careful discussion, the Committee agreed that any licence award decisions would await the outcome of discussions around frequency availability.

Community Radio licence applications, preliminary discussions: Northern Ireland

14. The Committee discussed the seven applications in the Northern Ireland area. After a full and careful discussion, the Committee agreed that any licence award decisions would await the outcome of discussions around frequency availability.

Community Radio licence awards: Aberdeen, Orkney, Scilly Isles, Norwich, Swaffham, Haverhill, Harlow

15. The Committee discussed the seven applications in the above various areas. After a full and careful discussion of the seven applications, and having regard in particular to the factors set out in section 105 of the Broadcasting Act 1990 (as modified by the Community Radio Order 2004), the Committee awarded licences to the following:

Future Radio ( Norwich)

Radio Scilly (Isles of Scilly)

The Superstation ( Orkney Islands)

ShmuFM (Station House Media), ( Aberdeen)

16. The Committee decided in light of weaknesses in the applications of Wayland Community Radio (Central Norfolk) and Edge FM ( Haverhill) that these applications would not be awarded a licence.

17. Subject to there being a suitable frequency available, the Committee will reconsider the application for Kool FM (Harlow) at a later date when full frequency details become available.

Request for Format change

18. The Radio Licensing Committee discussed a request for Format change. After discussion, the Radio Licensing Committee decided that the request should be put out for public consultation at the earliest opportunity and brought back to the Committee for consideration in due course.

Restricted service licences for Ramadan 2005

19. The Radio Licensing Committee discussed the high demand in some areas for licences to provide a radio service during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and the recent two draws which were held to select successful applicants.

Date of next meeting

20. To be held on Monday 3 October 2005 in London.

September 2005