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29|11|05

Notes 16th Meeting 3 October 2005

Chairman’s Introduction

1. The Chairman welcomed Members to the 16th meeting of the Radio Licensing Committee. All members were present throughout, with the exception of Ian Hargreaves and Martin Campbell who had sent their apologies. Ruth John (Radio Executive, Content & Standards), John McInnes (Legal Advisor) and Glenis Rylance (Assistant Secretary to the Corporation) were present throughout. The following colleagues attended for part of the meeting: Sue Balsom (Content Board Member for Wales), 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), Rhodri Williams (Director Nations-Wales), Soo Williams (Senior Associate, Radio Licensing).

Minutes of the previous Meeting

2. The minutes of the Radio Licensing Committee Meeting held on 5th September 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.

4. It was noted that Martin Campbell had previously reported via the Chairman that he had a conflict of interest which excluded him from the discussions, and the decision, on the Ipswich local commercial radio licence. The conflict was noted accordingly.

Local commercial radio licence award: Barrow-in-Furness

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 Abbey FM, owned by The Radio Business Ltd (35%), The Local Radio Company Limited (35%) and CN Group Ltd (30%). The announcement regarding the winning licence application would be made on the same day and a statement explaining the factors which led to its decision was scheduled to be published in due course.

Applications for Northallerton local commercial radio licence.

6. The Radio Licensing Committee discussed the three applications received for the Northallerton licence. The Committee was scheduled to make its final decision at the 7th November 2005 meeting.

Applications for Ipswich local commercial radio licence.

7. The Radio Licensing Committee discussed the eight applications received for the Ipswich licence. The Committee was scheduled to make its final decision at the 5th December 2005 meeting.

Applications for Swansea local commercial radio licence.

8. The Radio Licensing Committee discussed the three applications received for the Swansea licence. The Committee was scheduled to make its final decision at the 7th November 2005 meeting.

Community Radio licence awards: Greater Manchester

9. After a full discussion of the applications for Oldham, Tameside, Stockport and Salford, 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:
Oldham Community Radio FM (Oldham)
Tameside Community Radio (Tameside)
Pure Radio (Stockport, Cheshire)
Salford Community Radio (Salford)

Community Radio licence awards: West Yorkshire

9. 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 Wetherby and Dewsbury. Therefore, the Committee agreed to consider only the applications for Leeds, Wakefield, Otley and Batley at this time, with the remaining applications being considered at a later meeting pending further investigation.

10. After a full discussion of the applications for Leeds and Wakefield, 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 the following:
Asian Fever (Leeds)

11. The Committee resolved that the following applicants would not be awarded a licence:
Wharfedale FM (Otley)
Hillcrest Community Radio (Leeds)
Indian Muslim Welfare Society (Batley)
Radio Paradise (Wakefield)
Urban Space FM (Wakefield)

12. The Committee resolved that decisions in respect of applications from Dewsbury and Wetherby would be made at a later date, once further frequency planning had been undertaken.

Community Radio licence awards: West Midlands

13. After a full discussion of the applications for the West Midlands area 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:
Vale FM (Castle Vale N.E. Birmingham)
New Style Radio (Birmingham)
Aston FM (Aston, N. Central Birmingham)
Unity FM (East Birmingham)
The Public (West Bromwich)
Stourbridge Radio Group
Wolverhampton CRT (Wolverhampton)

14. The Committee resolved that the following applicants would not be awarded a licence:
Punjabi Radio (Smethwick & Wolverhampton) (AM)
Radio Awaam (Small Heath, Birmingham)
Walsall FM (Walsall)

Community Radio licence awards: Northern Ireland

13. After a full discussion of the applications for Northern Ireland 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:
Féile FM (West Belfast)
BFBS Lisburn (Lisburn)
Iúr Aerwaves (Newry)
Down FM (Downpatrick)
Shine FM (Banbridge)
Raidió Fáilte (Belfast)

Community Radio licence awards: Various areas

14. The Committee discussed and considered sixteen applications in various areas.

15. The Committee resolved that the following applicants would not be awarded a licence:
BRFM (Blaenau Gwent)
Drystone (Craven, North Yorkshire)
LVBC (Deal & Sandwich)

16. Subject to there being suitable frequencies available, the Committee will reconsider the remaining applications at a later date when full frequency details become available.

Community Radio Fund Panel

17. The Committee noted that the Ofcom Board had approved the Terms of Reference of the Panel at its meeting on the 12th September 2005. The composition of the Panel had now been finalised; Kevin Carey (from the Content Board) had been appointed Chair, Thomas Prag (a member of the Scottish Advisory Committee) had agreed to be a member, and the Community Media Association had nominated its treasurer Richard Hilton as the third member of the Panel. The Panel would meet for the first time on 18 October 2005 at Riverside House.

Request for Format change

18. The Radio Licensing Committee discussed a request for a Format change. After discussion, the Radio Licensing Committee agreed the Format change request in accordance with the Radio Content Team’s recommendations.

Date of next meeting

19. To be held on Monday 7 November 2005 in London.

November 2005