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20|03|06

Notes 20th Meeting 9th February 2006

Chairman’s Introduction

1. The Chairman welcomed Members to the 20 th meeting of the Radio Licensing Committee. All members were present throughout with the exception of Ian Hargreaves and Matthew MacIver who had given their apologies. Other Ofcom colleagues were also present throughout or attended for part of the meeting:

Minutes of the previous Meeting

2. The minutes of the Radio Licensing Committee Meeting held on 5 th January 2006 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: Shrewsbury

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 Shrewsbury FM owned by MNA Broadcasting Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Midlands News Association. The announcement regarding the winning licence application would be made on the same day and a statement explaining the factors which led the Committee to its decision was scheduled to be published in due course.

Applications for North East England local commercial radio licence.

5. The Radio Licensing Committee discussed the thirteen applications received for the North East England licence. The Committee was scheduled to make its final decision at the 13 th April 2006 meeting.

Applications for Southend local commercial radio licence.

6. The Radio Licensing Committee discussed the four applications received for the Southend licence. The Committee was scheduled to make its final decision at the 13 th April 2006 meeting.

Community Radio licence awards: Greater London area

7. After a full and careful discussion of the remaining eleven applications for Greater London area and the spectrum availability issues, 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:

Life FM (Stonebridge, London NW10)

TGR Sound ( Bexleyheath , Kent )

Hayes FM (Hayes, Middlesex)

Link FM (Harold Hill, Essex)

NuSound Radio ( Forest Gate, London E7)

Asian Star ( Slough )

Westside Community Radio (Southall, Middlesex)

Radio Ummah ( Manor Park , London E12)

Voice of Africa Radio (Plaistow, London E13)

Irish FM (Hammersmith, London W6)

Phoenix FM ( Brentwood , Essex)

Community Radio licence awards: Edinburgh, Leith and Lothian

8. This item was not on the agenda. However, as full information had become available regarding frequency availability, the Committee was asked to consider the applications for the Edinburgh , Leith and Lothian areas. After a full and careful discussion 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:

Edinburgh Garrison FM

Black Diamond FM (Dalkeith and parts of East and Central Midlothian )

Leith FM

9. The Committee decided not to award a licence to:

Faith Radio ( Leith and north east Edinburgh )

Community Radio licence awards: Various areas (Batch 5)

10. After a full discussion of applications in various areas, 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:

Kool AM (Harlow, Essex )

CSR Kent Union ( Canterbury )

Wetherby Community Radio

Radio Teesdale ( Barnard Castle , County Durham )

Sheffield Live

Burngreave Community Radio (Burngreave, Sheffield )

Bristol Community FM (BCFM)

11. The Committee decided not to award a licence to each of the following applicants:

Pit FM, ( Dearne Valley , South Yorkshire )

Rabtah FM, Sheffield

Beautiful Bristol FM

Base FM, ( Bristol )

Focus FM ( Bristol )

12. The Committee will consider further other applications at a later date when further frequency details become available.

Commercial Radio Licensing Review.

13. This item was deferred until the next meeting.

Radio Review Phase 2.

14. The Radio Licensing Committee discussed the responses to the Radio Review Phase 2 consultation, and noted that it was planned to publish the statement on or around the 15 th February 2006.

Request for Format Change

15. The Radio Licensing Committee considered a Format change request.

Radio Licensing Committee – Revised Terms of Reference.

16. The Radio Licensing Committee noted the revised terms of reference which had been approved by the Ofcom Board on 10 January 2006 .

AOB

17. There were no items under any other business.

Date of next meeting

18. To be held on Thursday 9 March 2006 in London.

March 2006