Notes 23rd Meeting 11 May 2006

Chairman’s Introduction

1. The Chairman welcomed Members to the 23rd meeting of the Radio Licensing Committee. All members were present throughout with the exception of Matthew MacIver who had given his 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 13 th April 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: Rotherham

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 Rother FM, which is wholly-owned by Lincs FM. It was noted that 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.

Community Radio licence awards: Various areas (Batch 8)

5. 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:

Talkin’ Toxteth (Liverpool)
Cheshire FM (Mid Cheshire)
7 Waves Radio (Wirral)
Halton FM (Runcorn)
Chelmsford Calling (Chelmsford)
Saint FM (Burnham-on-Crouch)
Diversity Radio Lancaster)
BRFM (Isle of Sheppey, Kent)

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

Flame FM (Wirral)
The Point (Runcorn)
Swale Radio (Kent)
Buxton Community Radio (Derbyshire)

7. The Committee noted that the first round of community radio licensing was now complete. The Committee noted that from the 194 applications submitted, 107 (55%) applications had been successful.

Applications for Newry local commercial radio licence.

8. The Radio Licensing Committee discussed the two applications received for the Newry licence. The Committee was scheduled to make its final decision at the 8 th June 2006 meeting.

The Future Licensing of DAB Digital Radio; draft statement.

9. The Radio Licensing Committee discussed the main issues arising from the consultation. It was noted that the paper would be discussed by the Ofcom Board in due course.

Applications for Hull local commercial radio licence.

10. The Radio Licensing Committee discussed the seven applications received for the Hull licence. The Committee was scheduled to make its final decision at the 6 th July 2006 meeting.

Proposed policy relating to analogue stations co-location.

11. The Radio Licensing Committee discussed the proposed policy relating to proposed co-location of analogue stations.

AOB

12. There was no any other business.

Date of next meeting

13. To be held on Thursday 8 June 2006 in London.

May 2006