BBC postpone World Service job cuts

The BBC has postponed its announcements of job cuts in the World Service until the New Year.

An article in Broadcast by Catherine Neilan, 23 November, 2010, says:

Staff at the World Service will have to wait a further two months to hear whether their jobs are safe, as the BBC has pushed back any decision on cuts until after Christmas.

As part of the licence fee settlement, the World Service has to find savings of £67m - the equivalent of 16% - over the next four years. It is thought this could lead to more than 300 job losses and the cutting of entire language services.

But in an email to staff, Peter Horrocks, director of the World Service, said BBC Trust had called an additional meeting for 16 December "to discuss and explore what can be done to mitigate the impact of these changes".

He added: "They have asked us to present a long term plan for World Service as it enters the licence fee period.

"I am afraid this means that we will not be in a position to make any announcements until January 2011 at the earliest. I firmly believe it is in the interests of World Service that we engage with the BBC Trust and the BBC Executive further on this."

Horrocks acknowledged it was annoying to have to push back the date of any announcement.

"I know that this communication will be frustrating and does not provide the clarity we were hoping for, but this delay will be in the interests of World Service," he said.

"I have asked your managers to discuss this further with you to give you an opportunity to ask any questions and feedback your concerns.

Horrocks email in full:

Dear All

I wanted to update you on the implementation of the Spending Review for World Service.

Mark Thompson, Mark Byford and I met with the BBC Trust last week to make the Trust aware of the impact of the Spending Review on World Service. The Trust asked a number of questions about the proposed changes that we would have to make as a result of the reduced funding from the FCO as part of this Spending Review.

The Trust wants a further opportunity at the December 16th Trust meeting to discuss and explore what can be done to mitigate the impact of these changes. They have asked us to present a long term plan for World Service as it enters the licence fee period.

I am afraid this means that we will not be in a position to make any announcements until January 2011 at the earliest. I firmly believe it is in the interests of World Service that we engage with the BBC Trust and the BBC Executive further on this.

The Executive and the Trust are united in wanting to ensure that the World Service is sustained as far as possible as it enters the licence fee period.

I appreciate that I had said we'd hope to come back to you with a plan on how to respond to the CSR settlement by the end of November. I know that this communication will be frustrating and does not provide the clarity we were hoping for, but this delay will be in the interests of World Service.

I have asked your managers to discuss this further with you to give you an opportunity to ask any questions and feedback your concerns.

Peter

http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/broadcasters/bbc/
bbc-world-service-cuts-delayed/5020834.article

Thanks to Mike Terry for spotting this item.

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