BBC local radio: don't cut the programmes, cut 'the suits'

John Myers, an independent media consultant and Chief Executive of the Radio Academy, talked to me about his recent report on BBC Local Radio. He was asked to investigate the potential for efficiency savings following the recommendation of budget cuts in the BBC's own Delivering Quality First exercise.

Myers tells me it is "the suits" rather than the programmes that should be cut. He was impressed with what he found during his time at BBC stations - "all these wonderful stations in terrible buildings, often with the worst equipment" - but he also says that the salary bill could be reduced because of many 'extras' on top of basic wages that local radio staff enjoy.

As to what will happen to his report, he fears the worst: "it's probably locked in a drawer and won't come out till they need the table levelling up or something", but he still hopes it will be acted upon and says he would be "amazed" if the Delivering Quality First team tried to keep the management structure as it is.

Torin Douglas (@BBCTorinD) is BBC News' Media Correspondent.