1. Attendance
The English National Forum (ENF) met on Sunday and Monday, 7-8 November 2004 at the BBC in Birmingham. Eleven of the 12 members attended, with one apology.
BBC managers present throughout the main meeting on 8 November were: Andy Griffee (Controller English Regions), Louise Hall (Secretary English Regions), Fiona Lynch (Public Accountability Manager, English Regions) Helen Thomas (Head of Regional and Local Programmes, Yorkshire & Lincolnshire), Tamsin O'Brien (Head of Regional and Local Programmes, Yorkshire), and Frances Bryant (Public Accountability Manager, English Regions).
Michael Grade (BBC, Chairman), Phil Bernie (Sports Editor, TV Sports), and Mihir Warty (Head of Strategy, BBC Sport) attended for parts of the meeting.
2. Routine Business
Members were briefed on the outcome of the first of two meetings being held with advisory council members to explore on-screen diversity. Louise Hall updated members on the accountability arrangements for the new 12th BBC region (Yorkshire & Lincolnshire). It was agreed to focus on some of the 'media literacy' elements for the English Regions 2004 External Assessment exercise, based on four community buses in the north of England. Louise Hall suggested the names of some potential external assessors and invited members to contact her with their ideas for any others. Ranjit Sondhi outlined the business conducted at the Board of Governors' meetings held in July, September and October. (See the summaries of these meetings).
3. Main Agenda Items
Controller English Regions Report: Andy Griffee presented his management report to the Forum. He also updated members on the Building Public Value challenges and opportunities facing the English Regions. Performance Against Objectives: Guidance: Louise Hall discussed the criteria for measuring the delivery of public value, namely reach, impact, quality and value for money. She presented members with a template for future Head of Regional and Local Programmes' reports to RACs based on the four criteria, and a series of objective based questions for RAC Chairs to use for their councils' end of year assessments of English Regions' services. RAC Programme Reviews: ENF members summarised their members' reviews of general BBC sports coverage, Sports Relief, Olympics coverage and Restoration II.
ENF Seminar 2005: Every other year the ENF holds a seminar at which different aspects of accountability, and BBC programmes and services are explored. The next seminar is due to be held in June 2005. Louise Hall proposed it be used to explore issues around digital developments. Members accepted these proposals. RAC Half Year Reports: Members produce a half year summary of RAC business to date which is used to identify key issues emerging from the councils. At this meeting members also discussed the additional uses to which the reports could be put. Network Handover to the Regions: Bernie Steed said that for people in the Channel Islands which were not part of the United Kingdom, the network news handover to the regional news programmes was unsatisfactory. He summarised the discussions at a meeting involving Roger Mosey, the BBC's Head of Television News, on the subject. Andy Griffee confirmed that, as a result, the South West news team was exploring the possibility of a local solution. Michael Grade, BBC Chairman: Michael Grade responded to the issues raised by RACs on Building Public Value and answered members' questions on governance and accountability. | 
