The BBC Audience Councils agree joint priorities from the perspective of audiences in their nations. The priorities agreed for 2009/10 and adopted by the Trust are:

Digital and other access issues

That the Trust ask the Executive to develop plans to work towards greater access for all BBC content on digital platforms. In particular Audience Councils attach importance to DAB radio across the UK; in Scotland for BBC Alba on DTT; in Northern Ireland, DAB carriage for BBC Radio Foyle; and carriage for BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio Wales on DAB and FM across the whole of Wales.

Network commissioning outside London

That the Trust should monitor the delivery, within the timescale which it set, of the proposals announced by BBC management arising from the TV Network Supply Review. That in monitoring the roll out of the plans it ensures that the BBC maintains and develops sustainable production centres across the UK. Audience Councils welcome the commitment to undertake a Network Supply Review for Audio & Music in 2009 and request that the Trust keep Councils informed of the progress of this review.

Portrayal

That the Trust should investigate ways in which the BBC might better portray the full diversity of the UK’s nations and communities in the regions of England, across its Network services, significantly enhancing the cultural representation of the English regions, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Impartiality Review of the Coverage of Devolved Matters

That the Trust should carefully monitor the implementation of the BBC management’s actions regarding the Impartiality Review of Network News and Current Affairs coverage of devolved matters.

Audience Councils’ operation and communications

That the Trust should strengthen its relationship with the Audience Councils, and seek to achieve more visible participation of the Audience Councils in its work to ensure the widest audience participation in the processes leading to its decisions. This should include a review of a communication strategy for the Trust and Audience Councils.

Editorial standards and complaints handling

That the Trust should undertake work to gather audience views on acceptable editorial standards and improve audience understanding of the BBC’s complaints procedures.

National, Regional and Local news services

That the Trust should keep in mind that Audience Councils continue to attach importance to ensuring the BBC delivers high quality services to its audiences at a national, regional and local level, including ensuring sufficient investment in the infrastructure of local and regional radio services and seeking ways to improve the range and depth of regional and local news coverage.

Other priorities identified by the BBC Audience Council for Scotland

The Trust agreed to give further consideration to three other priorities proposed by the Council. They were to review news and current affairs in Scotland, to recommend to the DCMS that Scottish national football be listed for free-to-air transmission, and to commission research on the range of content offered by BBC Scotland and explore options for expanding it.