BBC Trust Hospitality Register April September 2015 January 2016 Getting the best out of the BBC for licence fee payers
BBC Trust Hospitality Register 1 April 30 September 2015 BBC Trust hospitality policy The BBC Trustees are committed to observing the highest standards of propriety with respect to the stewardship of public funds and the governance of the BBC. In line with this commitment, and the Trust s duty to ensure that the BBC observes the highest standards of openness and transparency, the Trust decided in April 2008 to publish a hospitality register with effect from April 2007. The register is published every six months alongside a report on Trustees expenses. The Trust s Code of Practice sets out the principles by which Trustees undertake their duties and provides the policy with regard to hospitality. The Code of Practice is published on the BBC Trust website. 1 The policy recognises that Trustees are expected to attend events and engage with a wide range of stakeholders as part of their role. The policy also recognises that a conflict of interest may arise if a Trustee, when undertaking their duties, seeks or accepts hospitality and/or gifts which may influence or appear to influence their decision making, or appear to influence their ability to discharge their duties in the public interest. The policy states: - Trustees should not allow a position to be reached whereby acceptance of hospitality might be deemed by others to have influenced a decision or led to a potential allegation of conflict of interests. - Trustees must not solicit or accept benefits, entertainment or gifts in exchange for, or as inducement for, doing any act associated with their duties or responsibilities. Hospitality register Where hospitality is accepted by a Trustee, it is declared to the Trust Unit and included in this report. This report covers: External hospitality received by a Trustee in their capacity as a member of the BBC Trust. (When judging whether hospitality received is related to a Trustee s role, the nature of his or her non-trust roles may be taken into account.) 1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/who_we_are/trustees/code_of_practice.html January 2016 2
External hospitality received in a non-bbc Trustee capacity which may, or appears to, give rise to a conflict of interest. Entertainment received from the BBC Executive. (This does not include reasonable meals or refreshments provided at business meetings or internal BBC events, or meals provided as part of routine meetings between BBC Trustees and BBC staff.) Reasonable meals and subsistence as part of working lunches or dinners taken in this context are deemed not to be hospitality and as such are not declared in the register. Similarly, attendance at a BBC reception or at an internal BBC event on Trust business would not, normally, be declared on the register. Where a Trustee is a guest at a BBC event which has a ticket value (e.g. football match), or value for the audience (e.g. live filming of TV / radio show) attendance at that event is included in the register. Hospitality provided to Trustees where they are undertaking a business function (e.g. a dinner provided when a Trustee is giving a speech) or attendance at industry events (including meals) is not listed in the report. Hospitality provided by a BBC Trustee to external contacts with a value of 25 or over is declared on the register. The BBC Trust does have regular meetings with industry representatives and other stakeholders. Meals or other hospitality can be provided as part of these meetings and these meetings are not included in this register. Where a Trustee has claimed for a meal on expenses, this is shown in the BBC Trust's expenses report. This report also includes hospitality received by the Director, BBC Trust. Jon Zeff was Director until 17 April 2015 when he was replaced by Alex Towers. April September 2015 report Hospitality Received Rona Fairhead 14 May 2015 Launch reception of exhibition: Magna Carta (An Embroidery). 18 May 2015 Chelsea Flower Show: Reception, private view and dinner. 23/24 May 2015 Radio 1 Big Weekend in Norwich, plus overnight accommodation. 27 May 2015 Lunchtime reception to mark the State Opening of Parliament. Hosted by Baroness Blackstone, Chairman and Roly Keating, Chief Executive, British Library. Held at British Library, London. Hosted by Simon Collins, UK Chairman and Senior Partner, KPMG. Held at Royal Hospital, Chelsea, London. Rona was Hosted by BBC Radio 1. Rona was accompanied by her daughter. (Rona made a donation of the estimated hotel cost to Children in Need). Hosted by the Lord Speaker, The Rt Hon Baroness D Souza CMG. Held at the River Room, House of Lords, London. January 2016 3
27 May 2015 State Opening of Parliament seat in Royal Box. 30 May 2015 FA Cup Final in Royal Box at Wembley, including tour of outside broadcast operation and lunch. Hosted by Palace of Westminster. Held at Palace of Westminster, London. Hosted by BBC Sport. Held at Wembley Stadium, London. Rona was accompanied by her son. (Rona made a contribution to Sport Relief). 23 June 2015 Financial Times summer party. Hosted by Financial Times. Held at Mondrian Hotel, Sea Containers House, London. 17 July 2015 First Night of the BBC Proms, reception and concert. 26 August 2015 ABC Studios reception to mark this year s McTaggart lecture. 26 August 2015 McTaggart reception and dinner during Edinburgh TV Festival. 16 September 2015 All3Media dinner during Royal Television Society s Cambridge Convention. Hosted by Tony Hall, Director General, BBC. Held at Royal Albert Hall, London. Rona was Hosted by ABC Studios. Held at The Champagne Bar, Edinburgh. Hosted by Chris Shaw, Executive Chair of Edinburgh TV Festival. Event sponsored by ITN. Held at Tower Restaurant, National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh. Hosted by All3Media. Held in West Road Concert Hall, Cambridge. 24 September 2015 Economist summer party. Hosted by Zanny Minton Beddoes and Editors of The Economist. Held at Economist Plaza, London. Richard Ayre 12 September 2015 Radio 2 Music Festival 2015 Hosted by Bob Shennan, Controller, BBC Radio 2. Held at Hyde Park, London. Richard accepted two tickets but was unable to attend due to other BBC Trust commitments. Mark Florman 12 September 2015 Radio 2 Music Festival 2015 Hosted by Bob Shennan, Controller, BBC Radio 2. Held at Hyde Park, London. Mark Florman was accompanied by his wife and 2 daughters. January 2016 4
Bill Matthews 12 September 2015 BBC Proms reception and concert. Hosted by BBC Scotland. Held at the Royal Albert Hall, London. Bill was accompanied by 3 guests. Lord Williams 15 July 2015 Reception to celebrate the Birthday of Her Majesty The Queen. Hosted by Phil Hammond MP, Foreign Secretary and his wife. Held at Foreign and Commonwealth Office, London. Alex Towers 7 July 2015 All-Party Parliamentary Media Group Annual Reception with guest of honour the Rt. Hon. John Whittingdale and Sharon White. Hosted by Rosie Cooper, MP. Held at Channel 4 s HQ, London. Hospitality Provided Rona Fairhead 25 July 2015 Hosted a box at the BBC Proms. For invited stakeholders. Costs was 1,190.20. Rona was 9 August 2015 Hosted a box at the BBC Proms. For invited stakeholders. Costs was 1,106.20. Rona was 12 September 2015 Hosted a box at the BBC Proms Last Night. For invited stakeholders. Costs was 1,001.80. Rona was Sonita Alleyne 8 September 2015 Hosted a box at the BBC Proms. For invited stakeholders. Costs was 670.40. Sonita was accompanied by her partner. January 2016 5
Bill Matthews/Richard Ayre 27 July 2015 Bill and Richard jointly hosted a box at the BBC Proms. For invited stakeholders. Costs was 549.00. Nick Prettejohn 7 September 2015 Hosted a box at the BBC Proms. For invited stakeholders. Costs was 695.40. Nick was accompanied by his wife. Elan Closs Stephens 21 July 2015 Hosted a box at BBC Proms, alongside Rhodri Talfan-Davies, Controller, BBC Wales For invited stakeholders. No cost to the Trust. 3 September 2015 Hosted a box at the BBC Proms. For invited stakeholders. Costs was 551.40. Suzanna Taverne 25 August 2015 Hosted a box at the BBC Proms. For invited stakeholders. Costs was 551.40. Suzanna was Alex Towers 22 July 2015 Hosted a box at the BBC Proms For invited stakeholders. Costs was 549.80. Alex was accompanied by his wife. January 2016 6