BBC Trust

This year, in response to licence fee payer feedback, the Trust has produced a snapshot of the statements made in the Annual Report and Accounts in a shorter and more digestible 'leaflet' form. This will be available in public places (e.g. libraries) around the country and can also be downloaded below.

The Trust works very closely with the Audience Councils in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. These councils play a key role helping the Trust understand the needs, interests and concerns of audiences. Each council is chaired by the Trust member for that nation. The councils' role is to bring a wide range of licence fee payers' perspectives to bear on the work of the Trust. Each council publishes an annual review of its work and summary of its Audience Council activity.

When the Trust published its report and recommendations on talent costs last year, it promised to conduct a short follow up review on the BBC's progress 12 months later. After setting terms of reference for the BBC to report on its actions since last year, the Trust has published an analysis of the BBC's report and its conclusions based on the progress made by the BBC so far.

Under the Terms of the BBC's Charter and Agreement the Trust has a duty of oversight of the World Service. This includes an annual performance review and independent research. In the latter the Trust pursues one or two cross cutting themes or services each year through rigorous research and analysis. This year, the Trust chose BBC Arabic TV, and the research was aimed at giving the Trust an enhanced understanding of the Arabic TV service.

In order for the BBC to fulfil its mission to inform, educate and entertain, the Royal Charter and Agreement sets out six public purposes. The Trust has set remits for these public purposes, and in order to monitor the performance of the BBC in delivering the purposes, the Trust carries out an annual Purpose Remit Survey. This research asks respondents to express their views on both the importance they attach to the purpose priorities and on the BBC's current effectiveness in delivering them. Two waves of survey data were completed in 2008/09 (November/December 08 and February/March 09) amongst 2260 adults weighted to be representative of the UK population.

The Trust asks the Executive to provide the Trust with a report each year on the operation and effectiveness of its arrangements for promoting equal opportunities in employment, between men and women, people of different racial groups, and for those with disabilities. The Trust's observations, together with the Executive's report, are available on our diversity and equality page.

Under the requirements of the Agreement, the Executive reports to the Trust annually on the current operation and effectiveness of the arrangements for the training and retraining of BBC staff. The report for 2008/9, together with the Trust's commentary on the report, is available on our Training page.

BBC Worldwide, the BBC's wholly-owned commercial arm, has published its annual review and accounts:

BBC Worldwide Annual Review 2008/09