[comtv-l] [cma-l] Election campaign and the CR Fund

[Bill Best]

Hi Steve

I very much agree that the campaign for an increased Community Radio
Fund should not focus on diverting existing funds from what might be
considered easy targets that have been selected on our behalf by
elements of the commercial media.

The CMA is currently working on a web-based method to contact all
prospective Parliamentary candidates (PPCs) and we hope to produce
something useful soon.

In the meantime, CMA members and our supporters can contact their
local PPCs using the methods outlined below for the three major
parties in England - we don't currently have the information to hand
for Plaid Cymru, the SNP and others.

At this stage of election campaigning, PPCs will be more likely to
read and take note of a letters sent to them from individual
constituents than a national lobby effort from the CMA - our overall
message will therefore be more likely to get through to them via our
grassroots membership.  Furthermore, if you do establish a connection
with a candidate who becomes elected then they will be more likely to
be receptive towards you later as your elected representative.

So, please find your candidate here:

Conservative:
    Step 1: Visit
http://www.conservatives.com/People/Prospective_Parliamentary_Candidates.aspx

    Step 2: Find your local candidate by choosing “List by name” or
“List by constituency”.

    Step 3: Choose from A to Z to locate the name or constituency for
which you are looking.

    Step 4: Click on your local candidate’s name to see their contact details.

Labour:
    Step 1: Visit http://www.labour.org.uk/ppc

    Step 2: If you know the surname of your local PPC choose from A to
Z and then select your local PPC to see their contact details.

    If you do not know the surname of your local PPC, click on browse
by parliamentary constituency to search by constituency and then
select your constituency to see your local PPC’s contact details.

Liberal Democrats:
    Step 1: Visit http://www.libdems.org.uk/parliamentary_candidates.aspx

    Step 2: Use one of the two search fields to search by postcode or
constituency name to be taken straight to your local PPC’s contact
details.

Remember that PPCs will include those selected to replace a sitting MP
where they are retiring, as a large number are.  With boundary changes
taking effect at the election, look out for the changed names and
boundaries of some constituencies. Also, there are some completely new
constituencies whilst some will disappear altogether.

We have drafted a pro forma letter below which will be posted to the
website, which you are free to edit as you see fit, that calls for
increased support for community media.  Please send your version of
the letter to your PPC and please contact this list with any feedback
received.

Best regards

Bill
- -
Community Media Association
http://www.commedia.org.uk/
http://twitter.com/community_media
http://photo365.commedia.org.uk
Facebook Fans: http://bit.ly/cog8n5

\\\

Dear XXXXXX (Election Candidate's name)

I am writing to ask that you pledge your support for the
sustainability and growth of community media in the UK through a
substantial increase in the resources and scope of the current
Community Radio Fund, to include both licensed community radio and the
wider community media sector including community and local television.

The growth of community radio has been described by Ofcom as "one of
the great UK broadcasting success stories in the last few years", yet
this new sector still remains economically very precarious.  Existing
community and local television stations are under threat through lack
of access to a proper digital distribution system e.g. on Freeview and
cable.  The UK is one of the very few nations in Europe not to support
local television, as a true provider of local news, information and
local debate.

The growth of the licensed community radio sector, from 14 stations in
2004 to more than 200 today, broadcasting to an estimated audience of
around 2 million citizens, demonstrates daily the appetite of people
in local communities for local news, voices and broadcasting in
community languages.  Its success could easily be emulated if the
growth of community television were to be facilitated by an incoming
government in the way that community radio has been since 2004.

As defined in the Community Radio Order 2004, community radio stations
are licensed with the following social gain objectives:

(a) the delivery of services provided by local authorities and other
services of a social nature and the increasing, and wider
dissemination, of knowledge about those services and about local
amenities;

(b) the promotion of economic development and of social enterprises;

(c) the promotion of employment;

(d) the provision of opportunities for the gaining of work experience;

(e) the promotion of social inclusion;

(f) the promotion of cultural and linguistic diversity;

(g) the promotion of civic participation and volunteering.

Regulation of the sector by Ofcom ensures that the above social gain
objectives of all broadcasting community radio stations are met or
exceeded.

But despite the plaudits and awards for community radio, the UK
financial settlement compares poorly with our European neighbouring
countries. France, for example, provides around Euro 25 million per
annum for around 600 community stations, the Netherlands Euro 8
million for around 340 community stations. Community radio groups and
their supporters are calling on the Government to give a higher
priority to community radio with its real social and economic benefits
by substantially increasing the Government's contribution to the
Community Radio Fund.

The Community Radio Order 2004 restricts community radio to a maximum
50 per cent of revenue from advertising and sponsorship and, in some
locations, advertising is prohibited entirely.

This arrangement was intended to be complemented, in part, by a
sizeable Community Radio Fund. The Government's own impact assessment,
in line with the recommendations of the Everitt Report, suggested the
Fund would require £3-4 million per annum.

In its first year £500,000 was provided. Since then, annual spending
commitments to the Fund have not increased, while the number of
community radio
licensees has grown from 14 to over 200.

A new Government must commit to a substantial increase in the
Community Radio Fund to support the long term sustainability and
success of community radio, in delivering real choice and community
benefit in some of the most deprived communities in the UK.

As a constituent, I would like to know that you and your Party are
committed to an increase in the size of the Community Radio Fund,
including extending
its remit to other truly local broadcasting services should your Party
have sufficient influence in the next Government.

I would also like to see your party publicly commit to support for
funding of local and community television projects on a similar basis
to community radio funding.

I look forward to your reply.

Yours faithfully

On 12 April 2010 16:08, Steve Buckley <sbuckley at gn.apc.org> wrote:
> Dear Jaqui and all
>
> We must surely use the election to press once
> again on the issue of funding for community radio.
>
> This is not a question of where the money comes
> from - politicians can sort that out if they have
> the will, after all the sums needed are small -
> rather it is a question of insisting that the
> main parties commit to increasing the Community
> Radio Fund from its current derisory level to the
> levels recommended in the Everitt Report that set
> the framework for community radio legislation and
> was accepted by government at that time.
>
> This issue won't go away, indeed it was rather
> extensively debated during the House of Commons
> debate on the Community Radio (Amendment) Order
> which took place on 12 January. Below are some excerpts.
>
> Yet it still remains unresolved, with little sign
> of serious progress from DCMS.
>
> It is a key question that we must now put to all
> candidates and their political parties.
>
> Best wishes
>
> Steve
>
> //
> Source:
> http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmgeneral/deleg7/100112/100112s01.htm
>
> Mr. Edward Vaizey (Con): Yes. I noticed that the
> community fund is not mentioned in the order in
> front of us. When the measure was debated in the
> other place, the Minister’s spokesman there
> specifically addressed the issue of the community
> radio fund and said to our colleagues in the
> other place that the Department for Culture,
> Media and Sport had written to other Departments,
> seeking contributions to the fund. Given that
> that debate took place on 15 December 2009, now
> would be a good opportunity for the Minister to
> bring us news hot off the press on his success in
> discussing the issue with the Department for
> Communities and Local Government, the Home
> Office, the Department for Children, Schools and
> Families, the Department of Health or any other
> Department where he thought there might be money
> down the back of the sofa that can be put into
> the community radio fund. As many hon. Members
> know, many community radio stations operate at a
> deficit, with an average income of just £80,000,
> which is dropping drastically.
>
> Mr. Adrian Sanders (Lib Dem): The issue of
> funding for local community radio continues is of
> paramount importance. The community radio fund
> continues to be a large source of finance for
> community stations. The fund has seen increasing
> spending commitments in recent years, allowing
> the expansion from 14 stations to more than 200.
> Of course, we know that there are many hundreds
> more in the pipeline that have yet to be assessed
> and granted licences. The Government are
> supporting, in principle, the community radio
> sector, and the changes in regulations that we
> see today are evidence of that, but will the
> Minister address the central issue of funding, as
> referred to earlier? All the support and positive
> regulations will pale into insignificance if that question goes unaddressed.
>
> Mr. Sion Simon (Lab): What my noble Friend in the
> other place said was that I would be writing to
> other Departments. He was referring to meetings
> that I have had with community radio
> organisations and local commercial radio
> organisations, and to undertakings that I have
> given directly to the CMA that I will engage­and
> am engaging­across Government to try to persuade
> Ministers in other Departments to free what would
> often be, for them, very small amounts of money
> relative to their budget. That could deliver good
> outcomes for them on their targets in relation to
> social cohesion, training and so on. That process
> is under way and ongoing, and I am committed to
> it. It was never intended for community radio to
> be directly funded by the Government or entirely
> publicly funded. The £500,000 from DCMS, along
> with several millions of pounds from other parts
> of Government, is part of the mix, as are the
> liberalising measures. It is a thriving and
> successful sector: there are now up to 200 licences and 150 operators.
> [...] I can assure him again of my earnest
> intention to continue to work with colleagues in
> the rest of Government to try to get that figure
> increased, because I am clear, as are many hon.
> Members here this afternoon, about the importance
> of community radio and the value that it delivers to our community.