BBC Compromise Agreements

The request was refused by British Broadcasting Corporation.

Dear British Broadcasting Corporation,

It looks like the BBC is well beyond the statutory time limit for responding to request ​RFI20142105.

​I wonder if the BBC ​has any intention of answering this question​? I want to know the answer so am making a similar request myself.

In 2013 the BBC strengthened its governance requiring approval from the BBC’s Senior Manager Remuneration Committee for:
- any proposed compromise agreements where the total of all redundancy / severance payments is over £75,000;
- any proposed compromise agreement where there is an exceptional payment regardless of the amount; and
- the BBC committed to cap severance payments to £150,000 from September 2013 onwards.

This applies to all BBC employees regardless of grade. Compromise agreements where individuals receive a total severance/redundancy payment that is less than £75,000 and is in line with the BBC redundancy pay policy, are approved at divisional levels.

Since this governance mechanism was introduced in September 2013 to date (19 April 2015)
- Who has sat/sits on the Senior Manager Remuneration Committee;
- How many compromise/settlement agreements have been submitted to the Senior Manager Remuneration Committee;
- How many applications have been accepted in the first instance;
- How many applications have been accepted following revision to the initial submission;
- How many applications have been refused;
- What has been the outcome of any applications which have not been accepted, accepted following revision, refused;
- How many payouts have exceeded the £150,000 cap;
- How many payouts of less than £75,000 were referred as "exceptional payment",
- What were the justifications for any "exceptional payments" made outside the BBC's redundancy pay policy,
- What have been the highest and lowest payouts;
- What is the total sum that has been paid out in compromise agreements.

Mr Pickard says in his internal review that a response ​was already being prepared so the BBC should get back to me within 20 days or provide an answer to the original request. You have already had plenty of time.

I have had the same assurances from Mr Pickard but have not received responses. I hope he is not being led up the garden path and that the BBC does plan to answer. ​

Yours faithfully,

S Craig

FOI Enquiries, British Broadcasting Corporation

Dear S Craig,

Thank you for your request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, as detailed in your email below. Your request was received on 19th April 2015. We will deal with your request as promptly as possible, and at the latest within 20 working days. If you have any queries about your request, please contact us at the address below.

The reference number for your request is RFI20150637

Kind regards

The Information Policy & Compliance Team

BBC Freedom of Information
BC2 B6, Broadcast Centre
201 Wood Lane
London W12 7TP

www.bbc.co.uk/foi
Email: [BBC request email]

Tel: 020 8008 2882

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FOI Enquiries, British Broadcasting Corporation

2 Attachments

 

Dear Mr Craig,

 

Please find attached the response to your request for information,
reference RFI20150637.

 

Yours sincerely

 

BBC Information Policy and Compliance

Room BC2 A4

Broadcast Centre

White City

London

W12 7TS

UK

 

Website: [1]www.bbc.co.uk/foi

Email: [2]mailto:[BBC request email]

 

[3]Description: Description: \\BBCFS2025\UserData$\myrien01\Documents\My
Pictures\BBC.png

 

References

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Dear British Broadcasting Corporation,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of British Broadcasting Corporation's handling of my FOI request 'BBC Compromise Agreements'.

My request is perfectly valid and your response is hostile and accusatory.

Someone else has made a similar request. That request is publicly available on the Whatdotheyknow website and I followed its progress with interest. I ​have noted Mr Pickard's assurances but I also note that those seem to do little to encourage the BBC to respond in a timely manner to requests.

I refute your characterisation of my request as vexatious, intent on ‘harassing the authority’ and ‘designed to cause disruption or annoyance’. My request is intent on obtaining information from the BBC which it seems intent on keeping secret. It is also my right under the law to make this request.

The BBC set great store in its new governance mechanism preventing a recurrence of the widely publicised abuses of the recent past. I am asking as a licence fee payer for information ​demonstrating that has happened in practice.​

I am requesting an internal review of the BBC's handling of my request to date and ​the tone of the response. I repeat my initial request for information and I remind you ​that exercising my right under the Act is not vexatious. ​

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/b...

Yours faithfully,

S Craig

FOI Enquiries, British Broadcasting Corporation

Dear S Craig

Thank you for your request for an internal review. We will respond as soon as possible but no later than 20 working days.

Kind regards

BBC Information Policy and Compliance

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FOI Enquiries, British Broadcasting Corporation

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Craig

Please find attached the internal review decision you requested.

Yours sincerely

BBC Information Policy & Compliance

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Dear FOI Enquiries,

It has been four months BBC. Do you intend to answer my questions?

Yours sincerely,

S Craig

S Craig left an annotation ()

​The BBC refuse​s to say if it follows its own rules on payments to senior managers. The reason it gives is that someone asked the same question in December 2014. The BBC hasn't answered that FOI either so are BBC senior managers still making 'exceptional' payments to other senior managers? I think we can guess.