Taxi Driver Online

BBC Wales 'aims to minimise cost of cabs'

26 December 2010

BBC Wales says every effort is made to minimise transport costs, with about half spent on contributors Continue reading the main story

It was reported by the Wales on Sunday newspaper, which made a Freedom of Information request.

A spokesperson for BBC Wales said more than half of that total was spent on taxis for contributors.

BBC Wales said transport costs were an inevitable consequence of its business activities but every effort was made to minimise them.

The newspaper reported that the total bill amounted to £595,551 since April 2009.

BBC Wales said: "In 2009 to 2010 BBC Wales produced more than 1,500 hours of television programming and nearly 14,000 hours of radio with a total turnover of £150m.

"Transport costs are an inevitable consequence of these business activities, with around half of this spend incurred to transport guests, artists and contributors.

"However, every effort is made to minimise the level of such costs, including use of a centralised booking system which enables us to monitor taxi use and negotiated better deals with suppliers."

Source; http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-12080338

_________________
Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.

Not a good idea!!

I think they should continue to take care of their staff's transport requirements in the manner to which they have become accustomed.

_________________
Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.

well maybe they should follow local goverment (education) policy and put all runs up for tender using a framework to get the best possible prices? better yet, make em all pay for thier OWN cars?.....ooops, did i really say that

anyway, its Wales, they aint spending thier own money are they (not that the BBC ever does)

They have a duty to get their staff home safely late at night.

If anything they should be offering more taxis to their valuable staff, not less.

_________________
IDFIMH

when ive worked nights i had to get myself home, at my cost, why should highly paid staff and even higher paid celebs get it free on the taxpayer?

Because all the money is coming to our trade.

_________________
IDFIMH

Not from BBC wales it aint, unless you take cross border hirings.....


and unless your brown envelope is more padded than anyone elses

What duty?

_________________
Grandad,

Guest and Artists?

If they want the exposure i suggest THEY pay and claim it as an expense off the tax man

Contributors? - phone em!

The 'duty' that all should have in respect of paying our mortgages.

_________________
IDFIMH

now im really lost

You have lost the plot on this one.

_________________
Grandad,

BBC executives at one studio 'spending more than £1,000 a day on taxis'

Friday 31 December 2010

Executives at a BBC studio are spending more than £1,000 in licence fee payers money a day on taxis, it has emerged.

The latest bills show the BBC studios in Cardiff - where rejuvenated series Dr Who and Upstairs Downstairs are filmed - spend a fortune on taxi fares for staff and guests.

And BBC chiefs promised "every effort" is being made to cut the cab costs after being reprimanded for the "luxury convenience".

Figures showed the BBC Wales HQ in Cardiff spent £595,551 on taxis in the 18 months up to November.

That is the equivalent of more than 2,800 licence fees from families paying the £145.50 annual charge.

The BBC studio said much of the money was spent on taxis for artists and contributors instead of corporation bosses.

BBC bosses have been delighted with drama success at the Cardiff studio - including Dr Who and spin-offs along with the new Upstairs Downstairs and with plans to film Casualty in Wales.

But critics have challenged whether the BBC can justify the huge bill at public expense.

Charlotte Linacre, campaign manager for the Taxpayers Alliance, said too much money was being spent on "luxury convenience".

Miss Linacre said: "This a large bill for licence fee payers to foot."

"Some taxi rides are unavoidable - but too much is being spent on the luxury of convenience while cheaper options are available."

"It's important that public sector organisations work as hard as possible to save money for the taxpayers that have to fund them, especially when families are hard pressed following the recession."

The unfair fares bill was obtained under the Freedom on Information Act after concern about cab charges at the BBC studioes in the leafy suburb of Llandaff, Cardiff - more than three miles outside the city centre of the Welsh capital.

A BBC spokesman said: "In 2009 to 2010 BBC Wales produced more than 1,500 hours of television programming and nearly 14,000 hours of radio with a total turnover of £150m."

"Transport costs are an inevitable consequence of these business activities, with around half of this spend incurred to transport guests, artists and contributors."

"However, every effort is made to minimise the level of such costs. This included use of a centralised booking system which enables us to monitor taxi use and negotiated better deals with suppliers."

Source; http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvan ... taxis.html

_________________
Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.