Post by Teddy Bear on Jul 21, 2012 23:33:56 GMT
The former chairman of the BBC, Michael Lyons, felt himself worthy of a chauffeur driven car, despite the cuts imposed on the BBC, which cost the licence fee payer £130,000 for the 2 year contract. The current chairman decided it would be too extravagant and rejected the use of the car. Bear in mind it uses the payments of nearly 900 licence fees.
So what did the BBC do?
Did they return the car and cancel the contract in a bid to save money?
No! They kept it for use by the senior managers, mostly Caroline Thomson, who also used taxis to the tune of £3500 in the last financial year.
Here's how the BBC justified the continued use of this extravagance:
Once more:- 'He said: ‘It was an existing contract and to break it early would incur costs.’
But the spokesman refused to give details of how it was cheaper to keep a contract rolling rather than paying a cancellation fee.'
Refused to give details? Sounds like the cat got his tongue. It shows how the BBC will use any excuse to try and justify their continual absurdities, even when there is no justification other than their greed and lack of real values. Which is shy they justify paying themselves such exorbitant salaries, otherwise anyone with any sense would question why journalists and reporters who simply chronicle events and actions of those who really do act within the community, feel they are worth salaries far in excess of these.
Go figure!
So what did the BBC do?
Did they return the car and cancel the contract in a bid to save money?
No! They kept it for use by the senior managers, mostly Caroline Thomson, who also used taxis to the tune of £3500 in the last financial year.
Here's how the BBC justified the continued use of this extravagance:
A BBC spokesman said the contract would continue until it expired in April 2013. He said: ‘It was an existing contract and to break it early would incur costs.’
But the spokesman refused to give details of how it was cheaper to keep a contract rolling rather than paying a cancellation fee.
He also refused to divulge the annual cost of keeping the Lexus and a full-time driver.
But in April last year, a Freedom of Information request revealed the use of the Lexus cost the BBC £65,000 annually.
Once more:- 'He said: ‘It was an existing contract and to break it early would incur costs.’
But the spokesman refused to give details of how it was cheaper to keep a contract rolling rather than paying a cancellation fee.'
Refused to give details? Sounds like the cat got his tongue. It shows how the BBC will use any excuse to try and justify their continual absurdities, even when there is no justification other than their greed and lack of real values. Which is shy they justify paying themselves such exorbitant salaries, otherwise anyone with any sense would question why journalists and reporters who simply chronicle events and actions of those who really do act within the community, feel they are worth salaries far in excess of these.
Go figure!
BBC 'saves money' by spending £130,000 giving staff a chauffeur-driven car
By Miles Goslett
The BBC is spending an estimated £130,000 over two years on a chauffeur-driven car rejected by its chairman Lord Patten because it would ‘incur costs’ to terminate the contract.
The car was originally used by Sir Michael Lyons, the former chairman of the BBC, until he quit in April last year. It was then assigned to Lord Patten, who succeeded him.
But the peer refused the vehicle, saying he would use public transport instead, saving the licence payer extra expense.
The car, believed to be a Lexus, is now being mainly used by the Corporation’s chief operating officer, Caroline Thomson, but is also available to other senior managers.
The BBC made the admission about the Lexus contract in its latest annual report, published on Monday.
A BBC spokesman said the contract would continue until it expired in April 2013. He said: ‘It was an existing contract and to break it early would incur costs.’
But the spokesman refused to give details of how it was cheaper to keep a contract rolling rather than paying a cancellation fee.
He also refused to divulge the annual cost of keeping the Lexus and a full-time driver.
But in April last year, a Freedom of Information request revealed the use of the Lexus cost the BBC £65,000 annually.
Until now it was thought that current director-general Mark Thompson was the only remaining BBC employee with a car and driver.
He is understood to make use of a VW Phaeton at a cost of £67,000 per year.
Tory Philip Davies, a member of the Commons Media Select Committee, said: ‘When Chris Patten decided not to accept the car I don’t think anyone imagined it would simply be passed on to other highly paid BBC executives.
'It would surely have been cheaper to end the contract than to carry on using the car until April 2013.’
Figures published by the BBC show that Ms Thomson also spent more than £3,500 on taxis in the last financial year.
She is married to Lord Liddle, a former adviser to Tony Blair, and earns a total package of £328,000.
By Miles Goslett
The BBC is spending an estimated £130,000 over two years on a chauffeur-driven car rejected by its chairman Lord Patten because it would ‘incur costs’ to terminate the contract.
The car was originally used by Sir Michael Lyons, the former chairman of the BBC, until he quit in April last year. It was then assigned to Lord Patten, who succeeded him.
But the peer refused the vehicle, saying he would use public transport instead, saving the licence payer extra expense.
The car, believed to be a Lexus, is now being mainly used by the Corporation’s chief operating officer, Caroline Thomson, but is also available to other senior managers.
The BBC made the admission about the Lexus contract in its latest annual report, published on Monday.
A BBC spokesman said the contract would continue until it expired in April 2013. He said: ‘It was an existing contract and to break it early would incur costs.’
But the spokesman refused to give details of how it was cheaper to keep a contract rolling rather than paying a cancellation fee.
He also refused to divulge the annual cost of keeping the Lexus and a full-time driver.
But in April last year, a Freedom of Information request revealed the use of the Lexus cost the BBC £65,000 annually.
Until now it was thought that current director-general Mark Thompson was the only remaining BBC employee with a car and driver.
He is understood to make use of a VW Phaeton at a cost of £67,000 per year.
Tory Philip Davies, a member of the Commons Media Select Committee, said: ‘When Chris Patten decided not to accept the car I don’t think anyone imagined it would simply be passed on to other highly paid BBC executives.
'It would surely have been cheaper to end the contract than to carry on using the car until April 2013.’
Figures published by the BBC show that Ms Thomson also spent more than £3,500 on taxis in the last financial year.
She is married to Lord Liddle, a former adviser to Tony Blair, and earns a total package of £328,000.