BBC Trust to let public have their say

The BBC Trust, which replaces the board of governors on January 1, is to run a three-month consultation to find out what the public wants from the corporation.

The Trust has today issued 27 licences, which set out the key features of the BBC's services as they are today, but these could be amended following a public consultation.

Under the new governance arrangements, each BBC service will be subject to extensive review by the Trust at least once every five years.

Acting BBC Trust chairman Chitra Bharucha, said: "The BBC Trust must ensure the BBC provides high quality output and good value for all UK citizens."

The public consultation begins early next year, after the Trust publishes a separate document describing the six main priorities for the whole of the BBC.

The BBC Trust is independent from the BBC and is intended to make licence fee payers more involved in how the corporation is run.