Relocation of BBCs worth for income watchdog costs £3.2m

THE watchdog entrusted with mending worth for income from the BBC for licence-payers has outlayed �3.2 million on new premises. The BBC Trust sealed a �2.2m eight-year franchise for the new domicile in executive Londons Great Portland Street – one of the capitals majority disdainful addresses.Another �1m was outlayed on refurbishing the building, of that some-more than 40 per cent – ADVERTISEMENT�400,000 – was outlayed on "construction and fit out", and a entertain – �250,000 – on design, plan government and removals.The certitude deserted space in offices used by the house at beside Broadcasting House and at the BBCs Television Centre in White City, west London.Between 40 and 50 members of the watchdogs 60-strong staff are right away housed in the converted Edwardian mansion. They changed from old offices in Marylebone High Street in Oct last year as piece of the corporations "property portfolio consolidation".The BBC insisted the trusts preference represented "best worth for money" and pronounced it had deliberate an additional twelve properties prior to settling on Great Portland Street.It pronounced the "physical separation" from alternative BBC departments was additionally critical in assisting the certitude strengthen the independence.The move – that came shortly after enlightenment cabinet member Ben Bradshaw referred to the watchdog as a "cheerleader" for the BBC – is written to save licence-payers around �300m, according to a certitude spokesman. He said: "The BBC Trusts bureau move was not done in siege and was a outcome of the BBCs wider skill portfolio consolidation. Ending the franchise on Marylebone High Street, where the certitude was formerly based, along with BBC London and Training and Development, will emanate �300m of assets for looseness price payers."The trusts stream bureau in Great Portland Street was selected on the basement that it offering the most appropriate worth for income of all the options considered, and we have reused and recycled existent bureau seat and apparatus in the fit-out of the new premises as far as possible."The Conservatives have affianced to disintegrate the certitude in foster of a physique "more in balance with looseness price payers", should they win the ubiquitous election.