Kennet Radio licence application - Home - Ofcom · Community radio licence application form ... Please fill-in all three questions below ... trance, reggae, hip-hop, drum ‘n’

Community radio application form

Community radio licence application form

Version 4

KENNET COMMUNITY RADIO


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1. Station Name Guidance Notes

What is the proposed station name? This is the name you expect to use to identify the station on air.

KENNET RADIO

2. Community to be served Guidance Notes

Define the community or communities you are proposing to serve. Drawing from various sources of data (e.g. from the Office of Population, Census and Survey) and in relation to your proposed coverage area, please determine the size of the population concerned and the make-up of the population as a whole, along with any relevant socio-economic information that would support your application.

(Please tell us the sources of the information you provide.)

It is a legislative requirement that a service is intended primarily to serve one or more communities (whether or not it also serves other members of the public) and we need to understand who comprises that community or communities. The target community will also be specified in the licence, if this application is successful.

The legislation defines a ‘community’ as: people who live or work or undergo education or training in a particular area or locality, or people who have one or more interests or characteristics in common.

Answer in fewer than 300 words:

Kennet Radio will serve, the towns of Newbury, Thatcham and the villages of Greenham, Enborne, Speen, Shaw, Donnington, Stockcross and Cold Ash – approximately 55,000 people aged 16 and over, of which 45,000 reside in Newbury and Thatcham.

Newbury is the principal town within the mainly rural West Berkshire Unitary Authority. Thatcham (the district’s second largest town) has expanded in recent times up to the eastern boundary of Newbury, effectively creating one large conurbation.

Newbury and Thatcham are both very prosperous towns, but alongside the prosperity sit areas of deprivation – the cost of living is high, and those on benefits-based or minimum wage incomes find it harder than in some other parts of the country.

Over the last 10 years the number of people aged 20‐ 39 living in West Berkshire has declined by 10% (the South East as a whole saw a decline of just 1%) while the number of West Berkshire people aged over 65 has risen by 23% (compared to a 13% increase in the South East more generally).

Older people tend to be more aware of, and engaged in, their community. We have identified an increasing local community awareness and a demand for a truly local radio service that does more than just deliver pop music focused on a very narrow age demographic.

There is a significantly lower proportion of people in West Berkshire who define themselves as coming from a black or minority ethnic (BME) background - 5%, compared to 14% in England and Wales more generally. As with many other public and community services in West Berkshire, meeting the needs of this hard-to-reach group will be a challenge for Kennet Radio, but we recognise the importance of providing a service to this section of our community.

Kennet Radio will meet these needs.

Data:

- West Berkshire Council District Profile (www.westberks.gov.uk/research);

- ONS (http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk);

- http://populationexplorer.com

3. Proposed area 3. Proposed area Guidance Notes

What is the area you propose to serve? It is Ofcom policy that community radio stations usually serve an area of up to a 5 kilometre radius from the transmission site. See ‘Coverage and planning policy for analogue radio broadcasting services’.

http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/broadcast/radio-ops/coverage/analogue-coverage-policy.pdf

The towns of Newbury and Thatcham and the communities immediately adjacent (Greenham, Cold Ash, Donnington, Shaw, Speen, Stockcross, Enborne), all within 5km of our proposed transmission

http://www.westberks.gov.uk/research

http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/

http://populationexplorer.com/




site (see illustration).

Our proposed transmitter site is in an elevated position but within the Kennet Valley so coverage will be contained and focussed on the intended community.

This coverage plot assumes 25W at 13m AGL at the proposed transmission site and a 10m receiver antenna height in line with standards used by Ofcom for its Measured Coverage Area (MCA) plots.

It indicates good (green = 54dBµV/m, purple = 64dBµV/m) coverage across our target community, but with the transmissions effectively contained within the valley.

Yellow shading indicates weak coverage depending on the quality and location of the receiving apparatus – typically car radios will work but indoor coverage will be variable depending on the positioning of receivers/aerials.


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Programmes and programme output:

Definitions:

Studio location: The studio from which the service will be broadcast should be located within the licensed area. (In some instances, and by prior written agreement from Ofcom, it may be acceptable for the primary studio to be located outside the licensed area.)

Locally-produced: it is anticipated that most stations will produce the bulk of their output themselves, in the locality. However, for some target communities it may be appropriate for fairly high levels of output to originate from outside the licensed area.

Live output: is that which is produced by a presenter in the studio at the time of broadcast. The amount of live output may vary between different services depending on the needs or expectations of the target community.

Original output: All output specifically produced for this service (but excluding repeats and automated material).

Peak time: it may be helpful to state what material will be broadcast in ‘peak time’. If you do, please say what you consider peak time to be for your target community (this may vary from station to station).

Automated output/voice-tracked material: most stations will carry automated output at some time. The amount of automated or voice-tracked material does not need to be specified in the key commitments.

Sustaining service/third party produced material: if you intend to broadcast material produced by a different organisation please state what it is and how much (per day or week as appropriate).

4. Programming output Guidance Notes

Please fill-in all three questions below

Question A asks you to describe your programme service.

Question B relates to how your output will serve the tastes and interests of your target community.

Question C is about how your service will broaden the range of local (non-BBC) services available in

your area.

Later in this form you will be asked to draft your own

The law requires applicants to state their proposals for providing a service that would:

(i) cater for the tastes and interests of members of its target community or communities (or for any particular tastes and interests in those communities);

(ii) broaden the range of programmes available on non-BBC local services (commercial and community stations) to members of the relevant community or communities;

(iii) broaden the overall range of such non-BBC local


‘key commitments’. This will form the basis of your licence and is what Ofcom will judge you against. It should include a summary of your proposed programme output as set out below and reflect your commitment to cater for relevant tastes and interests, to broaden the range of relevant programmes and services and to provide a service with a distinct nature and content as set out in the Guidance Notes in the column opposite.

services provided in the area concerned; and (iv) have a distinct nature, or provide distinct content,

from any non-BBC local services with which it would overlap.

Ofcom is required to consider the extent to which an applicant’s proposals will cater for the tastes and interests of members of its target community or communities.

Ofcom is also required to consider the extent to which proposals for a community radio station would broaden the range of programmes available by way of non-BBC local services (both commercial and community stations) in the area concerned (especially, the extent to which a proposed service would have a distinct nature or provide distinct content from any overlapping non-BBC local services).

The information given here should be more detailed than what you set out in your draft key commitments (later in this form), and will help us gain a fuller understanding of how you will serve your target community and what the station will sound like.

4. Programming output

A: Please tell us about your programme service. The following questions may help you describe your programme service (but should only be used as a guide):

What will the service sound like?

What music will you play?

What are the main speech elements of the service and how will the social gain/community benefits you propose be reflected on-air?

What is the likely music to speech ratio?

Will this vary at different times of the day or week (or year)?

Do you intend to broadcast live output? If so when and how much do you propose to do?

Will you broadcast in languages other than English (what languages and how much)?

Will your output be original i.e. specifically produced for your service?

Will it be locally produced?

Do you intend to repeat material?

Answer in fewer than 1,000 words:

OUR SERVICE

Kennet Radio on FM will be an entertaining, friendly, accessible, informative and educational local radio service that, while catering to mainstream tastes, will ensure that relevant local topical and niche musical interests are additionally catered for.

Our service will be in English; programming in other languages will be considered, based on feedback received.

As at present, presenters will be predominantly local voices, mostly from our target community. Volunteers will be from a wide range of backgrounds, ages, abilities and experience - a representative cross-section of our community.

PROGRAMMES

We have completed two successful RSLs and are currently broadcasting online via our website and our own smartphone apps. Examples of shows currently being broadcast and featured on recent RSLs are:

“Saturday Sport‟ every Saturday from 3-6pm. It covers both popular and less commonly played sports, and feature interviews with local sportspeople, team managers, etc. The final hour features a round-up of results from local teams and athletes as well as from popular national and international fixtures.

“This Week in West Berkshire‟: Two hours every Friday lunchtime focussing on local current affairs, with interviews with the people making the local news.


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“CultureFix‟: A regular music and chat show presented by Waheeda Soomro bringing a flavour of the diversity of our community to the Kennet Radio audience.

“Get It Out With Garry” features a different guest from the Newbury/Thatcham community talking about their lives. Garry’s guests have included the editor of the local newspaper and the Head Teacher from a local secondary school, amongst others.

“Keep Off The Grass‟ is a long-established locally-based DJ collective that has given up the raves and all-nighters (mostly because they are now middle-aged with families!). They have given their name to the two-hour slot that takes over Kennet Radio on Saturday night, with a different music genre every week – currently rotating deep house, trance, reggae, hip-hop, drum ‘n’ bass, and northern soul.

“Night Time with the Stars” is an easy listening music show; nothing unique about the format, but the producer/presenter is a Thatcham resident who is blind and makes the programme on his home computer with the help of reader software.

Morning shows are interspersed with “Hedley’s Thought for the Day” – short thought-provoking spiritual messages produced by the Rev Hedley Clemo, Pastor of Thatcham Community Church. Hedley also introduces “Sunday Spirit”, a Sunday morning Christian worship service followed by discussion, interviews and local news from the wider faith community.

Our aspiration is for Kennet Radio on FM to be the “go to” information portal for residents of Newbury, Thatcham and the immediately surrounding communities. It will broadcast information about local voluntary & statutory services, news, events, appeals, health messages and any other items of local interest and benefit.

SCHOOLS

Local schools will feature as a regular part of our output, with students taking responsibility for creating, producing and presenting their shows. Content will be largely under the control of the students with guidance from school staff and station volunteers – students of all ages are remarkably creative when it comes to making radio. School shows are a popular and effective way of engaging with our younger audience.

COMMUNITY

Kennet Radio on FM will be able to provide even more on-air opportunities for community groups and organisations than we do at present. This will include editorial and documentaries, live interviews, appeals, a free community advertising service, and a Community Noticeboard with a roundup of local events. We will continue our Community Update feature, a short news-like feature normally broadcast on the half hour covering local activities and events.

MUSIC

Music will inevitably form the lion’s share of our output, but to differentiate Kennet Radio from other radio services available locally, we will ensure that the music we play is as varied as possible while reflecting the tastes of our listening audience, adjusting as appropriate in line with the feedback we receive.

During our daytime programming we expect to play mainly mainstream classic/gold pop hits and memories from the 60s to the 90s, from a large playlist with the broadest audience appeal in mind, aiming to avoid high rotations of even the most popular tunes. Evenings will include specialist niche programming featuring styles of music not generally included on other local commercial radio services, such as Country, Folk, Blues, Rock, Punk, Dance, Soul, Reggae, Jazz, Big Band, World Music, Classical, etc. We already have established programmes for many of these genres.

Kennet Radio supports local artists with our regular “Music Showcase” programme. We will continue to encourage local unsigned acts either to perform in our studios, or to have their works played during both specialist and mainstream shows. We are also planning live outside broadcasts from local music venues. Our links with Arlington Arts, a local 380-capacity music and arts venue, will enable us to broadcast live performances from here on occasions.

SPEECH

We will target 20% speech during our daytime broadcasting hours (initially 8am-8pm daily). Each clock hour will vary, of course, but on balance we will aim to exceed this percentage across all live shows. Specific programmes that are discussion or issue based will naturally have a higher ratio of speech. We will look to increase both our speech content and our daytime hours as resources permit.

DAYTIME


The majority of daytime output will be produced by volunteers involving community organisations, schools, statutory and third sector organisations, musicians and more. Content will be sourced and produced locally as far as possible, maintaining our individual, community-centric on-air presence.

We may also rebroadcast material from other stations provided it contains appropriate content relevant for inclusion in our service. We will work in partnership with other community radio services where possible, including individual non-commercial producers of programming.

OVERNIGHT

Overnight output will be automated, predominantly featuring music but with previously broadcast material (live shows, features, community news packages) too. Previously broadcast material may also be re-broadcast at other times, ensuring maximum exposure for local presenters and maximum local impact for community news, information and special community interest features.

B: Based on what you have said above, how will your proposed radio service cater for the tastes and interests of your target community/communities?


Kennet Radio on FM will be community focused from the bottom up, with local volunteers having involvement in, and responsibility for, every aspect of station operations. The vast majority of volunteers involved in the research, production and presenting of broadcast material will be drawn directly from the community Kennet Radio serves.

Kennet Radio’s volunteers already represent a broad cross-section of the Newbury and Thatcham community in terms of age, gender, and background. We will aim to recruit further volunteers from as wide a range as possible of religious, racial and socioeconomic backgrounds, abilities and experiences to reflect the richness and diversity of the local community.

Moreover, with a representative cross section of the community producing the vast majority of radio programmes this will ensure that popular and niche tastes in music, presenting styles & personalities will be catered for. Local interests will also be catered for with a range of issue-based and specialist programming.

We have gathered a lot of feedback over the last three years from listeners from our two RSL FM broadcasts and our regular internet service. From this, we can identify the types of programming that were the most popular and had the greatest impact locally. We intend to supplement that feedback with listener surveys prior to launch to ensure that we provide the service and music content people want to hear

We will conduct further research in order to confirm and refine our understanding of local interests and tastes, via online surveys, street surveys and by holding local events. We will regularly invite listeners to participate in shaping and influencing our station output as we do for our online and RSL broadcasts. As well as traditional surveying methods we will also make extensive use of our established social media presence (Facebook and Twitter), online survey tools such as Survey Monkey, and our SMS text message service in order to identify local people’s interests, ideas and requests

We will also continue to work in partnership with local organisations and services (community, voluntary, statutory and private) to identify issues and topics of key interest to listeners.

Using the feedback described, we will conduct regular reviews of our programme content to ensure that we are effectively delivering a service which both meets the needs of general listeners and in particular the needs of those who are underserved by other radio services locally.

C: How will your proposed community radio service add to the range of programmes available on non-BBC local services (commercial and community stations) to members of the relevant community or communities, add to the overall range of such services in the area concerned and be different and distinct from them? Please tell us which non-BBC local services your station will overlap with.


Aside from the four BBC national radio services there are only a handful of other radio services providing an FM service to Kennet Radio’s proposed service area.

BBC Radio Berkshire covers the whole of Berkshire from its Reading studios, providing a regional rather than a local radio service. Content about, or targeted at, Newbury/Thatcham is limited.

The commercial stations’ primary objective is to deliver their audience to their advertisers. They typically cover extremely large geographical areas and carry very little news of local interest to Newbury or Thatcham, and certainly not any community news.


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Commercial broadcaster Heart is a regional networked station providing a mainstream pop music service, again with little or no local content relevant to Newbury/Thatcham.

The only non-BBC broadcaster serving the area with anything resembling local content is The Breeze. But it broadcasts from Basingstoke, with no operational presence in Newbury. Its news bulletins and commercial breaks are local opt-outs, giving an impression of local content, but apart from sales staff, a promotional team giving away balloons every few months, and one outside broadcast per year from the area, The Breeze is not a local Newbury/Thatcham station.

In contrast, Kennet Radio will focus on community issues and needs, presented with a local voice and a local perspective. Moreover, both community and commercial advertising and promotion will be of services from the local area.

Being based in the community, Kennet Radio will be able to approach issues from the point of view of audience benefits, not commercial pressures. Local people who might not otherwise have opportunities to participate in radio broadcasting will be heard, creating a characteristically local station to which members of the community will readily relate.

With our commitment to showcasing unsigned bands, artists and other local creative groups, output will include demos, releases and live performances from these performers. Thus we will expose our listeners to new local music, art and culture.

On Kennet Radio, listeners will hear news from their community to which they can relate; they will be able to contact the station and get involved, be on-air or have their comments read out. Kennet Radio will be far more responsive and personal than commercial radio, with a focus on making members of the community feel as much a part of the station as the station volunteers are.

Social gain

5. Social gain Guidance Notes

Community radio is required to be for the public good and to bring community benefits, or social gains, to listeners and participants. The requirement for ‘social gain,’ is one of the key factors that makes community radio stations different from other radio services.

Please tell us what community benefits your service will bring to your target community(ies) and/or the general public. Please include summaries of evidence to support your answer.

Your draft ‘key commitments’ (later in this form) should include a summary of your proposed social gain set out below.

Broadcasting legislation specifies a number of ‘characteristics of community radio services’. Licence holders need to ensure their services conform to these characteristics, including in this case the delivery of social gain.

The legislation sets out social gains that stations must provide. These are the achievement, in respect of individuals or groups of individuals in the target community, or in respect of other members of the public, of the following objectives –

(a) the provision of a radio service to individuals who are otherwise underserved by such services,

(b) the facilitation of discussion and the expression of opinion,

(c) the provision (whether by means of programmes included in the service or otherwise) of education or training to individuals not employed by the station, and

(d) the better understanding of the particular community and the strengthening of links within it.

Social gain may also include the achievement of other objectives of a social nature.

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Applicants are required to provide evidence that their service will result in significant social gain to the public or the target community(ies). Copies of letters or research reports etc. should not be submitted, but brief relevant extracts from them, which represent an accurate and comprehensive summary, may be included. If we wish to see the source material, we will ask for it.

Ofcom is required to have regard to the extent to which your proposed service would result in the delivery of

1 See Article 2(3) of the Community Radio Order 2004 and Ofcom’s Notes of guidance for community radio

applicants and licensees.


social gain to the public or target community.


Kennet Radio will be able to provide significant social gain to Newbury and Thatcham by:

providing a centrally-located easily accessible platform for local voluntary organisations to communicate with the local community;

providing an information resource for local people about their local community which is not otherwise available;

reducing isolation and loneliness by engaging with listeners;

providing locally-focused public information about local events, crime, community safety, and health & well-being.

providing an opportunity for local people to have practical, hands-on training in broadcast radio skills, possibly leading to accredited qualifications;

providing opportunities for local people to acquire/enhance more general life, social, and employment skills through volunteering with us.

Community / Voluntary Organisations

We will provide a direct line of communication between community organisations and residents. Organisations will be able to publicise information about their services, recruit volunteers, promote local events, and publicise fundraising campaigns in a way that until now has not been possible.

Local information resource for listeners

We will provide not only local news, current affairs and sport, we will also provide local community information and signposting to local organisations and services.

Reducing isolation

For people living alone, and for others suffering loneliness and isolation such as unpaid family carers whose lives are ruled by those for whom they care, we will provide a connection to the community.

By providing listeners with information about local services, opportunities, events, and activities that would not receive coverage from any other station, and providing opportunities for interaction by phone, text, email and social media, we will help to reduce isolation and loneliness in our community.

Keeping people safe

Crime rates in Newbury and Thatcham are low, but the fear of crime is nonetheless quite real. We already have regular interviews with Police, Community Wardens and the Neighbourhood Watch coordinator. We will be able to keep people informed about local crime trends, scams, and crime prevention advice. On air discussions and debates, with audience interaction, will provide community support in a way that is typically not available in other ways, including from other broadcasters.

Health and well-being

People need advice and information and the opportunity for questions to be asked and answered in an interactive way. We will be able to provide this, covering common health concerns and issues such as obesity and smoking, and more serious issues such as cancer, strokes, dementia and drug use. We will do this by building strong relationships with the local healthcare community and the local community hospital.

Our output will include specialist programming covering a range of health and well-being issues, including promoting understanding of disability issues in the healthy and able-bodied local community.

Mental Health

Mental health issues in particular are generally not well understood by the public, and it is an under-resourced area in public health. We will provide information and education to promote understanding, and provide specific help, advice and signposting for sufferers.

Training

We are planning a portfolio of training opportunities linked to a wide range of valuable and rewarding volunteering opportunities to improve people’s lives.

We have established links with primary and secondary schools in Newbury and Thatcham, as well as with Newbury College, and are working with these partners to deliver NVQ qualifications in radio broadcasting disciplines.

A full time FM broadcast licence will allow us to have greater reach into the community; promoting


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these free opportunities more widely to local people who would benefit the most and who might not otherwise become aware of them.

We have an “open door‟ policy and we seek to accommodate anyone with an interest in learning radio skills and becoming a station volunteer, regardless of experience, background, ability or disability, especially those who are least engaged (for example due to unemployment) who will potentially have the greatest gains to make. They will be supported to continually develop their skill-base and work experience throughout their involvement with Kennet Radio.

Employment opportunities

As well as supporting people back to employment, Kennet Radio on FM will provide an employment information resource (on-air “Job Spot”) for local businesses to advertise vacancies and career opportunities.

Target groups

Some opportunities will be aimed at groups who are the most disengaged from services; including young people, people with a learning disability, mental health issues or physical disabilities, older people, and the long term unemployed. We already have a close relationship with West Berkshire Mencap (supporting people with learning disability) and we will work to build similar relationships with other local community organisations such as Eight Bells for Mental Health and the West Berkshire Disability Alliance.

In supporting our application to Ofcom, Leila F, CEO of West Berkshire Mencap says, “WBMencap is looking at creating an accredited course that adults with learning disabilities can work on that would include some work on Kennet Radio as part of their life skills. Without Kennet Radio they would not have this opportunity.”

She continues, “We have also acquired several volunteers at WBMencap as a result of Kennet Radio promoting us...”

Training will be delivered in structured programmes and also on an ad hoc basis as we respond to the

needs and aspirations of station volunteers, the station itself, and of the wider community.

Broadcasting and media training

We plan to deliver and develop both informal and accredited training, covering:

- Broadcast equipment

- Audio production (including use of software & hardware)

- Sound engineering

- Website content management

- Radio programme creation

- Radio feature production

- Training for trainers

- Supervisor training

- Technical support

- Broadcast assistant

- The Broadcasting Code (mandatory for all our presenters and content producers)

Schools

Kennet Radio has established links with local schools, providing an opportunity for students to take full responsibility for creating, producing and presenting their own radio shows. The ultimate outcome for the students is hearing the results of their work on air! For this to have the greatest impact, we will invite teachers to put forward students who are under-achieving.

A full-time licence would allow us to deliver an ongoing programme of schools training, increasing the number of pupils who participate and gain from involvement. Each school would benefit greatly by increased local awareness of their activities, events and appeals (promoting community cohesion) while more Kennet Radio volunteers will be able to benefit from the experience gained training and supporting students.

It will also increase the awareness of volunteering opportunities among school students so that hopefully some will continue their involvement with local voluntary organisations into adulthood.

Social gain for the wider community


Kennet Radio will provide a service that caters for those underserved by other available radio stations while being as inclusive as possible. We will aim to enhance the community identity, promote community cohesion and break down social barriers with the on air presence of individuals who might normally be excluded from mainstream broadcasting.

Supporting local business

Many small businesses simply cannot afford to pay for advertising on commercial stations and do not require the kind of broad coverage across the Thames Valley that the commercial stations offer.

We will provide a professional and cost-effective means for local businesses to target customers in the community in which they are based. Moreover our listeners will benefit, too, hearing relevant advertisements from businesses local to them.

Supporting local music

There is a vibrant local music scene in Newbury and Thatcham. Unsigned musicians already participate in broadcasts, showcasing their works to a wider local audience. Our established relationships with music and media departments in local schools will enable us to grow our support of local music and musicians. Further, we will expand our existing relationship with commercial and community recording studios locally.

Continuity

The main challenge for volunteer recruitment and retention is continuity. In the lead up to, and during, our first RSL, volunteers become accustomed to a regular pattern of work, but when the broadcast ended there was much less volunteer activity until the build-up to the next broadcast began a few months later.

Continuous FM broadcasting would allow us to provide stable volunteer placements, bringing greater benefits to participants in honing skills, gaining work experience and engaging in a longer term pattern of work in order to becoming more job-ready.

Summary

To achieve all of this we will provide a range of programmes that will include the following:

- Community safety matters, with regular updates from the Police, Trading Standards and others;

- Health messages, tips and information, that feature “experts‟ from local services or other topics relevant to local people;

- Platforms for debate and discussion of local affairs; inviting local people to voice issues and influence local services and policies;

- Local community news;

- Advertising local events, services, opportunities and appeals – linking local people with local organisations and agencies;

- Free 15-30 second “info-mercial” slots to local community organisations;

- Music programmes specialising in niche genres.

In summary, Kennet Radio’s RSL and online broadcasting has already had a great local impact, but our potential can only be fully realised if we were broadcasting full time on FM.

Access and participation:

6. Participation in the service Guidance Notes

How do you propose to ensure that members of your target community (or communities) are given opportunities to participate in the operation and management of the service?

Your draft ‘key commitments’ (later in this form) should include a summary of your proposed participation objectives as set out below.

Legislation specifies a number of ‘characteristics of community radio services’. Licence holders need to ensure their services conform to these characteristics, including in this case providing opportunities to participate in the operation and management of the service. Ofcom requires information as to how this would be achieved.

What will be the involvement of members of the target community in the radio station? How many volunteers do you anticipate will be involved in your service per year?


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Instant feedback online is the most immediate and accessible form of community participation. As well as our website, Kennet Radio is active on Facebook (over 940 “likes”) and Twitter (over 4,700 followers), and presenters have access to both while on-air. In addition, our studio email address and text number connects listeners directly to on-air presenters. We use a “standard” mobile number for inbound texts, so listeners are not charged a premium rate.

Signs in the studio remind presenters to tell listeners frequently how to get in touch with the station, and several times a day we play “adverts” inviting listeners to volunteer for Kennet Radio.

On-air competitions inviting listener participation via text, email, and social media are a regular feature of our output.

With guidance from their teacher, groups of students from a local primary school periodically write, produce and present an hour-long programme on Kennet Radio. This has been hugely successful and we plan to extend this to the other primary schools in the area.

Similarly, media students from a local secondary school write, produce and present a regular Saturday morning programme. The school’s headteacher is working with Kennet Radio to link this into the school’s curriculum and expand it to the other secondary schools in the area.

A regular Community Update slot is broadcast several times a day; this is a 90-180 second community news bulletin, usually an interview with key people involved in an upcoming or recent community event.

Future plans include using more “vox pops” for station idents and liners (for example, “This is John from Greenham, I love Kennet Radio”). As well as individuals, we will invite local schools, colleges, businesses and community organisations to record them.

More formal participation in the management and operation of Kennet Radio through Annual General Meetings and Management Committee meetings will complement the informal.

Membership of the Management Committee is open to anyone who can commit the necessary time and skills to Kennet Radio and is able to work as part of the team.

AGMs are an opportunity for Kennet Radio to report formally to the community, and for the community to give their views and feedback. AGMs will be held in public and will be promoted through the local press and online in order to encourage maximum participation.

We Intend to start a marketing awareness drive for volunteers to join us immediately after a licence award.

7. Access to facilities and training Guidance Notes

Set out the practical (formal and informal) mechanisms which you will use to ensure that members of your target community can gain access to your facilities that would be used for the provision of your service and to receive training in their use.

Your draft ‘key commitments’ (later in this form) should include a summary of your proposed access and objectives for training people in the use of the facilities as set out below.

Ofcom is required by the legislation to have regard to the provision each applicant proposes to make to allow for access by members of the target community to the facilities to be used for the provision of the service and for their training in the use of those facilities.


A core objective of Kennet Radio is providing free and accessible training - developing and delivering educational programmes and supporting local people to improve employability and life skills. We will build partnerships and work with our partners and the community continually to identify opportunities that will further meet the needs and aspirations of our community.

Our studio is in Broadway House in central Newbury, a large serviced office shared by Citizens Advice Bureau and many other smaller third sector organisations, so we are already easily accessible at the heart of the local voluntary sector. We are aiming to establish a studio facility in Thatcham and are working with local councils to identify suitable premises.

Informal mechanisms


We already promote opportunities to participate via on-air “adverts” and presenter announcements, on our website, through social media, local press and via local partners; we will continue and improve on this.

Our volunteers are our ambassadors; word of mouth from people and organisations we work with will help to promote us. Individuals and organisations will be able to access opportunities at Kennet Radio by approaching us directly.

Under 16s

By building on established connections with local schools and youth groups, we will provide a route for local young people to become Kennet Radio volunteers.

Formal mechanisms

New volunteers

New volunteers will receive an overview of every aspect of our operation as part of the induction process. There will then be the opportunity to specialise in one or more aspects, both on-air and off-air. This will include business administration as well as radio presenting and production skills.

All volunteers are asked to sign up to a Volunteer Agreement which sets out what they may expect and what is expected of them. Presenters will be required to undergo specific training covering regulatory responsibilities as well as operation of studio equipment before going on-air.

Existing volunteers

Existing volunteers can participate in further training both internally and with external training providers such as RIGtrain, as opportunities become available.

Accredited qualifications

Through our links with Newbury College we aim to participate in the provision of formal accredited media-related training. We will provide structured practical experience to support the theoretical training delivered by the educational establishments, from the generic (for example, creative writing) through to broadcasting-specific topics.

We will also provide practical training in business management topics such as accounting, staff management, etc - skills relevant to any organisation.

Ensuring accountability:

8. Accountability Guidance Notes

Please set out your proposed community accountability mechanisms. These should cover matters such as:

How will members of your target community:

make contact with your service, and

influence the operation of the service?

How will suggestions or criticisms from members of your target community (or communities) be considered and acted upon?

Your draft ‘key commitments’ (later in this form) should include a summary of your proposed accountability measures as set out below.

Broadcasting legislation specifies a number of ‘characteristics of community radio services’. Licence holders need to ensure their services conform to these characteristics. One is that, in respect of the provision of the service, the provider makes itself accountable to the community (or communities) the service is intended to serve.

Ofcom is required to have regard to the provision each applicant proposes to make in order to ensure its accountability to the relevant community (or communities).


We always listen to feedback from individual team members, community organisations, charities, businesses, and above all, our audience. Feedback we receive, positive and negative, however it reaches us, is always welcomed and is used to shape our service.

In addition to listening to the general public we have a strong relationship with business leaders, councillors and other community organisations from whom we are always happy to receive feedback.

Making Contact with Kennet Radio

Our audience is continually encouraged to have their say via our inbound text number, studio email,


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Twitter and Facebook accounts, as well as by phone. They can also visit the studio or write to us.

We are regulars at community events throughout the area, providing anything from a promotional stall through to a full Public Address system, on-stage announcers and outside broadcasts. This increases awareness of our service, promotes volunteer recruitment, and provides an opportunity for informal listener feedback.

More formally, Annual General Meetings will welcome feedback from all sources, and Management Committee meetings will regularly include public participation. Members of the public are welcome to attend both of these.

We are planning a regular “Points Of View” programme, inviting listener comment about our programme content, our music policy, our presenters – any aspect of our service, in fact.

With the assistance of Newbury College students, we have conducted surveys with the public to determine awareness of the radio station and the output that they expect; we will continue to do this regularly.

Influencing our Service

We will aim to log all of the feedback we receive, however it reaches us. It will then be reviewed regularly by our Management Committee and Board of Directors, together with any responses given.

Compliance

We already log on-air output in the studio and at two offsite locations so that our output can be reviewed and appropriate action taken if/as/when necessary.

Daytime music is played only from the playout system music library, and songs are only added to the library after review by senior staff. For songs with inappropriate lyrics, a “radio” edit is sourced or the song is not added.

Music played during specialist music shows may be brought in to the studio by the presenters themselves, so not in our controlled music library. All presenters will have undergone Broadcasting Code compliance training before being allowed on-air so will be aware of what is permissible to play. We will be reliant on the specialist presenters to observe the Code and follow the training they will have received. Logs will be reviewed regularly, especially for newer presenters.

Policies and Procedures

Our Safeguarding Policy requires two responsible adults to be present at all times with any children or vulnerable adults. Enhanced DBS checks will be carried out as needed.

We also have in place a Volunteer Policy, Health & Safety Policy, Equal Opportunities Policy and Complaints Procedure, as well as guides accompanying the induction training that every volunteer receives. Policies and guides are regularly reviewed and updated as necessary.

Guidance notes: station’s draft key commitments

Please draft the Key Commitments for your proposed service. There is a blank key commitments document overleaf. If your organisation is awarded a licence, the key commitments you draft here will form the basis of what we put in the licence. (Please note: this would be subject to Ofcom’s agreement, and we may require it to be amended, including, for example, to properly reflect legislative requirements).

Your draft Key Commitments should be consistent with, and summarise the answers you have already given in sections 1-8 of this application form.

It is important that you draft your own commitments, rather than just copying what may have been done by others. You should keep in mind that it will be a condition of any licence to meet the Key Commitments: something you must do at all times and for breach of which you could face sanctions including revocation of the licence. So, you should think carefully about what you will be committing to.

We would expect key commitments to be brief, and no more than two pages long.

KEY COMMITMENTS: to be completed by the applicant

Station name

[As in section 1 of this application] KENNET RADIO

Community to be served

[In no more than 30 words describe the community or communities you will serve.

Kennet Radio will serve the geographical community that is Newbury, Thatcham, and the immediately adjacent villages


This should be a summary of section 2.] and communities, including Greenham, Enborne, Speen, Shaw, Donnington, Stockcross and Cold Ash.

Proposed area

[State the proposed coverage area as set out in section 3.]

The towns of Newbury and Thatcham and the communities immediately adjacent, all within 5km of our proposed transmission site.

Programming output

[This should be a summary of the answer you have given in section 4, in no more than 200 words]

Live and/or original output: [what are the minimum hours per day or week that the service will broadcast live and/ or original output? (content specifically produced for this service (but excluding repeats and automated material).]

Locally-made programming: [what proportion of output will be locally-made?]

Studio location: [This should be in the proposed coverage area.]

General: Catering predominantly to a mainstream target audience over 40 with specialist shows for younger and older listeners, Kennet Radio will be entertaining, informative and educational, made by local people for local people, covering local topical and niche interests too.

Speech output will include news, weather and travel; locally-focussed current affairs and sport, health and wellbeing, crime and community safety; interviews with local community representatives, organisations, sportspeople and businesspeople.

Music will initially be mainly mainstream hits and memories from 60s to 90s.

Specialist shows will cover local current affairs and sport, faith communities, niche and local music.

Music to speech ratio – minimum 80:20 during daytime hours, increasing speech as resources

permit.

Daytime hours: Initially 8am-8pm, original output, presented live as much as possible, originated from our studio. Some automation/voice-tracking/pre-recorded programming (including repeats). Outside daytime hours, output may be pre-recorded/automated, with a locally-curated sustaining service overnight.

Service availability: Kennet Radio will provide a 24/7/365 service, a combination of live output, pre-

recorded programming and automation.

Outside broadcasts: We will continue to produce regular outside broadcasts and inserts from locations such as community events, fairs and fêtes. We hope to be able to include council meetings in future.

Studio: Broadway House, central Newbury.

Social gain

[Summarise the answers you have given in section 5.]

For community organisations: We will provide a direct line of communication between community and voluntary organisations and the local community that they serve and support, through our programming, community “adverts”, Community Update spots, and local news and current affairs coverage.

For listeners: We will provide a local news, entertainment and local information resource to listeners in Newbury and Thatcham. Through our close links with community organisations we will keep listeners informed on a range of local issues and will be able to signpost listeners to services that they need.

Isolation and loneliness: By providing a local connection to the community for people living alone, for carers, and others feeling isolated and lonely, we will provide a local support service and help to reduce isolation and loneliness.

Community safety: Through regular on air updates and in-depth interviews, discussions and debates involving local police, fire service, community wardens, the neighbourhood watch coordinator, and other local community safety professionals, we will keep local people informed about crime and community safety, reassured, and most importantly, safe.

Health and well-being: Through updates, in-depth interviews, discussions, debates and specialist programming on health issues affecting local people such as obesity, smoking, dementia, cancer and drug use, as well as lesser-known and less well understood ailments and issues, including mental health and learning disability, we will keep local people informed and educated; moreover will be able to promote understanding and signpost people to services and


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support groups.

Education and Training: By building on existing links with local educational establishments, we aim to partner in the delivery of formal qualifications in radio broadcasting disciplines, for people of all ages.

Volunteer support: Kennet Radio volunteers will be supported to continually develop their skill base and work experience through their involvement with the station. By volunteering with Kennet Radio, people can build social and work-related skills, experience and habits, which in turn can improve life skills in general and employment possibilities in particular.

Schools: By building on established links with local educational establishments, Kennet Radio on FM will enable school students of all ages to get involved in the creation, production and presentation of radio programmes. In particular, underperforming students will be helped to reach their full potential.

Encouraging volunteering: Engaging with Kennet Radio will increase awareness of volunteering opportunities among school students so that some will hopefully continue their community involvement as volunteers into adulthood.

Supporting local business: By providing sensibly-priced on-air advertising that is focused only on Newbury and Thatcham, Kennet Radio on FM will make it viable for smaller local businesses to use radio advertising where previously it had been unaffordable. Moreover, listeners will predominantly hear adverts for local businesses relevant to their needs – people generally prefer to support local business where possible.

Supporting local music: Kennet Radio on FM will continue to support local bands, artists, performers and collectives through specialist programming and by broadcasting performances and interviews at other times.

Participation in the service

[Summarise the answer you have given in section 6.]

Instant listener participation: We will continue to make regular use of our studio non-premium text number and email facilities; we will expand our use of social media for listener participation and informal feedback; we will monitor listener feedback received at our regular Management Committee meetings.

Competitions: On-air competitions will be used to encourage participation both by listeners and by local businesses providing competition prizes.

Community Update: A community news bulletin broadcast several times a day.

Schools and Colleges: Students will write, produce, and present programmes.

Vox pops: We will use vox pops for station idents and liners as part of our station imaging.

Annual General Meetings: Our AGM each year will be in public; a prime opportunity for Kennet Radio to report formally to the community, and for the community to give their views and feedback.

Volunteer recruitment: Following the award of a licence to broadcast on FM we will run a marketing/ awareness campaign.

Access to facilities and training


Central location: Our main studio is established in central Newbury, easily accessible to all. We are seeking a similar facility in Thatcham.

Accredited training: We will partner with Newbury College and local schools to provide accredited qualifications in broadcasting related disciplines.

Practical skills training: We will provide opportunities for volunteers to be trained in all aspects of Kennet Radio’s operation, both broadcast specific skills and more general business/organisation management skills.

External training: External training opportunities via the Community Media Association and other organisations (e.g. RIGtrain) will be open to volunteers as and when they become available.

Young volunteers: We will work with local schools and youth organisations to encourage young people to volunteer with Kennet Radio.

Accountability



Management committee meetings: Feedback received from inbound email, text, correspondence, and social media will be a standing agenda item at every meeting. A public participation section will be regularly included.

Outside events and broadcasts: Kennet Radio will continue to attend local outside events, providing outside broadcasts where possible. This increases awareness of our service, promotes volunteer recruitment, and provides opportunities for listener feedback.

Listener surveys: We will conduct them regularly to identify ways in which we can improve our service.

Annual General Meetings: Our Annual General Meeting (AGM) each year will be open to the public; it will be the prime opportunity for Kennet Radio to report formally to the community, and for the community to give their views and feedback.

[Please note: If awarded a licence, the commitments the applicant makes in this section will, subject to Ofcom’s agreement, form the basis of the ‘key commitments’ part of its community radio licence. The headings above are for applicants’ guidance and will be removed from the final version.]

About your organisation:

9. Company details Guidance Notes

The legislation requires that:

Community radio services should not be provided primarily for commercial reasons or for the financial or other material gain of the body providing the service or the individuals involved in it

Any profits produced may only be used to either improve the future provision of the service or for the delivery of social gain to members of the public or the target community

Provide the name of the body corporate (e.g. company) submitting this application and the type of body corporate.

Please provide copies of the company’s Memorandum, Articles of Association and Certificate of Incorporation (or, where it is another type of body corporate, its founding documents and those which set out its objectives and rules of operation)

Only a body corporate can hold a community radio licence. A body corporate is almost always a (registered) company, although it can also include, for example, some bodies created by statute (an individual or a registered charity on its own is not a body corporate).

Your application must therefore be submitted on behalf of a registered company (or other body corporate). There are different types of company (e.g. a company limited by shares, a community interest company, a company limited by guarantee) and we need to know what kind of company is applying for a licence.

We will not consider a licence award to a company if it has not yet been registered. If the application is successful the licence will be awarded to the body corporate (e.g. company) submitting this application.

Company (or other body corporate) name: KENNET COMMUNITY RADIO

Date of registration: 15 October 2012

Company registration number: 8252772

Type of company (or other body corporate): COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE

Where your body is not a company, please explain how it meets the requirement to be a body corporate: N/A

10. Ownership Guidance Notes

Please provide details of who controls and who owns the body corporate (e.g. company) applying for this licence, and on what basis this control and ownership is achieved. (If this will be different once the station starts broadcasting please say so (a licence is not issued until broadcasting starts.)

The information provided must include:

all the subscribers, members, shareholders, or whatever is appropriate for the applicant company

Ofcom needs to know about the ownership of the company (or other body corporate) applying for this licence, and any issues regarding its control. We will also consider how the company (or body corporate) will be run (this will usually be specified in the Articles of Association of the company).

In relation to exerting control over the applicant, the information provided should include the name and address of any individuals or corporate bodies in accordance with whose wishes the applicant’s affairs are


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(or body corporate), and state the extent of their interest (e.g. % shareholding) (if the company will be controlled by members, but the members are not yet recruited, please say so). (You will also be asked about the board of directors in 11 & 12 below.)

details of any individual, company or other body that may exert control over the applicant.

or will be conducted in most cases or in significant respects.

Kennet Community Radio is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee and with no share capital, run by its five directors on behalf of its members.

There is no one individual, company or other body that could exert control over the organisation.

Ability to maintain the service:

11. Management and operations Guidance Notes

With regard to the applicant please provide:

A list of directors, indicating who is the managing director and/or chair (please see question 12 regarding directors’ details).

An indication of management structure (e.g. management committee or equivalent, if applicable), and/or

Information about who would be responsible for the day to day management and running of the station (there is a separate question regarding other staff below). Explain the role(s) in the station, job titles, and indicate whether paid or voluntary, full or part-time (and the number of hours).

In addition to the notes above on ownership, Ofcom is also required to evaluate the human resources involved in the running of a community radio station. Answers should demonstrate how those who have relevant experience will work for the station. In addition, a diagram or organisation chart may help paint a clearer picture.

Our Directors are: Gillian Durrant, Paul Hopwood, Jeremy Sharp, Julian Swift-Hook (Chair), Carole Throup.

Kennet Radio’s operations are currently run and managed day-to-day by its 14-member Steering Group (Management Committee).

Ultimate responsibility for the organisation lies with the Board of Directors.

If a licence is awarded, a part-time Station Manager will be employed, with responsibility for the day-to-day running of the station, supported by the Directors and other volunteers.

As more resources become available, we anticipate that this will grow into a full-time position.

12. Management and operations Guidance Notes

Please provide information regarding each director as set out below (some or all of which may be regarded as confidential).

In addition if any individuals have been identified for management roles at the proposed station, please give further information in this section.

Ofcom needs to know about the proposed directors and chair of the applicant. Some or all of the information given in this section will usually be removed from the publicly available copy of this application form. (All community radio applications forms will be made available on our website.) If you request that any information be removed, please indicate which (and why by email to [email protected]).

Answer (for each director):

Name Mrs Gillian Durrant

Employment Corporate Services Manager

Other directorships The Newbury Community Resource Centre Limited

Relevant experience or qualifications

Former Town Councillor and former Mayor of Newbury. Director and Treasurer of Community Furniture Project (Newbury Community Resource Centre). Committee member of Newbury Twin


Town Association, volunteer with a number of local charities including Homestart West Berkshire and Kennet and Avon Canal Trust. Former Tax Accountant and Administrator of West Berkshire Training Partnership.

Name Mr Paul R Hopwood

Employment Fleet Co-Ordinator

Other directorships None


Commercial broadcasting experience with Fosseway Radio (now Oak FM) and Newbury Sound as both Sport Editor and presenter for both organisations. Was also custodian of the Newbury Sound promo car and held a supervisory responsibility with regards to Weekend on-air broadcasting, outside broadcasts and any other ad-hoc weekend activities the station was involved in.

Currently manage a fleet of 14 HGVs and 10 semi-trailers, primary responsibility is to ensure and maintain compliance re: legal and safe operation of the fleet and record-keeping.

Name Mr Jeremy Sharp

Employment Together Technology Ltd

Other directorships Gel Media Ltd, Telius Ltd, Together Technology Ltd


Business start-ups, management, IT and Media sectors.

Name Julian Swift-Hook

Employment Consultant

Other directorships West Berkshire Mencap, Swift-Hook International Ltd, Aqua-Base Construction Ltd, Axon Internet Ltd


An experienced project manager and team leader with a sales and business administration background, Julian is a well-respected community leader in West Berkshire with strong connections to the business community, local government, and the third sector.

Experienced and successful sales professional in a range of industries from industrial B2B to consumer ICT. Successfully sold radio advertising for the two Kennet Radio RSLs, recruiting major sponsors. Town Councillor (18 years) and currently Deputy Mayor of Newbury; former District Councillor (15 years). Chair of Trustees, West Berkshire Mencap. Licenced radio amateur. Experienced radio presenter for various internet radio stations (including Kennet Radio).

Name Mrs Carole Throup, BA (Hons), MA

Employment Retired

Other directorships None


Samaritans - Deputy Director (6 years - Training and Caller Care), Vice Chair of Management (2 years), Branch Director (3 years).

If any individuals (not necessarily directors) have been identified for management roles please state what experience identified individuals have to undertake the role in question.

Engineering Co-Ordinator: Fergus McGilp

Fergus has held senior positions across Engineering and Technical Operations in a range of Media Organisations from small start-up ventures through to publically funded Broadcasters. He is currently employed by the Charity Sound and Services Vision Corporation (BFBS).

Volunteer Co-ordinator: Chris Bounds

Chris has been involved with the voluntary sector for over 4 years, occupying a variety of voluntary positions with two radio stations before moving to Kennet Radio in 2013. Chris was also employed as a Volunteer Project Coordinator for a national disability charity, where he gained skills and experience of recruiting and managing volunteers.

Community Engagement Coordinator: Garry Poulson

Garry is CEO of Volunteer Centre West Berkshire, a charity which recruits around 1,300 volunteers


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per year by providing innovative methods that enables people from all backgrounds, ages and interests to engage with their community in some way. He describes himself as having strong and natural people management skills, and he says that he likes to make things happen, remove barriers, encourage people to act on their ideas and not to wait for someone else to act for them.

Sales & Marketing Coordinator: David Leadbeater

Experienced Sales Manager for a national company, David has successfully sold advertising for Hospital Radio Reading RSLs (major sponsors included J. Sainsbury and Waitrose) and for the two Kennet Radio RSLs (including Tesco as sponsor). David is also an experienced and regular Hospital Radio and RSL presenter.

13. Staffing structure Guidance Notes

What is the staffing structure of your proposed radio service? Provide a job title for each position and indicate whether the individual will be paid or will work in a voluntary capacity, will be full or part-time (indicate the number of hours for part-time posts). This may be provided as a diagram or organisation chart.

The legislation requires that Ofcom has regard to the applicant’s ability to maintain the proposed service (as well as to ensure the applicant is fit and proper to hold the licence). As well as its ownership, management and operations, the proposed staffing of the station is relevant to these considerations.

Answer in fewer than 400 words, plus organisation chart (optional):

People are at the core of Kennet Radio, as can be seen from this functional structure chart:


The above chart identifies roles/functions that will need to be fulfilled; each volunteer/employee will fulfil more than one.

The next chart shows the initial organisation structure.

Key role: Station Manager (initially 20 hours/week, paid, with additional voluntary hours, supported by 20 hours/week voluntary input at Director level).

Will quickly grow into full-time role as resources become available. Job share may then be appropriate (greater resilience at times of holiday or sickness absence).

Accountable to Management Committee, Chairman as functional line manager, the Station Manager will have overall responsibility for our people, both internal and external, including employee management and HR (though management of any specific HR issues that may arise from time to time will be outsourced, hopefully with funding support from insurers if/as necessary).

Supported by Volunteer Co-ordinator (voluntary, 8 hours/week), Community Liaison Co-ordinator (voluntary, 8 hours per week), Training Co-ordinator (voluntary, 8 hours/week). Initially these roles will be combined.

Sales and Marketing Coordinator: initially part-time (voluntary, 15 hours/week). Key role regarding generating income, will become Paid (commission-based). Supported by Events Co-ordinator (voluntary, 10 hours/week – working closely with OB Co-ordinator (voluntary, 10 hours/week)).

Operations Coordinator: initially fulfilled by Station Manager, supported by Community News Editor (voluntary, 10 hours/week), Sports Editor (voluntary, 5 hours/week), OB Coordinator.

Events Co-ordinator, OB Co-ordinator roles seasonal, more hours during summer months.

Facilities function less demanding re: time commitment. Day-to-day, supervised by Station Manager, with support from Engineering Coordinator (voluntary, 5 hours/week).

As and when needed, transmission system support and maintenance will be outsourced to a locally-based radio transmission engineering company. ICT expertise widely available from among volunteers.

Day-to-day Business Administration function fulfilled by Station Manager. Professional legal and accounting services outsourced as required.

In total, this represents 20 hours of paid employment, and up to 100 hours of voluntary input at a


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senior level dedicated to the management of the organisation each week. This does not take account of the additional voluntary hours committed by members of the Board of Directors and of the Management Committee, estimated to be a further 40-80 hours per week, assisting as/when/where. In addition, approximately 150 hours per week will be committed by volunteers to producing Kennet Radio’s output.

Needless to say, this structure will be kept under review and amended to suit operational needs in the light of experience.

14. Applicant’s experience Guidance Notes

Please describe the history of your group, and any relevant experience of the group, or the individuals within the group, by answering the questions below.

Ofcom is required to consider whether an applicant has the ability to run a community radio station for the licence period (up to five years). To aid our consideration we want to know about any relevant experience the applicant group as a whole, or the individuals involved, may have.

A. Please provide a brief history of your group.


A lifelong radio enthusiast and a committed local councillor for 18 years, Kennet Radio’s founder Julian Swift-Hook called a public meeting in September 2012 to assess the level of interest in starting a community radio station for Newbury and Thatcham, following the sale of Newbury Sound (formerly Kick FM) to Celador to become The Breeze.

It was attended by 45 people.

Some had been involved at the beginning of Kick FM (West Berkshire’s first local commercial radio station which had started life as a community-based project) 15 years previously and wanted to see the community radio station that Kick FM never was.

Some had been involved with Newbury Sound (short-lived successor to Kick FM) and knew from their experience the potential for a radio station focused on the local community rather than on commercial criteria.

Some were enthusiastic community leaders, local councillors and others who saw an opportunity for an innovative community project.

And some were radio enthusiasts and hospital radio volunteers, others were community leaders and activists, and yet more just generally interested in the potential.

By the end of the meeting it was clear that there was a strongly motivated group of people who were keen to work towards gaining a community radio licence for Newbury and Thatcham. That group became the core of Kennet Community Radio, with expertise covering community leadership and engagement, commercial radio broadcasting and producing, radio engineering, business finance and administration, faith-based leadership, and third sector management.

Within a few weeks an online service was started, and within a few months studio premises had been secured, equipped, and were up and running. Kennet Radio has been broadcasting online 24/7/365 ever since

B. Please summarise the group’s broadcasting experience (e.g. internet radio, Restricted Service Licences (RSLs)).


Kennet Radio has been broadcasting online as an internet radio service since October 2012. We moved into our current studio in March 2013.

We have successfully completed two RSL’s, the first in October 2013 and the second in May 2014 – both generated a surplus.

We provide an online broadcast service at weekends (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) from our central Newbury studio, with an automated/voice-tracked sustaining service overnight and during the rest of the week.

We regularly attend local community events (carnivals, fêtes, Christmas Lights switch-ons, etc), often as Outside Broadcasts or with remote inserts into scheduled programming.

Individual members of the Kennet Radio team have many years of experience presenting for


commercial FM stations, BBC local radio and Hospital Radio, and our Engineering Co-Ordinator has built radio studios for the BBC and has worked for Arqiva.

C. Please summarise the relevant experience of the group or its members, in relevant non-broadcast areas (such as third sector, local business, fund-raising, training or education).


The team leading Kennet Radio has wide ranging expertise and experience in business, charity and community engagement.

Kennet Radio’s founder chairman is an experienced company director and has been a Parish, Town and District Councillor for 18 years, chair of trustees of a local learning disability charity (annual T/O £2m) for 9 years, and a School Governor.

Other key group members include:

The ordained minister of a local community church;

A trustee of a local community youth project;

CEO of the Volunteer Bureau in Newbury;

The Head Teacher of a local secondary school;

A locally-based Volunteer Project Coordinator for a national disability charity.

Director of a local media agency

The Corporate Services Manager and Responsible Financial Officer of a local Town Council

Business expertise is contributed by several Kennet Radio group members, including individuals with specialist experience in business start-ups, B2B sales, marketing, finance, tax management, and business administration.

D. Please summarise the radio broadcasting experience of key individuals in the applicant group (only if not already described above).


Mike Day:

Worked at BBC Radio Humberside (drivetime, breakfast, sports show presenter, director of weekend news phone-ins, weekly film reviewer, among other roles); Broadcast Assistant for BBC Regional News; FE Lecturer in Media Studies; presenter for Hospital Radio Reading for last 7 years (sport/music show).

David Leadbeater:

Presenter and committee member for Hospital Radio Reading, where he has been a Member for 20 years. Involved with two KICK FM RSLs for which local licence was ultimately granted in 2000. Weekday morning presenter on one RSL. Presenter on two Hospital Radio RSLs. Presenter for RSL for Reading 107. Presenter for Kennet Radio RSLs. Sunday morning presenter on Kennet Radio.

Paul Hopwood:

Commercial broadcasting experience with Fosseway Radio (now Oak FM) and Newbury Sound as both Sport Editor and presenter for both organisations. Supervisory responsibility with regards to weekend on-air broadcasting, outside broadcasts and other ad-hoc weekend activities.

Evidence of demand:

15. Demand and/or support Guidance Notes

Please provide a summary of evidence of demand and/or support for your proposed service.

This may include a variety of information, for example:

summary of support from statutory or voluntary sector organisations which expect to contribute practically and/or financially to your operations, or which would expect to collaborate with you in joint activities;

evidence of interest generated through radio

When considering community radio licence applications, Ofcom is required to take into account the extent of local demand for, or support for, the provision of the proposed service.

It is for applicants to decide what evidence of demand or support they wish to submit. However, Ofcom does not believe that generic support for the establishment of a new radio service is as meaningful as evidence of considered support for a specific applicant’s proposals. This means that Ofcom does not attach great value to


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activity (e.g. RSLs, internet radio), community activity, training, voluntary sector work etc;

results of research;

summary of support from local politicians, councils, educational or religious bodies etc;

summary of support from local business or other sectors;

evidence of support from your proposed target community.

numerous examples of similar generic or form letters of support by your group, or to petitions.

Copies of letters or research reports etc. should not be submitted. However, your response here may include brief relevant extracts from such material and must represent an accurate and comprehensive summary of any such supporting evidence. If we wish to see the source material, we will ask for it.


The response to the two RSLs conducted by Kennet Radio has been overwhelmingly positive, and our ongoing online broadcasts continue to attract a good level of support. We have recruited more volunteers as a result, and it has enabled us to demonstrate the community benefits that a full-time FM licence for a community station in Newbury and Thatcham can and would deliver.

Support in Kind

Studio premises costs and site rental for transmission equipment are potentially a significant overhead. We are very fortunate that Greenham Common Trust is providing studio space in a central location without charge and Snell Advanced Media Ltd (formerly Quantel Limited) has committed to host our transmitter without charge.

Matched funding

In addition, Greenham Common Trust has committed up to £9,000 per year of matched funding, which means that every £1 that we raise in donations is potentially worth £2 to us (more, with Gift Aid).

Local Council and Political Support

We have the full support of all three key local councils and of our MP:

N Carter, Chief Executive of West Berkshire Council, has written to us saying,

“West Berkshire Council has been working with Kennet Radio for the past two years and, through the station, keeping our communities updated with news, events and decisions which affect them.”

The Mayor of Thatcham has written on behalf of Thatcham Town Council to “wholeheartedly support Kennet Radio’s application….”

She continues, “Kennet Radio has been one of the key players to making the events organised by Thatcham Town Council a success… the live broadcasts allow listeners to be involved even if they cannot attend.”

The Chief Executive Officer of Newbury Town Council, has written in support saying, “[Kennet Radio] would be a valuable addition to the people of Newbury.”

Business Community

Newbury BID (Business Improvement District) has written to us to say, “Kennet Radio has proved a valuable resource. As more and more of our local radio stations become regional they lose the local message; Kennet Radio are ably qualified to fill this void. A true local radio station reporting on issues and good news stories with local knowledge and expertise.

“It has proved a reliable means for Newbury BID to communicate to local residents… they are more than willing to attend, report on and get involved with local activity.”

Third Sector

The CEO of West Berkshire Mencap has written to us to say that they have acquired several volunteers as a result of Kennet Radio promoting them and their events. Moreover, Kennet Radio has encouraged the people that they support “to learn about local radio and how to use it which they absolutely love.”

She continues, “They have learnt how to interview each other and members of the public in the community which has built up their confidence and self esteem. Some of the comments I have had included - ‘It made me feel like a star!’, ‘My friends were surprised to hear me on the radio’ and ‘I love


Kennet Radio because it is about us and where we live’.”

The West Berkshire Volunteer Centre has written to us to thank us for promoting their volunteering events and activities. “The nature of Kennet Radio has demonstrated to us that your efforts will remain for the benefit of the two towns of Newbury and Thatcham. Its volunteer work force has very ably demonstrated that they are competent and professional in outlook and broadcast standard and the programming has been constantly good quality, relevant, educational, entertaining and fun”.

The CEO of West Berkshire Citizens Advice Bureau says that “…Kennet Radio… have shown themselves to be committed to supporting their local community.”

She goes on to say that slots on our programmes have enabled them to publicise their work and the help they are able to give to individuals facing problems. In particular she says that Kennet Radio support for CAB work reaching out to victims and potential victims of scams has been particularly beneficial to them, and that CAB are discussing ways in which they can continue to work with Kennet Radio in the future.

Education

Newbury College has written to support our application, saying “Since its inception, Kennet Radio have been great supporters of the College…, filling the void left behind when our former local station left the town. We believe that… an FM broadcast licence will give the station an even better opportunity to meet the needs of the local area.”

The Head Teacher at Park House (Secondary) School has supported us from our inception. He writes, “I have welcomed… opportunities to directly involve students from the school in the development of Kennet Radio” which “may now extend to the delivery of relevant qualifications in radio and other media related subjects”.

Arts

The Director of the Corn Exchange supports our application. He writes, “The whole broadcasting team has given us vast coverage for our broad range of events and has become a key marketing channel for us to share event information. There is a key gap in local communications that Kennet Radio can certainly fulfil further.”

The General Manager of Newbury Spring Festival writes in support, “The Newbury Spring Festival is a significant local community arts event. Kennet Radio has always been very supportive of the Festival and has the ability to be so due to the nature of their programmes from news to jazz and classical.”

Listener support

Comments via text, Facebook and Twitter:

“I loved being able to bring the evening to a close with a shout out to my 2 children and one of their favourite songs - Happy!”

“Someone at your station deserves a big thank you for making our Friday evening perfect with good music…”

“Just LOVE the music your [sic] sending out!!! Keep up the good work :-“

“My daughter is meant to be joining u today with some classmates from the Willows primary school hope she enjoys it like the last time she came”

“Feel as though I've dropped in on some friends for a chat. Thanks all.”

Ability to maintain the service – financial information:

16. Pre-launch financial information

In assessing an applicant’s ability to maintain the service we need to know what funds and assets it holds, how much it intends to spend getting the station on-air (pre-launch expenditure), and predicted funding for the pre-launch period. Please note ‘in-kind’ income is dealt with in 18 below.

Tick this box if you request Ofcom to withhold this information from the public copy of your application.


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17. Year 1 financial information - income

Please provide information on the predicted income for your first year of broadcasting. N.B. there is a legislative restriction on income from on-air advertising and sponsorship/commercial references (in summary, each station is allowed a ‘fixed revenue allowance’ of £15,000 per year from paid-for advertising and sponsorship; some stations may also be allowed up to 50% of their total relevant information per year (i.e. disregarding the fixed revenue allowance). See the ‘Invitation of applications for community radio licences’ for your region for further information).


18. Financial information – in-kind support

Please provide totals that reflect the in-kind support you expect to receive for the pre-launch period, and for year one. You may count some volunteer input as in-kind support – please see our guidance on this http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/broadcast/radio-ops/volunteerinput.pdf


19. Year 1 financial information – outgoings

Please summarise year 1 outgoings – your expected operational expenditure to cover the first 12 months after the service has commenced broadcasting. (Add rows if necessary).


20. Year 1 financial information – commercial activities on air

During your first year of broadcasting would your proposed station carry any on-air advertising? (If so, please state the amount of income you anticipate from this source and its anticipated proportion of total income)

The legislation for Community Radio places limits on the amount of income annually from the sale of on-air advertising and sponsorship that can be generated.

If ‘No’ might your proposed service seek to carry on-air advertising at a later date? (If so, please state the amount of income you estimate from this source and its estimated proportion of total income)

During your first year of broadcasting would your proposed station carry sponsorship or commercial references in return for payment? (If so, please state the amount of income you anticipate from this source and its anticipated proportion of total income)

If ‘No’ might your proposed service seek to carry sponsorship or commercial references in return for payment at a later date? (If so, please state the amount of income you estimate from this source and its estimated proportion of total income)


21. Pre-launch financial information - contingency

If there is a shortfall between pre-launch predicted income and outgoings, please explain below how you would expect to cover any outstanding costs.


22. Year 1 financial information - contingency

If there is a shortfall between Year 1 income and Year 1 outgoings, please explain below how you would expect to cover any outstanding costs (see also 23 and 24 below).

Alternatively if there is a surplus at the end of Year 1, please explain what you intend to do with such additional resources.


http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/broadcast/radio-ops/volunteerinput.pdf


23. Financial information – loans and other borrowings

If any of your proposed funding (either set-up or operational) is in the form of loans e.g. from directors, individuals or organisations, please provide details as to who the loan is from and the terms of such lending, expected repayment terms, interest rate charged and other associated costs.


24. Financial information – alternative funding streams

If there is a shortfall between income and outgoings, what arrangements have you explored and are in place to provide further financial and/or ‘in-kind’ support for your proposed service?

If you have any proposals for expanding and/or changing the funding model of your proposed service after the first year of operation, please provide details below:


Broadcasting engineering:

Engineering notes

We require preliminary radio frequency (r.f.) engineering information and applicants are advised that this section is not intended to be exhaustive. We are asking for the basic engineering parameters necessary to determine the extent of frequency availability in an applicant’s chosen area (after taking account of the requirements of neighbouring broadcasters); and to determine whether the proposed service area can be adequately served from this site. As a result, applicants should note the importance of identifying a transmission site that is suitable for the area they wish to serve.

While Ofcom would not wish applicants to go to unnecessary expense (we do not guarantee the availability of a suitable frequency and/or our ability to allocate it for broadcasting from the chosen transmission site), we do require precise details about the transmission site chosen. The questions following relate to this.

Applicants should provide evidence of negotiations or agreement with the site owner (e.g. whether a provisional agreement is in place). Any licence award will be based on the coverage area from the site identified in the application. If a licence is offered, Ofcom may not be able to agree to a change from the site put forward in this application (and any request for a change will need to be justified).

Applicants should read and be aware of the relevant part of the Ofcom Site Engineering Code which may be found at: http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/broadcasting/guidance/tech-guidance/eng_code/

Community radio stations typically have a coverage area of up to a 5 kilometre radius. Please see Ofcom’s ‘Coverage and planning policy for analogue broadcasting services’ (including community radio) http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/broadcast/radio-ops/coverage/analogue-coverage-policy.pdf

25. Engineering information

Note: there are fundamental differences between FM (VHF) and AM (MF) transmission systems. These include differences in mast and antenna size, transmitter site requirements, site location, installation cost, audio quality and night-time interference. Before completing this section, applicants may wish to take professional advice to ensure they understand these differences and their implications.

Answer

Waveband: Is the application for an FM licence? Yes

Is the application for an AM licence? No

Should a suitable FM frequency be unavailable, would a frequency on AM be acceptable?

If you have answered YES to this last question please complete the questions below separately for both an FM transmission site and an AM transmission site.

No

Do you understand the fundamental differences between FM (VHF) and AM (MF) services and have you incorporated these below and in, for example, your start-up and other costs, detailed earlier?

N/A

Transmission site address:

What is the postal address and post code: 31 Turnpike Road, Newbury RG14 2NX

National Grid Reference (NGR):

The NGR is a reference code comprising two letters and two groups of three numbers (e.g. SW 123 456). It

SU 488 680

http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/broadcasting/guidance/tech-guidance/eng_code/



27

is available from Ordnance Survey. Further information can be found at:

http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/oswebsite/index.html

About the site’s dimensions:

What is the height of the site, in metres, Above Ordnance Datum (AOD)?

105.1m

In metres, what is the total height of the mast / building Above Ground level (AGL)?

13.0m

What is the height, in metres, of the transmitting antenna AGL?

16.0m

Please supply photographs of the transmitter mast / building and aerial location.

Tick if enclosed

About the transmission site:

Who owns the site and what are their full contact details?

Is this site already used for broadcasting and if so by whom?

No

Transmission site availability:

Delete as appropriate the yes/no answers which describe your situation regarding proposed site (it may be that you cannot answer all four questions):

Site identified? Yes

Provisional agreement with site owner in place? Yes

Or under negotiation? No (Agreement is in place)

Applicant group owns site? No

Other – please specify. N/A

(Note: we cannot consider an application if no site has been identified.)

How to contact you:

26. Public contact details Guidance Notes

Provide the name of the person who will deal with enquiries from the press and public and the contact details for them.

Ofcom will publish community radio licence applications, and from time to time statements which may include public contact details, on its website. A point of contact is required to deal with press and other enquiries from interested parties.

Name: Julian Swift-Hook

Mobile: 07799 888444

E-mail: [email protected]

Website: www.kennetradio.com

PLEASE ENSURE YOU ADVISE OFCOM OF ANY CHANGES TO YOUR CONTACT DETAILS

27. Contact details for Ofcom Guidance Notes

Provide the name of the person who will be Ofcom’s primary contact and their contact details:

Ofcom will need to contact your group in relation to this application.

PLEASE ENSURE YOU ADVISE OFCOM OF ANY CHANGES TO YOUR CONTACT DETAILS

Concluding declaration:

28. Declaration

APPLICANT’S, DIRECTORS’ AND OWNERS’ OTHER INTERESTS

1. In relation to the applicant and any body’s and/or individuals whose details are given in sections 11, 12 and 13 of this application, please state whether the applicant, any body or individual is (and if so identify that body or individual) involved in any of the activities set out in the table below, and the extent of the involvement or



http://www.kennetradio.com/


interest. For these purposes, the applicant includes associates of the applicant (i.e. directors and their associates and other group companies): (Note: if none of the following categories in this section apply, this must be clearly indicated by writing “none” in any appropriate box.)

Activity/involvement By the applicant and/or a shareholder or member

(section 11 of this application form)

By a director

(section 12 of this application form)

a) Local authorities Julian Swift-Hook is a member of Newbury Town Council and Greenham Parish Council.

Gillian Durrant is employed by Newbury Town Council as Responsible Financial Officer.

b) Bodies whose objects are wholly or mainly of a political nature, or which are affiliated to such a body

Julian Swift-Hook is a member of the Liberal Democrats, Amnesty International UK, Families Need Fathers.

c) Bodies whose objects are wholly or mainly of a religious nature

Rev Hedley Clemo (member) is Pastor and Treasurer of Thatcham Community Church)

d) An individual who is an officer of a body falling within (c) above

None None

e) A body corporate which is an associate (as defined in paragraphs 1(1) and 1(1a) of Part I of Schedule 2 to the Broadcasting Act 1990) or a body falling within (b) or (c) above)

None None

f) An advertising agency or an associate of an advertising agency

None None

g) Other broadcasting interests (including radio, television, satellite and cable broadcasting and allied activities).

None None

Other interests

2. Give details of any other interest or activity of the applicant which is or could be incompatible with the requirements imposed by or under Schedule 2 to the Broadcasting Act 1990 (as modified by the Community Radio Order 2004) and Articles 6 and 7 of the Community Radio Order 2004. Please also give details of any other participant in the applicant whose interest is or could be incompatible with those requirements. (You may need to seek advice about these matters)

NONE

Other matters

3. In pursuance of its duties under Section 86(4) of the Broadcasting Act 1990 (as amended), Ofcom requires that the applicant should notify Ofcom of any matters which might influence Ofcom’s judgement as to whether:

(i) the applicant;

(ii) any director of the applicant;

(iii) any individual, or any director of a company, who will have an interest of 5 per cent or more in the applicant;

may not be considered a 'fit and proper person' to participate in a radio licence. Such matters would include, for example, the following (whether they occurred in the UK or any other country): any unspent criminal conviction, any undischarged insolvency and/or bankruptcy orders, any disqualification from being a director of a limited company, and any adverse findings made by Ofcom (or its predecessor broadcast regulators), any other regulatory authority and/or any court or tribunal in respect of any regulatory matters.

NONE


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Do you confirm, to the best of your knowledge and belief, that:

4. The applicant is not a disqualified person in relation to the licence by virtue of the provisions of section 143 (5) of the Broadcasting Act 1996 (relating to political objects);

5. The applicant is not otherwise a disqualified person in relation to the licence by virtue of Part II of Schedule 2 to the Broadcasting Act 1990 or any other rule prohibiting its holding the licence;

6. No director, member or other person involved directly or indirectly in the management of the applicant group is the subject of a disqualification order as defined by section 145 (1) of the Broadcasting Act 1996;

7. No person (body corporate or individual) involved in the application has been convicted within the past five years of an unauthorised broadcasting offence and that the applicant will do all it can to ensure that no person (body corporate or individual) so convicted will be concerned in the provision of the service, the making of programmes included in it, or the operation of the radio station if the applicant is granted a licence; and

8. Any matters which might influence Ofcom's judgement as to whether the directors or members of the applicant group are fit and proper persons to participate in a radio licence have been made to Ofcom.

Applicants should note that Ofcom reserves the right to revoke a licence if at any time any material statement made is found to be false and to have been made by the applicant or any member or officer thereof knowing it to be false, and that in the circumstances of section 144 of the Broadcasting Act 1996, the provision of false information or the withholding of relevant information with the intention of misleading Ofcom could incur a criminal conviction and a disqualification from the holding of a licence.

Please tick this box to confirm that the applicant agrees with the above statements.

Please tick the boxes below to indicate which additional documentation is included as part of this application. We are not willing to accept additional information with this application, other than that set out below:

Memorandum & Articles of Association

Certificate of Incorporation

Application Payment (UK £ 600.00) non-returnable

Photographs of the transmitter mast / building and aerial location.

I hereby apply to Ofcom for the grant of a community radio licence and declare that the information given in this application and any additional documentation is, to the best of my knowledge and belief, correct.

Julian M Swift-Hook (Name of person)

Chairman (Title or position in the applicant group)

19th October 2015 (Date)

Please return this form and any additional electronic information by e-mail to: [email protected]

If there is any paper-based material associated with this application, please send it to:

Community Radio Licensing Team, 5th Floor

Ofcom

Riverside House

2A Southwark Bridge Road

London SE1 9HA

Please make sure you keep a copy of this form for your records.

mailto:[email protected]

Kennet Radio licence application - Home - Ofcom · Community radio licence application form ... Please fill-in all three questions below ... trance, reggae, hip-hop, drum ‘n’

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