Tag Archives: HM Government

The UK Government has today announced that Euryn Ogwen Williams will lead an independent review of the Welsh broadcaster S4C.

The review will look at key parts of the organisation including S4C’s remit, governance, accountability and its partnership with the BBC and current funding methods.

UK Government in Wales Minister Guto Bebb made the announcement during a visit to the National Eisteddfod on Anglesey where it was also confirmed that BBC will provide a one off payment of support of £350,000 in 2017/18 to provide further stability during the review period.

Euryn Ogwen Williams said:

It’s a great honour to be asked to lead the review of S4C at a critical time for the organisation as it meets the challenges of the rapidly changing media landscape. The next decade will be even more challenging as S4C, like all public service broadcasters, nurtures the relationship with its audiences in the digital world. It must also play a vital role in the development of the Welsh language at a critical time in its history.

Culture Secretary Karen Bradley said:

Euryn has great experience in Welsh broadcasting and was the first Director of programmes when S4C was set up in 1982. His excellent understanding of Welsh broadcasting and the Welsh language, culture and society will only benefit the progress of this important review.

UK Government in Wales Minister Guto Bebb said:

S4C and the wealth of content it produces makes an important contribution to cultural and economic life in Wales, to the prosperity of the Welsh language and to the strength of our creative sector.

The UK Government has repeatedly emphasised its commitment to a strong and independent Welsh language TV service. We are delighted that Mr Williams has agreed to lead this important, independent review. He is tasked with the job of assessing S4C’s remit, the way in which it is funded and its governance with a view to ensuring that the broadcaster can continue to invest in high-quality programming and meet the needs of Welsh speaking audiences long into the future.

Huw Jones, Chair of S4C Authority said:

We welcome the Government’s announcement regarding the review of S4C, and that Euryn Ogwen Williams, an experienced broadcaster and perceptive analyst of the future of the media, has been appointed to lead the review.

The review will be a key opportunity to note the importance the S4C service’s unique contribution to the culture and economy of Wales and the United Kingdom, and to the future of the Welsh language.

Recommendations from the review will be presented to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) later this year.

The Government announced in March that it will provide an additional £350,000 of capital funding to S4C for 2017/18 to help it upgrade technical and IT equipment. The Secretary of State decided that this level of funding should continue for the second half of the year.

Notes to editors:

1. Euryn Ogwen Williams was the First Director of Programmes when S4C was set up in 1982 and then became the deputy CEO in 1988 until 1991. He has over 50 years of broadcasting experience in Wales, as well as a deep knowledge of the Welsh language, Welsh culture and society.

2. The terms of reference of the review are available here [ADD LINK TO GOV.UK]

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Joyce Bridges CBE was an English Heritage (EH) Commissioner and Chair of EH’s London Advisory Committee from 2003 until 2011. She was also a Commissioner for the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) from 2006 until 2011. She is currently a member of Historic England’s Urban Panel and CABE’s Built Environment Expert panel. She has provided professional advice to a variety of bodies including the Heritage Lottery Fund, former Regional Development Agencies and government departments. A former civil servant, she held director level posts in the then ODPM and the Government Office for London, where she advised successive Secretaries of State on planning in London. She played a leading role in the transformation of Trafalgar Square and Somerset House and in the creation of new Thames piers and river services. She was awarded a CBE in 2001.

Joyce has been reappointed for a second term of four years starting on 12 September 2017 and ending on 11 September 2021

Carol Marlow joined P&O Steam Navigation Company in 1997 as Managing Director of the Swan Hellenic brand. She then led the UK team for Princess Cruises before becoming Director for Cunard Line in Europe, Middle East and Africa. In 2005 she became global President and Managing Director of Cunard Line. She held this post until 2009 when she became Managing Director of P&O Cruises, Britain’s largest cruise line – a post she held until autumn 2013. Carol was involved with the Passenger Shipping Association (now Cruise Lines International Association UK & Ireland) from 2002 – 2013, culminating as Chairman of the Board. She was also awarded Honorary Doctorates from the University of Southampton and Southampton Solent University, for her contribution to the industry. She was also made a Younger Brother of Trinity House, where now she chairs their Ambassadors’ Group. Carol is now also a Trustee of the National Museum of the Royal Navy Operations Board, and a Director of Gloriana Services Ltd, part of The Gloriana Trust. She also advises the Royal Academy of Dance, as a member of their Membership and Marketing Committee, and is a Non Executive Director of Trimline,Ltd, which creates world class ship interiors.

Carol has been reappointed for a second term of three years from 12 September 2017 to 11 September 2020

Eric Reynolds has been involved in numerous urban regeneration schemes since the early 1970s. His projects include setting up Camden Lock Market, revitalising the Elephant and Castle Shopping Centre, creating Merton Abbey Mills, bringing new life to Spitalfields Old Fruit and Vegetable Market, turning Greenwich Market around, building a new indoor tented market in Swindon, creating a small business centre out of Sneinton Wholesale Market in Nottingham, devising Gabriels’ Wharf and refurbishing Bishopsgate Goodsyard. Eric created Container City, USM’s design and build side based around re-using shipping containers. He leads work at Trinity Buoy Wharf, home to London’s only lighthouse as a centre for arts and creative activity. He has also taken over the responsibility to conserve two historic tugs and the only complete steam powered coastal trading ship as Chairman of the SS Robin Trust. In addition he acts as a regeneration advisor across the country and is a trustee of several voluntary bodies.

Eric has been reappointed for a second term of four years from 12 September 2017 to 11 September 2021.

Gerald Russell is a Past President of Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales. Gerald’s career was with Ernst & Young and its predecessor firms. He was the firm’s national marketing partner 1986–88, managing partner Thames Valley 1988–96, regional managing partner – South 1996–98 and regional managing partner in London from 1998 to 2004. More recently, he was audit partner for two FTSE 100 companies and a member of the firms Governing Council. He chaired Ernst & Young’s non-executive director programme, was vice chair of the EY/CBI Audit Committee Chair Forum and was visiting speaker to the Cranfield Business School’s non-executive director and corporate governance programme. Gerald currently chairs the board of governors of Notre Dame School for Girls, Cobham.

Gerald has been reappointed for a second term of two years from 12 September 2017 to 11 September 2019

The roles are not remunerated. These reappointments have been made in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments. The appointments process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Under the Code, any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years must be declared. This is defined as including holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation, or candidature for election. Joyce, Carol, Eric and Gerald have declared they have undertaken no such political activity.

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The disqualification order was made by Chief Registrar Baister on 19 July 2017.

TVCatchup Limited (TVC) was a television programming and broadcasting business that went into creditors voluntary liquidation on 8 May 2015 following Administration, owing £1,975,128 to creditors including £523,396 in respect of liabilities due to a loan provider.

On 14 March 2014, HMRC presented a petition to wind up the company to the High Court. On 3 April 2014, Mr Pilley discussed the Winding up Petition with HMRC by telephone on three separate occasions. Despite the presentation of the winding up petition and Mr Pilley’s knowledge of the petition being presented, on 4 April 2014 he caused TVC to enter into a joint loan facility agreement.

According to the terms and conditions of the agreement, Mr Pilley was obliged to disclose the existence of the winding up petition to the loan provider. Mr Pilley did not disclose the petition and TVC subsequently drew down £523,396, in breach of the terms and conditions of the agreement.

On 29 May 2014, the loan provider became aware of the existence of the winding-up petition and on 4 June 2014, appointed administrators.

Aldona O’Hara, Chief Investigator of Insolvent Investigations Midlands & West at the Insolvency Service, said:

The Insolvency Service will rigorously pursue company directors who deliberately breach the trust of those providing financial assistance.

Fair treatment of customers and creditors is essential for business confidence which is, in turn, essential for economic growth.

This disqualification is a reminder to others tempted to do the same that the Insolvency Service will rigorously pursue enforcement action to seek and remove from them the privilege of trading with limited liability to protect the public for a lengthy period.

Notes to editors

TVCatchup Limited (Company No. 06866523) was incorporated on 1 April 2009 and traded from Creslow Park, Creslow, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP22 4EH.

Bruce Roy Pilley was appointed director from 1 April 2009 to 8 May 2015 (the date of creditors voluntary liquidation).

Mr Bruce Roy Pilley’s date of birth is 30 October 1951 and he currently resides in Australia.

The nine year Disqualification Order was made by Chief Registrar Baister at the High Court of Justice on 19 July 2017, as a result of an application made on behalf of the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

Isabel Petrie appeared for the Secretary of State and Mr Pilley was not present or represented. The matters of unfitness, which Mr Pilley was found to have been in breach of were that:

• Mr Bruce Roy Pilley caused TV Catchup Limited (TVC) to enter into a facility agreement on 4 April 2014, at a time when he knew that TVC would automatically be in breach of the terms and conditions of that agreement in that he had failed to disclose that a Winding Up petition had been presented against TVC on 14 March 2014.
• furthermore, on 4 April 2014 and 07 April 2014, in further breaches of the terms and conditions of that agreement, TVC drew down £523,396 without disclosing that the winding up petition had been presented. On 4 June 2014 when TVC entered Administration, the facility agreement provider was owed £640,564 including interest which had accrued

A disqualification order has the effect that without specific permission of a court, a person with a disqualification cannot:

• act as a director of a company
• take part, directly or indirectly, in the promotion, formation or management of a company or limited liability partnership
• be a receiver of a company’s property

Disqualification undertakings are the administrative equivalent of a disqualification order but do not involve court proceedings. Persons subject to a disqualification order are bound by a range of other restrictions.

A disqualification order has the effect that without specific permission of a court, a person with a disqualification cannot:

• act as a director of a company
• take part, directly or indirectly, in the promotion, formation or management of a company or limited liability partnership
• be a receiver of a company’s property

Persons subject to a disqualification order are bound by a range of other restrictions.

The Insolvency Service, an executive agency sponsored by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), administers the insolvency regime, and aims to deliver and promote a range of investigation and enforcement activities both civil and criminal in nature, to support fair and open markets. We do this by effectively enforcing the statutory company and insolvency regimes, maintaining public confidence in those regimes and reducing the harm caused to victims of fraudulent activity and to the business community, including dealing with the disqualification of directors in corporate failures. Further information about the work of the Insolvency Service, and how to complain about financial misconduct, is available.

BEIS’ mission is to build a dynamic and competitive UK economy that works for all, in particular by creating the conditions for business success and promoting an open global economy. The Criminal Investigations and Prosecutions team contributes to this aim by taking action to deter fraud and to regulate the market. They investigate and prosecute a range of offences, primarily relating to personal or company insolvencies.

Media enquiries for this press release – 020 7674 6910 or 020 7596 6187

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The Department for International Trade is building a world-class team to develop our future global trading arrangements after Brexit.

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Details of the seizure notice served on Ms Aneta Szulzycka, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. Published in August 2017.

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