Ofcom closes down consumer panel

Ofcom is planning to close its consumer panel as part of the regulator's cost-cutting measures.

The Communications Consumer Panel (formerly the Ofcom Consumer Panel) could be closed as soon as January, with its five remaining panel members and four members of staff set to lose their jobs.

The panel was set up in 2003 as an "independent" body to represent the interests of the public. However, the panel's independence was at best questionable, given that it was funded by Ofcom and all its staff were Ofcom employees. It was recently labelled the "Industry Backside Protection Unit" by Des Hughes, a researcher for Lord Corbett.

The closure will certainly save a significant sum. The Communications Consumer Panel had a budget of £712,300 for the 2008/9 financial year, while the chair Anna Bradley received a salary of £30,900 a year for a commitment of only six days a month - a pro-rata salary that was only marginally shy of the the Prime Minister's.

The move will raise questions over how the consumer will be represented at the telecoms regulator, which has frequently been criticised (not least in PC Pro) for siding with the industry over the public.

"Advice on consumer issues will be based on our [other] existing consumer advisory committees," claimed a spokesman for Ofcom. "These advisory committees will continue to provide independent advice," he added, although he conceded that these committees have all been appointed by the regulator itself.

Ofcom is using newly granted flexibility in its governance rules to shut down the independent panel, which was established under the Communications Act 2003 when Ofcom was initially formed.