BBC given extra cash to cover web overspend

The BBC's governing body has approved a £30m increase in spending for the corporation's websites.

At the same time the BBC Trust also agreed plans to cut salaries for its stars and freeze executive pay. They are part of cuts across television and radio with the aim of saving £1.9bn over five years.

Although online services escaped the worst of the cuts, the trust criticised financial management of the sites - which ran £30m over budget in 2007-8.

It was that overspend that the extra cash will cover, with a proviso that financial management is improved. And the amount is less than the £52m that managers had requested.

The trust insists extra work work will be required from the online services in return. Members, who want special consideration about whether BBC online content is distinctive, picked out the search function for criticism and want more direction to external sites.