POL00026636 - “Working Group for the Initial Complaint Review and Case Mediation Scheme Standing Agenda” for 20/02/2014

Evidence on official site

POL00026636
POL00026636

Working Group for the Initial Complaint Review and Case Mediation Scheme

Standing Agenda for Thursday Calls

Attendees

Sir Anthony Hooper

Alan Bates (JFSA)

Kay Linnell (JFSA)

lan Henderson (Second Sight)
Ron Warmington (Second Sight)
Belinda Crowe (Post Office)
David Oliver (Post Office)
Caroline Culver (Post Office)
Andy Parsons (Bond Dickinson)
Claire Parmenter (Bond Dickinson)

Agenda

1. Status of current applications that have not yet been accepted

2. Status of accepted applications awaiting a Case Questionnaire Response
3. New Case Questionnaire responses

4. Post Office / Second Sight investigation progress

5. Any other queries raised by Applicants / Advisors

6. Issues with resourcing / timings

7. Late cases note

8. AOB
Thursday 20 February, 13:00 — 14:00

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1. Status of current applications that have not yet been accepted

N/A

2. Status of accepted applications awaiting a Case Questionnaire Response

track and trace checked and all three letters
were signed for by the Scheme applicants.
Next steps to be agreed by Working Group.

Case Status Working Group decision/action
No.
14 accepted applications onto Scheme but no__I POL to update Working Group 27
CQR has been submitted at differing stages of I February
reminders (funding agreements, advisor
details etc.) POL to update Working Group 27
February.
M064 No response received to reminder letters M064 AB to discuss with applicant
M067 issued by POL on the 21 January giving
M135 I applicants 2 weeks to respond. Royal Mail M067 has now been received by

Second Sight

M135 will be submitting their CQR
today

3. New Case Questionnaire Responses

extension to 27 February. Updated CQR
submitted.

Case Status Working Group decision/action
No.
M007 Additional documents submitted by Applicant; I Extension to 6 March granted
second time additional information has been
sent in. Investigation complete. Report to be
finalised 6 March
MO65 Investigation not yet complete. POL requesting I Extension to 27 February granted; POL

to review how much extra time is
required in light of new CQR submitted

4. Post Office / Second Sight investigation progress

advising that confirmation required from

Case Status Working Group decision/action

No.

M002 Investigation and report finalised. Submitted
to Second Sight 19 February

M003 Investigation complete. POL report being Extension to 27 February granted
finalised. Extension required to 27 Feb. Not
first extension.

M004 Meeting 20/01 Letter from POL sent to SPMR POL to confirm status and update the

Working Group next week

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Case
No.

Status

Working Group decision/action

SPMR so that case can be progressed to next
stage of Scheme. POL chased Applicant on
07/02. Follow up letter to be sent to SPMR by
Kath Alexander 21/02

Mo06

Investigation almost complete. Extension
required to 6 March (first extension).

Extension to 6 March granted

Mo11

Investigation complete. Finalising report.
Extension required to 27 February (not first
extension).

Extension to 27 February granted

M017

Investigation complete. Finalising report.
Extension required to 13 March (not first
extension).

Extension to 13 March granted

M018

Investigation not yet complete as awaiting
further information. Extension required to 27
February (first extension)

Extension to 27 February granted

Mo19

Investigation complete. Finalising report.
Extension required to 27 February (not first
extension).

Extension to 27 February granted

M021

Investigation complete. Finalising report.
Extension required to 27 February (not first
extension).

Extension to 27 February granted

M022

Investigation complete. Finalising report.
Extension required to 27 February (not first
extension).

Extension to 27 February granted

M028

Investigation complete. Finalising report.
Extension required to 27 February (not first
extension).

Extension to 27 February granted

M029

Investigation complete. Finalising report.
Extension required to 27 February (not first
extension).

Extension to 27 February granted

M031

Investigation complete. Finalising report.
Extension required to 27 February (not first
extension).

Extension to 27 February granted

M035

Investigation complete. Finalising report.
Extension required to 27 February (not first
extension).

Extension to 27 February granted

M037

Letter received (on Huddle 18 February) from
SPMR confirming that he wishes to progress to
next stage of Scheme. Letter and CQR to be
issued to SPMR.

POL to issue SLO1 pack to applicant

M040

Investigation on-going. Extension required to
20 March (first extension)

Extension required to 20 March
granted

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Case
No.

Status

Working Group decision/action

M042

Investigation complete. Finalising report.
Extension required to 27 February (not first
extension).

Extension to 27 February granted

M045

Investigation complete. Finalising report.
Extension required to 27 February (not first
extension).

Extension to 27 February granted

M046

Investigation on-going. Extension required to
20 March (first extension)

Extension to 20 March granted

M048

Investigation complete. Finalising report.
Extension required to 27 February (not first
extension).

Extension to 27 February granted

M052

Investigation complete. Finalising report.
Extension required to 27 February (not first
extension).

Extension to 27 February granted

M053

Investigation complete. Finalising report.
Extension required to 27 February (first
extension)

Extension to 27 February granted

M054

Investigation complete. Finalising report.
Extension required to 27 February (first
extension)

Extension to 27 February granted

M057

Investigation complete. Finalising report.
Extension required to 13 March (first
extension)

Extension to 13 March granted

M058

Investigation not yet complete as awaiting
further information. Extension required to 27
February (not first extension)

Extension to 27 February granted

M066

Investigation complete. Finalising report.
Extension required to 27 February (not first
extension)

Extension to 27 February granted

M072

Investigation almost complete. Extension
required to 13 March (first extension)

Extension to 13 March granted

M076

Investigation complete. Finalising report.
Extension required to 27 February (not first
extension)

Extension to 27 February granted

M079

Investigation complete. Finalising report.
Extension required to 27 February (not first
extension)

Extension to 27 February granted

M107

Investigation complete. Finalising report.
Extension required to 6 March (first extension)

Extension to 6 March granted

M126

POL has completed internal investigation.
Letter sent to SPMR w/c 10 February setting
out findings. SPMR wishes to continue

POL to issue SLO1 pack to applicant

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Case Status Working Group decision/action
No.

progressing case in the Scheme. Letter and
CAR to be issued to SPMR
M127 Investigation not yet complete as awaiting Extension to 27 February granted

further information. Extension required to 27
February (not first extension).

M142 Visited SPMR 30/01. Received additional POL to advise Working Group on 27
information from SPMR and awaiting POL data I February on expected completion date

to review. Will need to present findings to for investigation
SPMR. Will advise WG 27 February on
expected completion date for investigation

5. Any other queries raised by Applicants / Advisors

« Some Professional Advisors have raised concerns about the timescales & fees set by
the Working Group; they have indicated that they will be putting their concerns in writing
to AH (although no letter has been received to date). Howe & Co have not requested an
extension, but 6 applications are now overdue (with several others nearing the due date).
BC to draft a letter on behalf of the Working Group to all Professional Advisors to explain
the process for requesting an extension setting out that they should disclose reasons
why an extension is required before the deadline has passed. Letter to be sent under
AH's signature.

e Second Sight raised a concern about the adequacy of reports received from Howe & Co
and others (variations in quality and style)

e twas agreed the remit of the Professional Advisor is to present the case, not to
investigate the case. Professional Advisor representing case M087 is misinterpreting the
nature of their role. BC to draft a letter on behalf of the Working Group to this
Professional Advisor to clarify their role; letter to be sent under AH’s signature.

6. Issues with resourcing / timings

N/A
7. Late cases note

e BC to draft a letter on behalf of the Working Group (AH to sign-off) to the 3
Subpostmasters requesting further information to support their reasons for wanting to
join the Scheme after the deadline for applications has passed. The Subpostmasters
should respond with their supporting documents that were sent to the wrong solicitors.

« To be discussed at the face-to-face Working Group meeting on 7 March.

8. AOB

e Second Sight reports are due on 27 February. Second Sight reported they may not have
more than two individual reports. The generic report is unlikely to be ready on time