Working Group for the Initial Complaint Review and Case Mediation Scheme
Standing Agenda for Thursday Calls
Teleconference details:
Participant's code:
Attendees
Sir Anthony Hooper
Alan Bates (JFSA)
Kay Linnell (JFSA)
lan Henderson (Second Sight)
Ron Warmington (Second Sight)
Belinda Crowe (Post Office)
Angela Van Den Bogerd (Post Office)
David Oliver (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. Paper from the Chair
8. AOB
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Thursday 13 March, 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
Case
No.
Status
Working Group decisions and actions
Of the 8 cases reported to the WG, 2 have now
provided required information. AB is in contact
with remaining 6 and further duplicate packs
have been issued. Update to be provided to
WG 27/03.
Post Office to provide an update to the
Working Group on 27/03
3. New Case Questionnaire Responses
Case Status Working Group decisions and actions
No.
M041 The CQR was accepted
M095 The CQR was accepted
M116 The CQR was accepted
M143 AVDB to consider how the Post Office
could expedite the case at the request
of the Professional Advisor
4. Post Office / Second Sight investigation progress
Case Status Working Group decisions and actions
No.
M005 _ I Investigation complete. Finalising report. Extension granted to 27/03
Extension required to 27" March (not 1°).
M013 Investigation complete. Finalising report. Extension granted to 27/03
Extension required to 27 March (not 1°).
M017 Investigation complete. Finalising report. Extension granted to 27/03
Extension required to 27" March (not 1°).
M022 __ I Investigation complete. Finalising report. Extension granted to 27/03
Extension required to 27" March (not 1°).
M030 Investigation complete. Finalising report. Extension granted to 27/03
Extension required to 27" March (not 1°).
M031 __I Investigation complete. Finalising report. Extension granted to 27/03
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Case Status Working Group decisions and actions
No.
Extension required to 27" March (not 1°).
M042 Investigation complete. Finalising report. Extension granted to 27/03
Extension required to 27" March (not 1%).
M045 _I Investigation complete. Finalising report. Extension granted to 27/03
Extension required to 27" March (not 1°).
M052 Investigation complete. Finalising report. Extension granted to 27/03
Extension required to 27" March (not 1°).
M053 Investigation complete. Finalising report. Extension granted to 27/03
Extension required to 27" March (not 1°).
M057 Investigation complete. Finalising report. Extension granted to 27/03
Extension required 27" March (not 1°).
M062 Investigation complete. Finalising report. Extension granted to 27/03
Extension required 27" March (not 1°).
M066 Investigation complete. Finalising report. Extension granted to 27/03
Extension required to 27" March (not 1%).
M072 Investigation complete. Finalising report. Extension granted to 27/03
Extension required to 27" March (not 1%).
M076 Investigation complete. Finalising report. Extension granted to 27/03
Extension required to 27" March (not 1”).
M079 Investigation complete. Finalising report. Extension granted to 27/03
Extension required to 27" March (not 1°).
M112 Case handler to visit SPMR on 14" March. POL I Post Office to update the Working
to update WG 27" March Group on 27/03
M127 Investigation complete. Finalising report. Extension granted to 27/03
Extension required to 27" March (not 1%).
AB noted the number of extensions being requested by Post Office and queried whether
that was at odds with the approach being taken with Professional Advisors. AVDB is
looking into how this process can be made more efficient, but some cases are taking
longer to investigate due to the complexity of the issues raised. AH pointed out that the
Working Group has not declined any extension requests made by Professional Advisors;
only required that such requests should be put to the Working Group to consider before
the expiry of the deadline and in that regard the Post Office and Professional Advisors
are being dealt with in an even manner. AH said that the Working Group will expect to
see progress with Post Office investigations next week..
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. Any other queries raised by Applicants / Advisors
No queries raised.
Issues with resourcing / timings
No issues raised.
Paper from the Chair
AH had prepared a note setting out a proposed structure for Second Sight’s reports. The
WG discussed the note and agreed it was helpful.
AVDB suggested that the fourth box (see paper) be expanded to take into account
whether a Subpostmaster had taken reasonable steps to prevent or mitigate any loss.
AP queried how Second Sight would be approaching similar cases. RW confirmed that
Second Sight would be looking for similar fact patterns between cases (not just relying
on the thematic issues) before drawing conclusions. They would also take into account
how far the facts of each case had been tested through the Scheme.
RW said that he may not be able to come to a conclusion on some of the questions. AH
thought that would be an acceptable position to take if appropriate
AH to amend his note to reflect the discussion and recirculate it to the Working Group.
. AOB
Comments from Second Sight and KL have been received on the letters to Howe & Co
and Aver. AB confirmed he supports KL’s comments and is otherwise content. AH and
BC will revise the letter in light of comments. The Working Group discussed KL’s
comments on the letter to applicants about bankruptcy. Specifically her concerns that a
letter from the Working Group asked that applicants should not include reference to
evidence required by the Post Office in relation to the assignment of claim rights. AP
explained that Post Office would need sight of this evidence before being able to enter
into any settlement and that it would be helpful if applicants were aware of this issue as
soon as possible. AP to consider options and revert back to the Working Group with a
suggestion as to how to proceed.
AH reported on the 3 live criminal cases in the Scheme. One of the cases is in Scotland
and therefore all decisions about that case are being made by the Procurator Fiscal. A
decision has been made by the Post Office on how to proceed with the 2 other cases but
these remain confidential until Post office has notified the individuals. AH impressed on
the Working Group that these matters must remain confidential.