POL00448704
POL00448704
From: Henry Staunton
Sent: Sun 14/01/2024 6:
To: Henry Staunton i"
Subject: Project Pineapple
PM (UTC)
Note of conversation with Saf and Elliot on Sunday 10 January
Saf said the views expressed by Richard Taylor , and previously by management and even
members of the Board , still persisted - that those PMs who had not come forward to be
exonerated were "guilty as charged" . It is a view deep in the culture of the organisation ( inc at
Board level ) including that Post Masters are not to be trusted . SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE
DONE.
Martin Roberts and certain members of his team were singled out . There has been no feedback
on the investigation into Roberts ( inc for inappropriate behaviour and lack of integrity ). He was
responsible for the postage stamps debacle where changes were made to accounts by his team
just like Fujitsu . If Elliot had not been on ARC the controls would not have been strengthened .
Roberts and his team do not want any extension to their terms of office as they believe new PMs
would not have the experience to challenge them .
Equally Saf and Elliot are FED UP WITH THE AMOUNT OF POWER WIELDED BY FOAT .
He and other members of the senior team act as if PMs ARE GUILTY UNTIL PROVED
INNOCENT ("as per my experience " they both said ) ." No one believes us" is a constant
refrain from PMs .. WHILST FOAT IS AT THE HELM NOTHING WILL CHANGE . We
must also part company with all those investigators who behaved so terribly with PMs. What on
earth is happening if Steve Bradshaw is still with us - his performance at the Inquiry was a
disgrace and reflected terribly on Post Office . Foat uses his leadership of the Inquiry team as an
instrument of his power - it all has to stop . The PM" is not the enemy ." "Only PMs can solve
this" and tell us how to change . JB is an ex police man . His behaviour has been unacceptable
and he needs to move on to prove we have changed .
The payment to one of PM of £16 as compensation said it all .
There are some 48 people involved in Investigations . There are over 40 just like Bradshaw .
These people need to go . Project Phoenix was allowed by Foat to go into the long grass .
Bradshaw went into one of Saf's stores some years ago and immediately said" we are closing
you down". PMs tell him not much has changed since . There is a complete lack of respect for
PMs and that has to change .
As a Board we need to send a signal to the Executive providing guidance and improving the
culture significantly. The current culture was described as" toxic " ( references to our reaction to
fake notes , ATM differences etc etc ). We discussed a suggestion that we set up a BOARD
Committee on Culture with both PMs on it with one or two others . It would need to have teeth .
It would be outside Saf and Elliot's NED responsibilities and would require additional rem . It
would have the benefit of making us more PM centric . We need as a Board to be seen to grip the
situation .
POL-BSFF-WITN-006-0029639
POL00448704
POL00448704
Both thought there ought to be PM NED membership on all committees inc RemCo . It may be
another PM Director would be needed - but that may be difficult . Wrt rem it was noted that the
December bonuses went down badly with PMs . There were no similar bonuses for PMs . Our
generous Sick Leave was highlighted - there are no similar benefits to PMs . How are we
accepting so many people drawing sick leave payments esp in HR .
A lot in this note to consider and take forward with the Board .
Sent from Outlook for iOS
POL-BSFF-WITN-006-0029639