Minutes of EMAG committee meeting, 12^th July 2002

Held at: RAC, Pall Mall, London

Present: Paul Braithwaite, Alex Henney, Tom Lake, Colin Slater, Rodney Allen, Betty McCann, Leslie Seymour (Committee) Andrew Pike (Member)

Apologies: Jeremy Lever, Gabrielle de Pauw, John Newman

1. Minutes
   
   The Minutes of the meeting held on 21^st May 2002 were approved.
   
   
2. Treasurer's Report In the 3 accounts over £ 110,000.00 . BMcC to investigate Abbey Nat Account for interest on deposit.
   
   
3. Recruitment Report Around 7,000 members and rising.
   
   We will return to the large number who showed interest when we have a proposal on revised governance.
   
   
4. Resignation of Chair Paul Braithwaite, who has recently quit ELAS, felt obliged to relinquish being chairman. He also offered to resign from the committee.
   
   A sincere vote of thanks was expressed to Paul for his energetic chairing and the very prominent place that he had secured for EMAG in public perception. He had devoted a great deal of time and effort to EMAG over the past two turbulent years.
   
   
5. Chair and Deputy Chair Alex Henney was proposed and elected unamimously as chairman. Colin Slater was proposed and elected unamimously as deputy chairman.
6. General Secretary The committee asked PB to stay on the committee and agreed to retain Paul Braithwaite's services as general secretary (and spokesperson) for an initial experimental period of 6 months for fees plus modest expenses. No major expenditure will be incurred without committee consent.
7. Government Compensation PB to explore retaining lobbyists and pulling together all Action Groups on Government Compensation.
8. First proposal to new members and prospects EMAG will rapidly progress the revision of Society governance (action AH). This will form the basis for our first substantive letter to new members. We will also write to the thousands who signed the EMAG governance petition without also joining (action CS).
9. Unit Linking the WP fund EMAG will explore organising a public meeting and/or conference to discuss options and approaches to unitisation (action AH/PB).
   
   
10. Legal Issues Related to the HoL Decision Rodney Allen raised legal issues relating to the House of Lords ring-fencing decision.
    No decision was made on taking this further except that it was agreed that RA might discuss with supportive legal advisers how an investigation of the legal issues relating to the House of Lords ring-fencing decision and potentially leading to compensation might be pursued.
    
    
11. Parliamentary Protest EMAG will explore a lobby of MPs after Parliament reopns in October (action TL/PB).
12. Society's Case Against Former Directors and Advisers AP: A most important issue for the members is to ensure that firm and resolute action be taken by the Society in pursuing recovery of losses. EMAG has the means to play a useful role. EMAG should conserve sufficient funds so as to continue to be able to act in this regard.
    
    The case against the former legal advisers appears not to be proceeded with at present. It was resolved to take it up with the Society (action AP).
    
    
13. Web Site A new design and overhaul is needed. If a volunteer could be found to take it on and do this that would be ideal. If not TL authorised to take on skilled suppliers - £2500 approved.
14. Membership List Maintenance The list had grown beyond what TL could maintain. We need to approach those who had showed interest by signing the petition. Some help should be sought - possibly having someone conveniently located take on a few hours work a week to do this. (AH/CS)