2 June '04 - Minutes of the 38th committee meeting of EMAG

1. Committee changes. AH announced his decision to stand down as chairman, after two years in the position. He was invited to remain on the committee. It was agreed unanimously that CS should succeed him, pending voting at the next AGM. RA and LS announced their resignations, both having served on the committee for more than two years. The other members of the committee present expressed their thanks to Rodney and Leslie for their sterling service.
   
   In their place, John Newman and Stewart Simpson accepted the unanimous invitation to join the committee, and were duly co-opted.
2. Treasurer's report. The monthly report had been circulated in advance and was signed by all committee members present. At the end of May EMAG had some £20,000 + unfettered and a substantial sum reserved for possible JR legal costs.
   
   
3. Indemnity on possible legal costs. The indemnity given by the other committee members, to share with TL and PB any costs of the legal action for judicial review of the PO's report that prove beyond the means of EMAG, was agreed and renewed (with additional new agreements from JN and SS). It will remain in force until the committee meeting after the PO has announced her decision whether or not to re-open, or extend, her enquiry on ELAS (expected to be presented to Parliament before its recess on July 22nd).
   
   
4. European aspects. LS gave a report to the committee on progress on seeking compensation through the Petitions Committee of the European Parliament. LS has drafted a petition, emphasising the damage done to policyholders in Germany and Eire, as well as the UK and he is in touch with the lawyer who is co-ordinating the German policyholder group and is also in touch with representatives in Eire. Although he is now leaving the EMAG committee, LS will complete his current petition assignment. For the time being PB will take over the EU portfolio.
   
   
5. Report on meeting with the Consumers' Association. PB and TL had met CA representatives Mick McAteer, Doug Taylor and Emma Bandey for an exchange and update.
   
   
6. EMAG strategy and fund-raising. The committee considered the issue of members' liability to the costs incurred by ELAS in validating the recent EMAG-supported resolution at the ELAS AGM. PB reported that EMAG's solicitors had provided a written opinion that no such claim was viable, and that neither EMAG nor the individual ELAS members who signed the resolution were at risk.
   
   The April appeal for donations had been well supported, and EMAG's day-to-day activities have continued unabated, despite the high cost of its legal action against the PO. Substantial funds have been set aside to cover the possible legal costs. However, any significant ongoing activity does depend, in the absence of any funding from ELAS, on further fund-raising. Members will be asked to renew their annual subscriptions and/or donate in order to ensure the EMAG can continue its work.
   
   
7. AOB. The issue of committee members joining ELTA (the trapped annuitants group that is exploring litigating) was addressed. The policy agreed was that any committee members should not be inhibited by their membership of EMAG's committee from pursuing what they regard as being in their personal and private best interest.

Chris Carnaghan and Paul Braithwaite
11th June, 2004