The
Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the Independent Person,
receives the initial complaint and puts the complaint through a
number of preliminary tests in accordance with the Arrangements. If
there Monitoring Officer decides that the complaint merits formal
investigation they will appoint an Investigating Officer to
undertake the investigation.
If
the Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the Independent
Person, after receiving the Investigating Officer’s report
considers that informal resolution is not appropriate or unlikely
to be achieved, then they will convene a meeting of the Hearing
Panel to determine the outcome of the complaint in accordance with
the Arrangements.
The
Hearing Panel consists of three voting elected Members drawn from
the Governance Committee, one of whom shall be elected as
Chairman.
The
quorum for a meeting of the Hearing Panel is three elected
Members.
The
legal requirements for publishing agendas, minutes and calling
meetings, will apply to the Hearing Panel.
All
maters/issues before the Hearing Panel will be decided by a simple
majority of votes cast, with the Chairman having a second or
casting vote.