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.