PROCEDURE FOR HANDLING COMPLAINTS
Approved by ROSSINGTON PARISH COUNCIL  8/6/04

1.  Complaints must be submitted in writing to the Clerk and must include the following:

• The nature of the complaint in detail
• The subject of the complaint (e.g Member, Clerk)
• The remedy sought

2.  In all cases the Clerk will send a copy of the complaint to the Chairman (or the Vice-Chair if the complaint is against the Chairman).

3.  The Chairman (or Vice Chairman, if the complaint is against the Chairman) in consultation with  the Clerk, will contact the parties concerned in an effort to reach an amicable solution to the  complaint.

4.  A copy of the written complaint will be circulated by the Clerk to all members of the Audit  Committee and to the subject of the complaint.

5.  If an amicable solution cannot be reached by the above means, a meeting of the Audit Committee  will be convened as soon as reasonably practicable

6.  A meeting of the Audit Committee will take place on a date and time and at a place to be  determined by the Chairman, in consultation with the Clerk. The quorum for a meeting will be  three members of the Audit Committee providing that none of the three are subject to complaint.

7.  If possible, the complaint will be dealt with by way of consideration of written representations.
 If this is not possible, both parties to the complaint will be invited to attend in person and they  may be accompanied by an advisor / representative.

8.  Where the complaint is heard in person rather than by written representations the following  procedure will apply

• The Chairman will invite the complainant to state in full the details of the complaint.
• The subject of the complaint will be invited to question the complainant.
• The members of the Audit Committee will be allowed to question the complainant.
• The subject will be invited to answer the complaint.
• The complainant will be invited to question the subject.
• The members of the Audit Committee will be allowed to question the subject.
• The complainant will sum up.
• The subject of the complaint will sum up.
• The complainant and the subject will withdraw.
• The Audit Committee will consider the evidence and come to decision in respect of the complaint.
   Where the complaint is upheld in full or in part the Audit Committee will recommend a remedy to  the complaint.
• The complainant and the subject of the complaint will be invited back into the meeting and advised of the decision.

9.  The Audit Committee shall forward details of any complaint and the manner in which it has been
 dealt with, via the Clerk, for report to the next meeting of the Parish Council.

10.  The Audit Committee shall, at its absolute discretion, deal with any matters not specifically
 covered by the procedure, but relevant to its role.