The Panel will consider those matters referred to it for final determination in accordance with the Council’s published compliments and complaints procedure, and other matters such as bans on individuals accessing council facilities or disputes of interpretation of allotment tenancy rules and regulations.
The Panel will consist of three Councillors Members to be appointed from all members when a panel is necessary.
The Chair will be appointed from among Panel members. In this instance the Chair will not have and additional casting vote.
For the panel to be quorate full attendance of all three members is required.
No Member should be involved in the decision which is the subject of the appeal, i.e. if the matter is relating to Allotment Tenancies, none of the Members of the Allotment and Environment Committee be on the panel to ensure impartiality.
The Town Clerk or an appropriate officer may attend to provide administrative support but will not have voting rights.
The Panel is not authorised to:
Consider any matter which represents a challenge to, or complaint about a policy or policy decision of the Council.
Deal with any matters within the remit of the Disciplinary and Grievance Appeals Panel
The panel will consider the evidence, based upon the criteria as set in the Councils Compliments and Complaints Procedure.
They will deal with stage two complaints only.
The panel will discuss the complaint, and will confirm in writing to the complainant the decision together with any action to be taken within 7 working days of the panel meeting. the decision of the General Appeals Panel will be final.
There is no further right of appeal. The outcome of the panel will be reported to the next Town Council meeting.
The Committee will report regularly to the Town Council, providing updates on progress, challenges, and recommendations for future action. Decisions requiring financial expenditure or policy changes will require Full council Approval.
These Terms of Reference will be reviewed annually to ensure they remain fit for purpose and align with the evolving needs of the town.
