Council Matters: Complaints Procedure

1. The following procedure will be adopted for dealing with complaints about the Council’s administration or its procedures. Complaints about a policy decision made by the Council will be referred back to the Council, or relevant Committee, as appropriate, for consideration.

2. This procedure does not cover complaints about the conduct of a Member of the Parish Council. This is covered in the Code of Conduct for Councillors.

3. The complainant will be asked to put the complaint in writing to the Clerk to the Council. The complaint will be dealt with within 20 working days of receipt. Refusal to put the complaint in writing does not necessarily mean that the complaint cannot be investigated, but it is easier to deal with if it is in writing.

4. If the complainant prefers not to put the complaint to the Clerk to the Council (because the matter relates to the Clerk, for example,) he or she should be advised to write to the Chair.

5. (a) On receipt of a written complaint, the Clerk to the Council (except where the complainant is about his or her own actions) or Chair of Council (if the complaint relates to the Clerk), will seek to settle the complaint directly with the complainant. This will not be done without first notifying any person complained about and giving him or her an opportunity to comment. Efforts should be made to resolve the complaint at this stage.

(b) Where the Clerk to the Council or a Councillor receives a written complaint about the Clerk’s actions, he or she shall refer the complaint to the Chair of Council. The Clerk to the Council will be formally advised of the matter and given an opportunity to comment.

6. The Clerk to the Council (or Chair) will report any complaint disposed of by direct action with the complainant to the next meeting of the Council.

7. Matters relating to Grievance procedure that are taking, or are likely to take place, should be dealt with in accordance with the Council’s grievance procedure.

8. The Council may consider whether the circumstances of any complaint warrant the matter being discussed in the absence of the press and public, but any decision on the complaint will be announced at the Council meeting in public.

9. As soon as possible after the decision has been made (and in any event not later than 10 days after the meeting) the complainant will be notified in writing of the decision and any action to be taken.

10. The Council may defer dealing with any complaint if it is of the opinion that issues arise on which further advice is necessary. The advice will be considered and the complaint dealt with at the next meeting after the advice has been received.

11. If you are dissatisfied with the response to your complaint, you may ask your complaint to be referred to the full council and (usually within 8 weeks) you will be notified in writing of the outcome of the review of your original complaint.

12. The Council will not re-open issues for six months from the date of the decision unless there are exceptional grounds to consider this necessary.

13. There may be occasions when we deem the complainant’s actions or behaviour to be unacceptable and in rare cases this may alter the way we decide to deal with the complaint. These situations are covered under our Unacceptable Behaviour Policy.