Complaints Procedure
Bicker Parish Council
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. Any complaint that a councillor may have breached the adopted code should be referred to Boston Borough Council, which is responsible for investigating and deciding code of conduct complaints relating to parish councillors in their area.
3. If a complaint about procedures, administration or the actions of any of the Council’s employees is notified orally to a Councillor or to the Clerk, a written record of the complaint will be made, noting the name and contact details of the complainant.
4. The complainant will be asked to put the complaint in writing (letter/e-mail) to the Clerk at 85 Northorpe Road, Donington, Spalding, Lincs PE11 4XX. The complaint will be dealt with at the next Parish Council meeting. 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.
5. If the complainant prefers not to put the complaint to the Clerk (because the matter relates to the Clerk, for example) he or she should be advised to write to the Chairman.
6. a) On receipt of a written complaint, the Clerk (except where the complaint is about her own actions) or Chairman (if the complaint relates to the Clerk), will bring that complaint to the next meeting to seek settlement of the complaint and reply to the complainant within two days of Council meeting. This will not be done without first notifying any person complained about and giving them an opportunity to comment. The complainant to be advised of that meeting and offered the opportunity to explain the complaint to the Council orally.
b) Where the Clerk or a Councillor receives a written complaint about the Clerk’s actions, he or she shall refer the complaint to the Chairman of the Council. The Clerk will be formally advised of the matter and given an opportunity to comment.
7. 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.
8. 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.
Adopted May 2019. Reviewed May 2023