The Representations Procedure (Children) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996

Notification to complainant and reference to panel

7.—(1) An authority shall give notice within the period specified in regulation 5 to—

(a) the complainant;

(b) if different, the person on whose behalf the representations were made, unless the authority considers that he is not of sufficient understanding or it would be likely to cause serious harm to his health or emotional condition;

(c) the independent person;

(d) any other person whom the authority considers has sufficient interest in the case,

of the proposed result of the authority’s consideration of the representations and the complainant’s right to have the matter referred to a panel under paragraph (2).

(2) If the complainant informs the authority in writing within 28 days of the date on which notice is given under paragraph (1) that he is dissatisfied with the proposed result and wishes the matter to be referred to a panel for consideration of the representations, a panel shall be appointed by the authority for that purpose.

(3) The panel shall include at least one independent person.

(4) The panel shall meet within 28 days of the receipt by the authority of the complainant’s request that the matter be referred to a panel.

(5) At that meeting the panel shall consider—

(a) any oral or written submissions that the complainant or the authority wish to make; and

(b) if the independent person appointed under regulation 4 is different from the independent person on the panel, any oral or written submissions which the independent person appointed under regulation 4 wishes to make.

(6) If the complainant wishes to attend the meeting of the panel he may be accompanied throughout the meeting by another person of his choice, and may nominate that other person to speak on his behalf.