Representations Procedure (Children) Regulations 1991

Notification to complainant and reference to panel

8.—(1) The local authority shall give notice within the period specified inregulation 6 to—

(a) the complainant;

(b) if different, the person on whose behalf the representations weremade, unless the local authority consider that he is not of sufficientunderstanding or it would be likely to cause serious harm to his healthor emotional condition;

(c) the independent person;

(d) any other person whom the local authority consider has sufficientinterest in the case

of the proposed result of their 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 local 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 localauthority of the complainant’s request that the matter be referred to apanel.

(5) At that meeting the panel shall consider—

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

(b) if the independent person appointed under regulation 5 is differentfrom the independent person on the panel, any oral or writtensubmissions which the independent person appointed under regulation 5wishes to make.

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