34.—(1) Where the head of democratic services has reasonable grounds to suspect that a member, who has provided notification that they are taking a period of family absence, is not entitled to that family absence, the head of democratic services must inform the local authority and provide all relevant information.
(2) Where a member is not entitled to a period of family absence, following the receipt of information under paragraph (1), a local authority may cancel a member’s period of family absence before it begins or bring a period of family absence to an end.
(3) Where a local authority exercises its power under paragraph (2), the head of democratic services for that authority must provide the member with a written notice setting out—
(a)the decision to cancel or bring to an end a period of family absence; and
(b)the date from which the member must return from the period of family absence.
(4) Where a member has failed to return from a period of family absence on the date specified in the notice provided under paragraph (3), a local authority may withhold that member’s remuneration.