Conference Agenda Oct 2021 PRINT - Flipbook - Page 46
possible, GPRC should consider whether there is
evidence of an immediate risk to the party or to
bodies or individuals unless suspension is activated,
in accordance with the GPRC Standing Orders, and
communicate this to the necessary parties as a
matter of urgency. A request for suspension should
ideally take no more than 24 hours from receipt to
notification of suspension.
A10 proposed change: Replace “suspension”
with “No-Fault Suspension” (and amend
grammar as necessary); “one working day”
with “two working days”; and “24 hours”
with “three working days”, so that it reads:“If
a complaint is received with a request for
an immediate No-Fault Suspension6, the
Complaints Manager will pass the complaint
to both the Referral Group, and within two
working days of receipt to GPRC. As soon as
practically possible, GPRC should consider
whether there is evidence of an immediate
risk to the party or to bodies or individuals
unless a No-Fault Suspension is activated, in
accordance with the GPRC Standing Orders,
and communicate this to the necessary
parties as a matter of urgency. A request for
a No-Fault Suspension should ideally take no
more than three working days from receipt to
notification of that suspension.”
3.3 Members of the Referral Group shall each consider
whether the complaint should be dismissed, be
referred to the Committee or to another appropriate
body within or outside the party. If a complaint is
made against more than one member, the referral
group must confer and agree how the complaint
shall be managed. The Referral Group will reach its
decisions by consensus. If there is not immediate
consensus, then the members shall enter into a
discussion, consulting with their respective deputies
if appropriate. A final decision must be made within
one week of the complaint being sent to the Referral
Group. Members of the Referral Group shall inform
the Complaints Manager of their considered decision
within three working days.
3.4 If a complaint is dismissed, the members of the
Referral Group shall be required to notify the
Complaints Manager of the reason for their decision.
The member against whom the complaint has been
made (hereinafter referred to as the Respondent)
will be informed by the Complaints Manager that a
complaint has been made against them, that it has
been dismissed and the reasons for that decision.
They shall be provided with an outline detail of
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the complaint which includes the substance of the
complaint but not the names of the Complainant or
witnesses. Consideration shall however be given to
the possibility that the complaint itself is part of a
pattern of harassment of the Respondent, and avoid
routinely passing on complaints to Respondents in
such instances until proper consideration has been
given as to whether this will be contributing to such
harassment. The Complaints Manager will also notify
the Complainant of this information.
3.5 If the complaint concerns a criminal offence of the
nature which cause pose a threat to the well-being
of the party or its members, the Complaints Manager
should signpost external bodies or sources of
information, to the Complainant. The Committee will
also refer the complaint to the Co-Chairs of GPRC to
consider immediate suspension of the Respondent,
for the duration of any investigation (as per 3.2). The
Committee should seek legal advice if necessary.
A10 proposed change: Replace “cause pose”
with “poses”, and “suspension” with “NoFault Suspension” (and amend grammar as
necessary), so that it reads: “If the complaint
concerns a criminal offence of the nature
which poses a threat to the well-being of
the party or its members, the Complaints
Manager should signpost external bodies or
sources of information to the Complainant. The
Committee will also refer the complaint to the
Co-Chairs of GPRC to consider an immediate
No-Fault Suspension of the Respondent, for
the duration of any investigation (as per 3.2).
The Committee should seek legal advice if
necessary.”
3.6 I f the complaint is being referred to another party
body, the Respondent will be informed by the
Complaints Manager that a complaint has been
made against them and the body to which it is being
referred. They shall be provided with an outline detail
of the complaint which includes the substance of the
complaint but not the names of the Complainant or
witnesses. The Complaints Manager will then pass
the complaint form on to the relevant body within
five working days with a request to be kept informed
of how the complaint is progressed. The Complaints
Manager will also notify the Complainant of this
information.
3.7 If the complaint is being referred to the Committee,
the Respondent will be informed by the Complaints
Manager that a complaint has been made against
them and that it is being referred to the Committee.
They will be forwarded the appropriately redacted