37.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (6) and regulation 38, the third stage meeting must take place before the end of 30 working days beginning with the first working day after the day on which a notice has been given to the officer concerned under regulation 30 or 32.
(2) The panel chair may extend the time period specified in paragraph (1) where the panel chair considers that it would be in the interests of fairness to do so.
(3) Where the panel chair extends the time period under paragraph (2), the panel chair must give a written notice of the reasons for so doing to the relevant authority and the officer concerned.
(4) The panel chair must, if reasonably practicable, agree a date and time for the third stage meeting with the officer concerned.
(5) Where no date and time is agreed, the panel chair must specify a date and time for the third stage meeting.
(6) Where a date and time is specified and—
(a)the officer concerned or a police friend will not be available at that time, and
(b)the officer proposes an alternative time which satisfies paragraph (7),
the third stage meeting must be postponed to the time proposed by the officer.
(7) An alternative time must—
(a)be reasonable, and
(b)fall before the end of 5 working days beginning with the first working day after the day specified by the panel chair.
(8) The panel chair must give the officer concerned a written notice of the date and time of the third stage meeting determined in accordance with this regulation and of the place of the meeting.
(9) Where the officer concerned informs the panel chair in advance that the officer is unable to attend the third stage meeting on grounds which the panel chair considers reasonable, the panel chair may allow the officer to participate in the meeting by video link or other means.
(10) Where the Director General is entitled to attend the third stage meeting to make representations under regulation 39(2), or to nominate a person to attend the proceedings as an observer under regulation 41(4), the relevant authority must give the Director General written notice of the date, time and place of the proceedings.