Local Government Investigations (Functions of Monitoring Officers and Standards Committees)(Wales) Regulations 2001

Investigations

4.—(1) When conducting an investigation under Regulation 3(1)(a) above the monitoring officer may follow such procedures as he or she considers appropriate in the circumstances of the case and in particular may:

(a) make such enquiries of any person as he or she thinks necessary for the purposes of carrying out the investigation,

(b) require any person to provide him or her with such information, explanation or documents as he or she considers necessary,

(c) require any member or co-opted member or officer of a relevant authority to appear before him or her for the purposes of paragraph (a) and (b) above.

(2) In conducting the investigation, the monitoring officer may be assisted by any person.

(3) The monitoring officer may also where necessary obtain expert or other advice from any person who is in his or her opinion particularly qualified to assist in conducting the investigation.

(4) Where a person has attended before the monitoring officer or provided information or assistance for the purposes of the investigation in accordance with paragraphs (1) or (2) above, the monitoring officer may, subject to the Standards Committee’s authorisation, pay to that person

(a) such sums in respect of expenses properly incurred by him or her, and

(b) such allowances by way of compensation for the loss of his or her time, as may be determined by the National Assembly for Wales.

(5) Where a person has given advice in accordance with paragraph (3) above, the monitoring officer may pay to that person such fees or allowances incurred subject to the maxima set out in the relevant authority’s allowances scheme.