PART 2 SETTING UP THE REPRESENTATIONS PROCEDURE

Senior Officer responsible for complaints
4. Each local authority must designate a senior officer to be responsible for ensuring compliance with the arrangements made by the local authority under these Regulations.

Complaints officer
5. (1) Each local authority must appoint a person, in these Regulations referred to as a complaints officer.
(2) The function of the complaints officer is to manage the procedures for handling and considering representations.
(3) The function of the complaints officer may be performed by any person authorised by the local authority to act on behalf of the complaints officer.
(4) A complaints officer need not be an employee of the local authority and may be appointed as a complaints officer for more than one local authority.

Form of communication
6. (1) Any communication which is required by these Regulations to be made to any person making a representation may be sent to that person electronically where that person has—
(a) consented in writing; and
(b) not withdrawn such consent in writing; and
(c) provided the local authority with a suitable electronic mail address.
(2) Any requirement in these Regulations for a document to be signed by a person is satisfied, in the case of a document which is sent electronically in accordance with these Regulations, by the individual who is authorised to sign the document typing their name or producing their name using a computer or other electronic means.

Information and training of staff
7. Each local authority must ensure that its staff are informed about and appropriately trained in the operation of the arrangements for the handling and investigation of representations.