Definitions

In the usage of this Procedure:

Complainant means any person or persons who have made a written allegation of improper conduct (for example see section 6) against a QP.

Respondent means the QP against whom a written allegation of improper conduct has been made to CL:AIRE.

The Chair is the Chair of CL:AIRE.

An Investigation Panel is a panel which may comprise a member of the CL:AIRE Executive or Board and a representative (or nominated representative) of the Environment Agency (EA) or Natural Resources Wales (NRW), depending on the geographical location,  that is appointed to decide whether or not there are grounds for a detailed examination of a specific allegation made by the Complainant against a QP. As such all members of the panel will have significant experience of use or management of the DoW CoP.

A Disciplinary Panel is a panel comprising not less than one representative of the CL:AIRE Executive, one independent representative QP, and may also include one representative of the EA / NRW which is convened for the purpose of a Disciplinary Meeting. Disciplinary panel members will not have acted on the Investigation Panel.

A Disciplinary Meeting is a hearing organised by the Disciplinary Panel, at which the Complainant and Respondent are invited to present their case.

Review meeting is a meeting which may be held in advance of a “Disciplinary Meeting” with the Qualified Person to help establish the facts of any complaint.

Appeal Panel acts in the event of an appeal to the decision of the Disciplinary Panel and can uphold or overturn or vary.