Guidance notes for departments/agencies
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Arranging the hearing
The CSAB will arrange
a date for the hearing of the appeal at the time that the
Departmental/Agency statement is requested. A letter of invitation will be
sent to the appellant, their representative, and copied to the
department/agency within a minimum of three weeks of the hearing date.
If the appellant wishes to appear before the Board, the Departmental/Agency
representation can be at most two people. The department/agency should be
represented by either the decision maker or someone from line management
who has direct knowledge of the appellant and the circumstances of the
case, supported by someone from HR at a level of responsibility which
enables them to speak with authority for the department/agency. These are
only guidelines, the criteria being that the Departmental/Agency
representatives should know the case, can talk about Departmental policy
and are able to answer any relevant questions posed by members of the
Board. Details of representation should be included with the main
statement, and any difficulties over Departmental/Agency representation
should be discussed with the CSAB Secretariat.
Departments/Agencies can be represented by only two people; additional
persons will not be granted access to the building.
Appellants do not have to attend the hearing. If an individual does not
wish to or cannot attend the hearing the Board will proceed in one of two
ways. Firstly, the case can be heard as a paperboard and the decision taken
based on the papers alone. In these circumstances the Departmental/Agency
representatives cannot attend the hearing. However, someone will be
required to be available by telephone at the time of the hearing in case
the Board members need more information or explanation of any point
contained in the written submissions.
Alternatively, the appellant’s representative may attend in the appellant’s
absence if they are willing to do so and have the appellant’s permission to
do so. In these circumstances the Departmental/Agency’s representatives
would also have attend.
