Making a complaint to the PCC
Complaints should be made in writing or by email to the PCC Secretary whose name and contact details are set out below. The PCC Secretary will ensure that your complaint is:
- treated seriously
- handled fairly without bias or discrimination
- treated confidentially.
You should complain within 3 months of the event that you are complaining about. You need to set out:
- your full name and address
- what you think went wrong and how it has affected you including enough details to show why you are aggrieved
- what (if anything) you think the PCC should do to put it right
If someone else complains on your behalf, the PCC will need written confirmation from you saying that you agree for that person to act for you.
The PCC Secretary should immediately record receipt of a complaint in a log.
How your complaint will be dealt with
The PCC Secretary will write to you or send you an email to confirm receipt of your complaint within 14 days of its receipt and arrange for it to be considered by the PCC’s Standing Committee. If your complaint refers to particular individuals who are members of the Standing Committee it will meet without them being present.
The PCC’s Standing Committee will look fairly into your complaint including seeking the views on the matter from any individuals, whether members of the PCC or otherwise, to which your complaint refers. The Standing Committee may appoint one or more persons to look into the matter on its behalf, but it will be the Standing Committee that makes any decisions. The Standing Committee and any such appointed persons will treat the matter confidentially.
The Standing Committee may invite you to present your complaint to them. If so, you may attend with a friend / representative if you wish. The meeting should be held as informally as possible. The Chair will explain the purpose of the meeting, introduce the members and emphasise confidentiality. The meeting will have minutes taken by the Committee.
The PCC Secretary will write to you with the conclusions from the PCC Standing Committee’s review and reasons for that outcome. The PCC Secretary will aim to respond to you in this way as soon as possible, and no longer than 6 weeks the after receipt of your complaint.
This will be the PCC’s final response to your complaint.
If you remain dissatisfied, you may wish to consider contacting the Charity Commission as while Parochial Church Councils are independent bodies, they are charities and as such are regulated by the Charity Commission. The Charity Commission can be contacted either via their website https://www.gov.uk/complain-about-charity or by writing to them at Charity Commission First Contact, PO Box 1227, Liverpool L69 3UG.
PCC Secretary
Valerie Muller
c/o Church Office
Church House
Bletchingley
Surrey. RH1 4PD
PCC of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St. Mary the Virgin, Bletchingley
Charity Registration Number 1189453