Part VIIS Finance

Accounts and auditS

[F1103J Appeals from CommissionS

(1)An officer or member of a local authority—

(a)who is the subject of a finding under section 103F(1) of this Act;

(b)on whom a sanction under section 103F(2)(a), (b) or (c) of this Act has been imposed;

(c)who has been suspended under section 103G(2) of this Act,

may appeal to the sheriff principal of the sheriffdom in which the authority has its principal office.

(2)An appeal—

(a)under subsection (1)(a) above may be made on one or more of the following grounds—

(i)that the Commission’s finding was based on an error of law;

(ii)that there has been procedural impropriety in the conduct of any hearing held under section 103B(1)(b) of this Act;

(iii)that the Commission has acted unreasonably in the exercise of its discretion;

(iv)that the Commission’s finding was not supported by the facts found to be proved by the Commission;

(b)under subsection (1)(b) above may be made on one or more of the following grounds—

(i)that the sanction imposed was excessive;

(ii)that the Commission has acted unreasonably in the exercise of its discretion;

(c)under subsection (1)(c) above may be made only on the ground that the Commission has acted unreasonably in the exercise of its discretion.

(3)An appeal under subsection (1) above shall be lodged within 21 days of—

(a)the sending of the finding under section 103F(1) of this Act to the officer or member;

(b)the imposition of the sanction under section 103F(2) of this Act; or, as the case may be,

(c)the imposition of suspension under section 103G(2) of this Act.

(4)A finding made or sanction imposed by the Commission continues to have effect notwithstanding the lodging of an appeal under subsection (1) above.

(5)The sheriff principal may—

(a)in an appeal under subsection (1)(a) above—

(i)confirm the finding under section 103F(1) of this Act;

(ii)quash the finding;

(iii)quash the finding and remit the matter to the Commission to reconsider its decision;

(b)in an appeal under subsection (1)(b) above—

(i)confirm the sanction;

(ii)quash the sanction and either substitute a lesser sanction or remit the matter back to the Commission;

(c)in an appeal under subsection (1)(c) above, quash the suspension;

(d)award expenses.

(6)The decision of the sheriff principal under subsection (1) above is a final judgment for the purposes of [F2section 114(1) (appeal from the sheriff principal to the Court of Session) of the Courts Reform (Scotland) Act 2014] .

(7)In an appeal from the sheriff principal by virtue of subsection (6) above, the Court of Session has the powers specified in subsection (5) above.

(8)The Commission may be a party to an appeal under subsection (1) above and in any appeal from the decision of the sheriff principal.]