I’m reading it that since the Regulations have taken up the option allowed in 28(3) and specified a way of voting for someone not present at the meeting then that is the way that must be used.
Indeed. And I would go further and say if the committee or OC HASN’T approved an alternative method of voting, then no other method of voting can be used.
In any case, here’s the critical issue – the Tribunal will not overturn a decision in which informal voting or discounted votes played a part unless it can be shown that those informal or discounted votes would have affected the outcome. That said, it’s worth clarifying the processes in your scheme, including having an approved non-attending, non-proxy voting paper, available for anyone who wants it.