Directors who are required under section 342 to obtain an independent report on a poll or polls must appoint a person they consider to be appropriate (an "independent assessor") to prepare a report for the company on it or them.
The appointment must be made within one week after the company being required to obtain the report.
The directors must not appoint a person who—
does not meet the independence requirement in section 344, or
has another role in relation to any poll on which he is to report (including, in particular, a role in connection with collecting or counting votes or with the appointment of proxies).
In the event of default in complying with this section, an offence is committed by every officer of the company who is in default.
A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.
If at the meeting no poll on which a report is required is taken—
the directors are not required to obtain a report from the independent assessor, and
his appointment ceases (but without prejudice to any right to be paid for work done before the appointment ceased).