9.—(1) Any question concerning the rights of any person or his or her eligibility to be considered for any allowance or lump sum under these Regulations shall be decided in the first instance by the relevant LGPS employer, that is to say the LGPS employer who last employed the person in respect of whose employment the question arises.
(2) A decision by the relevant employer does not bind any other LGPS employer.
(3) The questions specified in paragraph (1) shall be decided as soon as is reasonably practicable after the occurrence of the last event by virtue of which an allowance or lump sum may be payable.
(4) A relevant employer who has decided any question under this regulation shall, as soon as is reasonably practicable after doing so, send a written notification of their decision to every person affected by it.