Infrastructure (Wales) Act 2024

47 Power of examining authority to hold local inquiry

(1) An examining authority may hold a local inquiry for the purposes of examining an application.

(2) An examining authority holding a local inquiry may by summons require any person—

(a) to attend the inquiry in accordance with the requirements specified in the summons under subsection (4) and to give evidence;

(b) to produce any documents in the person’s possessions or under the person’s control which relate to any matter in question at the inquiry.

(3) The examining authority holding the inquiry may take evidence on oath, and for that purpose may administer oaths.

(4) A summons must specify—

(a) the time at which attendance is required, and

(b) the place at which attendance is required or, if attendance is to be facilitated by other means, instructions on how to attend by those means.

(5) A summons under this section does not require a person to attend the inquiry (whether attendance is required at a place or facilitated by other means) unless the person’s necessary expenses of attending are paid or offered to the person.

(6) A person may not be required under this section to produce the title (or any instrument relating to the title) of any land which does not belong to a local authority.

(7) It is an offence for a person to—

(a) refuse or deliberately fail to comply with a requirement of a summons issued under this section, or

(b) deliberately alter, suppress, conceal or destroy a document the person is required, or is liable to be required, to produce under this section.

(8) A person guilty of an offence under subsection (7) is liable on summary conviction or conviction on indictment to a fine.

(9) In this section, “local authority” means the council of a county, county borough or community in Wales.