(1)Where a Licensing Board is to hold a hearing under any provision of this Act, the hearing must be held at a meeting of the Board.
(2)The Scottish Ministers may by regulations make provision as to the procedure to be followed at or in connection with any hearing to be held by a Licensing Board under this Act.
(3)Regulations under subsection (2) may, in particular, make provision—
(a)for notice of the hearing to be given to such persons as may be prescribed in the regulations,
(b)about the rules of evidence which are to apply for the purposes of the hearing,
(c)about the representation of any party at the hearing,
(d)as to the times by which any step in the procedure must be taken, and
(e)as to liability for expenses.
[F1(3A)Despite subsection (1), where a Licensing Board is required to, or may, hold a hearing under any provision of this Act, the Board may determine that the hearing cannot be held in person, or at a meeting of the Board, because of a reason relating to coronavirus.
(3B)Where a Licensing Board determines under subsection (3A) that a hearing cannot be held in person, the Board must comply with subsection (3C) before reaching a decision on the matter which would have been the subject of the hearing.
(3C)The Board must give any person who would have been given the opportunity to be heard at the hearing the opportunity to be heard instead by whichever of the following means the person prefers—
(a)telephone,
(b)written representations, including by means of an electronic communication (as defined in section 15(1) of the Electronic Communications Act 2000),
(c)video conference, if the Board has video conference facilities.
(3D)Where a Licensing Board gives a person an opportunity to be heard under subsection (3C) by telephone, written representations or video conference, and the holding of the hearing by that means would be inconsistent with a requirement imposed by regulations under this Act, the requirement of the regulations is to be construed as permitting the hearing by that means.]
Textual Amendments
F1S. 133(3A)-(3D) inserted (temp.) (7.4.2020) by virtue of Coronavirus (Scotland) Act 2020 (asp 7), s. 17(1), sch. 5 para. 1(2) (with ss. 11-13) (which affecting provision expires (1.10.2022) by virtue of Coronavirus (Scotland) Act 2020 (asp 7), s. 12(1))
Commencement Information
I1S. 133 in force at 1.2.2008 by S.S.I. 2007/472, art. 2, Sch. 1