The Rights of Way (Hearings and Inquiries Procedure) (England) Rules 2007

Procedure where the Secretary of State causes a pre–inquiry meeting to be held

15.—(1) The Secretary of State shall cause a pre-inquiry meeting to be held if such a meeting appears to him to be necessary.

(2) The Secretary of State shall give not less than 14 days’ notice of a pre–inquiry meeting to every person to whom notice of the inquiry was given under rule 4(4).

(3) The inspector—

(a) shall preside at the pre-inquiry meeting;

(b) shall determine the matters to be discussed and the procedure to be followed;

(c) may require any person present at the pre-inquiry meeting who, in his opinion, is behaving in a disruptive manner to leave; and

(d) may refuse to permit that person to return or to attend any further pre-inquiry meeting or may permit him to return or attend only on such conditions as he may specify.

(4) Where a pre-inquiry meeting is held pursuant to paragraph (1), the Secretary of State may cause a further pre-inquiry meeting to be held and he shall arrange for such notice to be given of that further meeting as appears to him necessary.

(5) Paragraphs (3) and (6) shall apply to any pre-inquiry meeting held pursuant to paragraph (4).

(6) Where a pre-inquiry meeting is held, the inspector—

(a) shall arrange a timetable for proceedings at the inquiry where it appears likely that the inquiry will last for eight days or more;

(b) may, in respect of inquiries which appear likely to last for a shorter period, arrange a timetable for the proceedings.

(7) In this rule, “pre–inquiry meeting” means a meeting held before an inquiry to consider what may be done to ensure that the inquiry is conducted efficiently and expeditiously.