Disposing of an appeal without a hearing
6.—(1) Subject to the following provisions of this paragraph, the adjudicator may dispose of an appeal without a hearing.
(2) The adjudicator must not dispose of an appeal without a hearing if, in the adjudicator’s opinion, the appeal raises issues of public importance such as to require that a hearing be held.
(3) The adjudicator must not dispose of an appeal without a hearing if either party has requested a hearing unless—
(a)the party who made the request withdraws it before notice of a hearing has been served on the other party under paragraph 7;
(b)both parties have subsequently consented to the appeal being disposed of without a hearing; or
(c)the party requesting the hearing having been served with a notice of the hearing of an appeal under paragraph 7, fails to attend or be represented at the hearing.
(4) Where the adjudicator is minded to dispose of an appeal without a hearing, the appeal must not be disposed of unless and until either—
(a)there has elapsed a period of 28 days beginning with the date on which an acknowledgement is served in accordance with paragraph 3(1)(a) during which neither party has requested a hearing; or
(b)both parties have consented to its disposal without a hearing.