Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015

Prospective

59 Recovery of investigation costs E+W

(1) The Adjudicator may require a pub-owning business to pay some or all of the costs of an investigation (including any costs incurred in exercising the enforcement powers) if satisfied that—

(a) the business has failed to comply with the Pubs Code, or

(b) the business has failed to follow a recommendation made under section 56.

(2) The Adjudicator may require a person to pay some or all of the costs of an investigation if—

(a) the Adjudicator carried out the investigation as a result of a complaint by the person, and

(b) the Adjudicator is satisfied that the complaint was vexatious or wholly without merit.

(3) A requirement to pay costs is imposed by giving written notice specifying—

(a) the grounds for imposing the requirement to pay costs,

(b) how much is to be paid,

(c) by when the costs are to be paid, and

(d) how they are to be paid.

(4) A person required to pay costs under this section may appeal to the High Court against—

(a) the imposition of the requirement, or

(b) the amount to which it relates.

(5) Costs required to be paid under this section are recoverable by the Adjudicator as a debt.