PART 8Inquiries

Pre-inquiry meetings31.

(1)

The appointed person may hold a pre-inquiry meeting prior to an inquiry to consider what may be done with a view to securing that the inquiry is conducted efficiently and expeditiously.

(2)

An appointed person must give not less than two weeks’ written notice of a pre-inquiry meeting which the appointed person proposes to hold under paragraph (1) to—

(a)

the applicant;

(b)

the local planning authority;

(c)

any person invited by the appointed person to take part at the pre-inquiry meeting.

(3)

Where a pre-inquiry meeting has been held pursuant to paragraph (1), the appointed person may hold a further pre-inquiry meeting and must arrange for such notice to be given of a further pre-inquiry meeting as appears necessary.

(4)

The appointed person—

(a)

is to preside at any pre-inquiry meeting;

(b)

is to 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 the appointed person’s 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

(e)

may permit that person to return or attend only on such conditions as the appointed person may specify.