Pre-inquiry meetingsE+W
31.—(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.