Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990

6 (1) Whether or not the parties to an appeal have asked for an opportunity to appear and be heard, an appointed person—

(a) may hold a local inquiry in connection with the appeal; and

(b) shall do so if the Secretary of State so directs.

(2) Where an appointed person—

(a) holds a hearing by virtue of paragraph 2(4); or

(b) holds an inquiry by virtue of this paragraph,

an assessor may be appointed by the Secretary of State to sit with the appointed person at the hearing or inquiry to advise him on any matters arising, notwithstanding that the appointed person is to determine the appeal.

(3) Subject to sub-paragraph (4), the costs of any such hearing or inquiry shall be paid by the Secretary of State.

(4) Section 250(2) to (5) of the [1972 c. 70.] Local Government Act 1972 (local inquiries: evidence and costs) applies to an inquiry held by virtue of this paragraph with the following adaptations—

(a) for the references in subsection (4) (recovery of costs of holding the inquiry) to the Minister causing the inquiry to be held, there shall be substituted references to the Secretary of State; and

(b) for the reference in subsection (5) (orders as to the costs of the parties) to the Minister causing the inquiry to be held, there shall be substituted a reference to the appointed person or the Secretary of State.

(5) Subject to sub-paragraph (6), at any such inquiry oral evidence shall be heard in public and documentary evidence shall be open to public inspection.

(6) If the Secretary of State is satisfied in the case of any such inquiry—

(a) that giving evidence of a particular description or, as the case may be, making it available for inspection would be likely to result in the disclosure of information as to any of the matters mentioned in sub-paragraph (7); and

(b) that the public disclosure of that information would be contrary to the national interest,

he may direct that evidence of the description indicated in the direction shall only be heard or, as the case may be, open to inspection at that inquiry by such persons or persons of such descriptions as he may specify in that direction.

(7) The matters referred to in sub-paragraph (6)(a) are—

(a) national security; and

(b) the measures taken or to be taken to ensure the security of any premises or property.

(8) The appointed person or the Secretary of State has the same power to make orders under section 250(5) of the [1972 c. 70.] Local Government Act 1972 (orders with respect to costs of the parties) in relation to proceedings under this Schedule which do not give rise to an inquiry as he has in relation to such an inquiry.