5.—(1) Any party may deliver representations to the proper officer at any time before an appeal is determined.
(2) The adjudicator may invite a party to deliver to the proper officer representations dealing with any matter relating to an appeal within such time and in such a manner as may be specified.
(3) Where a party fails to respond to an invitation under paragraph (2), the adjudicator may (without prejudice to any other powers he may have) draw such inferences as appear to him proper.
(4) Any representations delivered under this regulation shall be signed by, or by the authorised representative of, the party in question.
(5) Where the appellant delivers representations to the proper officer under this regulation, the proper officer shall send a copy of the representations to the local authority.
(6) Where the local authority delivers representations to the proper officer under this regulation, it shall at the same time send a copy of the representations to the appellant.
(7) This regulation is without prejudice to the powers of an adjudicator under regulation 9.