Modification by agreement
20.—(1) Subject to the following provisions of this Article, the Authority may modify the conditions of a company’s appointment under this Chapter if the company consents to the modifications.
(2) Before making modifications under this Article, the Authority shall give notice—
(a)stating that it proposes to make the modifications and setting out their effect;
(b)stating the reasons why it proposes to make the modifications; and
(c)specifying the period (not being less than 28 days from the date of publication of the notice) within which representations or objections with respect to the proposed modifications may be made,
and shall consider any representations or objections which are duly made and not withdrawn.
(3) A notice under paragraph (2) shall be given—
(a)by publishing the notice in such manner as the Authority considers appropriate for the purpose of bringing the notice to the attention of persons likely to be affected by the making of the modifications; and
(b)by serving a copy of the notice on the company and on the Department.
(4) The Authority shall not under this Article make any modifications which the Department has, within the time specified in the notice under paragraph (2), directed the Authority not to make.
(5) The Department shall not give a direction under paragraph (4) in relation to any modification unless—
(a)the modification is a modification of provision contained in the appointment for the purposes of Article 14(4)(d);
(b)the modification is a modification of a provision of the appointment which relates to the disposal of a company’s protected land and is stated in the appointment to be a provision which cannot be modified; or
(c)it appears to the Department that the modification should be made, if at all, under Article 25.