Disposing of an appeal without a hearing
15.—(1) Subject to the provisions of this Part, the adjudicator may decide the general procedure to be followed in connection with appeals and may dispose of an appeal without a hearing, unless in the adjudicator’s opinion the appeal raises issues of public importance such as to require that a hearing be held.
(2) If either party has requested a hearing, the adjudicator must not dispose of an appeal without a hearing unless—
(a)the request is withdrawn before notice of a hearing has been sent to the other party; or
(b)both parties have subsequently consented to the appeal being disposed of without a hearing.
(3) Where the adjudicator is minded to dispose of an appeal without a hearing, the adjudicator—
(a)is to inform the parties of that intention; and
(b)must not dispose of the appeal without a hearing unless—
(i)there has elapsed a period of 28 days beginning with the date on which an acknowledgement is sent in accordance with regulation 13(1) during which neither party has requested a hearing; or
(ii)both parties have consented to its disposal without a hearing.