Town and Country Planning Act 1990

41 Powers of Secretary of State to secure adequate publicity and consultation

(1) The documents sent by the local planning authority to the Secretary of State under section 39 shall be accompanied by a statement—

(a) of the steps which the authority have taken to comply with subsections (2) and (3) of that section, and

(b) of the authority’s consultations with other persons and their consideration of the views of those persons.

(2) The documents sent by the local planning authority to the Secretary of State under section 40 shall be accompanied by a statement of the steps which the authority are taking to comply with subsections (4) and (5) of that section.

(3) If, on considering the statement and the proposals and any other information provided by the local planning authority, the Secretary of State is not satisfied with the steps taken by the authority, he may, within 21 days of the receipt of the statement, direct the authority not to take further steps for the adoption of the proposals without—

(a) if they have proceeded in accordance with section 40, proceeding instead in accordance with section 39, or

(b) in any case, taking such further steps as he may specify,

and satisfying him that they have done so.

(4) A local planning authority who are given directions by the Secretary of State shall—

(a) immediately withdraw the copies of the documents made available for inspection as required by section 39(5) or 40(2), and

(b) notify any person by whom objections to the proposals have been made to the authority that the Secretary of State has given such directions.