Procedure at the hearing
16.—(1) Subject to the following provisions of this paragraph the Council must determine the procedure at the hearing of the appeal.
(2) The hearing of the appeal must be in public unless the Council determines that it is fair and reasonable for the hearing or any part of it to be in private.
(3) The appellant and the appropriate body may appear at the hearing and may be represented or assisted by any person.
(4) If the appellant or the appropriate body fails to attend the hearing, the Council may hear, and provided it has considered any representations made by the party concerned under paragraph 14, determine, the appeal in that party’s absence.
(5) Subject to sub-paragraph (6) the appellant and the appropriate body may give evidence, call witnesses, question any witnesses and address the Council both on the evidence and generally on the subject matter of the appeal.
(6) The Council may at any point in the hearing limit the rights of either party under sub-paragraph (5) provided it is satisfied that to do so will not prevent the appeal from being decided fairly.
(7) The Council may adjourn the hearing, but must not do so unless it is satisfied that it is necessary to do so in order for the appeal to be decided fairly.
(8) The time and place for an adjourned hearing must either be announced before the adjournment or the Council must without delay and in any event within the period of three working days beginning with the date of the adjournment send notice to the appellant and the appropriate body informing them of the time and place of the adjourned hearing.