367Procedural requirements for appeals, applications and other proceedings(1)

Regulations may make provision about the procedure to be followed in connection with—

(a)

proceedings on any application, appeal or reference made to the Welsh Ministers under or by virtue of this Act (whether it is considered at a local inquiry, at a hearing or on the basis of representations in writing);

(b)

any other local inquiry or hearing held or to be held by or on behalf of the Welsh Ministers under or by virtue of this Act.

(2)

The regulations may include provision about—

(a)

the procedure to be followed in connection with matters preparatory or subsequent to an inquiry or hearing or to the making of representations in writing;

(b)

the conduct of proceedings.

(3)

The regulations may include provision about the procedure to be followed—

(a)

where steps have been taken with a view to the holding of an inquiry or hearing that does not take place,

(b)

where steps have been taken with a view to the determination of any matter by an inspector and the proceedings are the subject of a direction that the matter must instead be determined by the Welsh Ministers, or

(c)

where steps have been taken in pursuance of such a direction and a further direction is given revoking that direction,

and may provide that such steps are to be treated as compliance, in whole or in part, with the requirements of the regulations.

(4)

The regulations may—

(a)

specify a time limit within which a party to proceedings must submit representations in writing and any supporting documents, or enable the Welsh Ministers to give directions setting the time limit in a particular case or in cases of a particular description;

(b)

enable the Welsh Ministers to proceed to a decision taking into account only the representations in writing and supporting documents that were submitted within the time limit;

(c)

enable the Welsh Ministers, after giving the parties notice in writing of their intention to do so, to proceed to a decision even though no representations in writing were submitted within the time limit, if they consider that they have sufficient material before them to enable them to reach a decision on the merits of the case.

(5)

The regulations may also make provision about the circumstances in which—

(a)

a direction about the payment of the Welsh Ministers’ costs may be given under section 372;

(b)

an order about the payment of a party’s costs may be made under section 373.

(6)

The regulations may provide that in circumstances specified in the regulations a matter may not be raised in proceedings on an appeal to the Welsh Ministers unless—

(a)

the matter was previously raised before a time specified in the regulations, or

(b)

it is shown that the matter could not have been raised before that time.

(7)

This section does not limit any other power conferred by this Act to make provision about the procedure to be followed on an application, appeal or reference to the Welsh Ministers.