(1)The relevant owner of a protected animal may appeal to the court for an order in respect of the compensation amount.
(2)Subject to subsection (3), an appeal to the court under this section may only be made before the expiry of the period of 3 months beginning with the date of service of the compensation notice (or, if more than one notice has been served by virtue of section 32G(5) or (6), the last of those notices).
(3)Where the authorised person has deferred payment of the compensation amount under section 32K(3), an appeal to the court under this section may only be made within the period of 1 month beginning with the date determined in accordance with section 32K(4).
(4)A person is entitled to be heard in relation to an appeal under subsection (1) if the person is—
(a)an authorised person,
(b)an inspector (if not an authorised person),
(c)a constable who took the animal into possession under section 32 (if not an authorised person).
(5)The court may—
(a)order payment of the compensation amount specified in the compensation notice,
(b)order payment of a different compensation amount,
(c)order that no compensation be paid.
(6)The decision of the court on an appeal under this section is final.
(7)In this section, “court” means the sheriff.]
Textual Amendments