The Agricultural Land Tribunals (Rules) Order 2007

Exclusion of persons disrupting proceedings

35.—(1) This rule applies to any of the following events—

(a) a hearing before the Tribunal;

(b) an inspection by the Tribunal;

(c) any meeting chaired by the Chairman alone;

(d) an inspection conducted by an official expert.

(2) Without prejudice to any other powers it may have, the Chairman or Tribunal, as appropriate, may—

(a) exclude from any event, or part of it, any person (including a party or a party’s representative) whose conduct has disrupted the event, threatens to disrupt the event, or whose conduct has otherwise interfered with the administration of justice; or

(b) limit the number of persons attending the event in the interests of disease prevention or for other good reason.

(3) In deciding whether to exercise the power conferred by paragraph (2), the Chairman or Tribunal as appropriate, must, apart from other considerations, have regard—

(a) to the interests of the parties;

(b) in the case of the exclusion of a party, to the extent to which the proceedings involve an assessment of the party’s conduct, character or manner of life; and

(c) in the case of the exclusion of a party or a party’s representative, to whether the interests of that party will be adequately protected.

(4) If the Chairman or Tribunal decides to exclude a party it must allow the party’s representative sufficient opportunity to consult the party.