Part XV

Miscellaneous and General Provisions

Local inquiries and other hearings

Planning inquiries to be held in public subject to certain exceptions.
321
1
This section applies to any inquiry held under section 320(1), paragraph 6 of Schedule 6 or paragraph 5 of Schedule 8.
2
Subject to subsection (3), at any such inquiry oral evidence shall be heard in public and documentary evidence shall be open to public inspection.
3
If the Secretary of State is satisfied in the case of any such inquiry—
a
that giving evidence of a particular description or, as the case may be, making it available for inspection would be likely to result in the disclosure of information as to any of the matters mentioned in subsection (4); and
b
that the public disclosure of that information would be contrary to the national interest,
he may direct that evidence of the description indicated in the direction shall only be heard or, as the case may be, open to inspection at that inquiry by such persons or persons of such descriptions as he may specify in the direction.
4
The matters referred to in subsection (3)(a) are—
a
national security; and
b
the measures taken or to be taken to ensure the security of any premises or property.
5
If the Secretary of State is considering giving a direction under subsection (3) the Attorney General may appoint a person to represent the interests of any person who will be prevented from hearing or inspecting any evidence at a local inquiry if the direction is given.
6
If before the Secretary of State gives a direction under subsection (3) no person is appointed under subsection (5), the Attorney General may at any time appoint a person as mentioned in subsection (5) for the purposes of the inquiry.
7
The Lord Chancellor may by rules make provision—
a
as to the procedure to be followed by the Secretary of State before he gives a direction under subsection (3) in a case where a person has been appointed under subsection (5);
b
as to the functions of a person appointed under subsection (5) or (6).
8
Rules made under subsection (7) must be contained in a statutory instrument subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
9
If a person is appointed under subsection (5) or (6) (the appointed representative) the Secretary of State may direct any person who he thinks is interested in the inquiry in relation to a matter mentioned in subsection (4) (the responsible person) to pay the fees and expenses of the appointed representative.
10
If the appointed representative and the responsible person are unable to agree the amount of the fees and expenses, the amount must be determined by the Secretary of State.
11
The Secretary of State must cause the amount agreed between the appointed representative and the responsible person or determined by him to be certified.
12
An amount so certified is recoverable from the responsible person as a civil debt.
S. 321: power to apply conferred (10.11.1993) by 1993 c. 28, s. 171(4)(a); S.I. 1993/2762, art. 3
S. 321(5)-(12) inserted (6.8.2004 for certain purposes and 7.6.2006 otherwise) by Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (c. 5), ss. 80(1), 121 (with s. 111); S.I. 2004/ 2097, {art. 2}; S.I. 2006/1281, art. 2
S. 321 functions made exercisable concurrently or jointly with the Welsh Ministers by 2006 c. 32, Sch. 3A para. 1 (as inserted (1.4.2018) by Wales Act 2017 (c. 4), s. 71(4), Sch. 4 para. 1 (with Sch. 7 paras. 1, 6); S.I. 2017/1179, reg. 3(p))