PART 8Inquiries

Pre-inquiry meetings31

1

The appointed person may hold a pre-inquiry meeting prior to an inquiry to consider what may be done with a view to securing that the inquiry is conducted efficiently and expeditiously.

2

An appointed person must give not less than two weeks’ written notice of a pre-inquiry meeting which the appointed person proposes to hold under paragraph (1) to—

a

the applicant;

b

the local planning authority;

c

any person invited by the appointed person to take part at the pre-inquiry meeting.

3

Where a pre-inquiry meeting has been held pursuant to paragraph (1), the appointed person may hold a further pre-inquiry meeting and must arrange for such notice to be given of a further pre-inquiry meeting as appears necessary.

4

The appointed person—

a

is to preside at any pre-inquiry meeting;

b

is to determine the matters to be discussed and the procedure to be followed;

c

may require any person present at the pre-inquiry meeting who, in the appointed person’s opinion, is behaving in a disruptive manner to leave; and

d

may refuse to permit that person to return or to attend any further pre-inquiry meeting, or

e

may permit that person to return or attend only on such conditions as the appointed person may specify.