Paragraph 16 Procedure at the hearing

Subject to the following provisions of this paragraph the appeal body shall determine the procedure at the hearing of the appeal.

The hearing of the appeal shall be in public unless the appeal body determines that it is fair and reasonable for the hearing or any part of it to be in private.

The appellant and the appropriate body may appear at the hearing and may be represented or assisted by any person.

If the appellant or the appropriate body fails to attend the hearing, the appeal body may hear, and provided it has considered any representations made by the absent party under paragraph 14, determine the appeal in his or its absence.

Subject to sub-paragraph (6) the appellant and the appropriate body may give evidence, call witnesses, question any witnesses and address the appeal body both on the evidence and generally on the subject matter of the appeal.

The appeal body may at any point in the hearing limit the rights of either party under sub-paragraph (5) provided it is satisfied that to do so will not prevent the appeal from being decided fairly.

The appeal body may adjourn the hearing, but shall not do so unless it is satisfied that it is necessary to do so in order for the appeal to be decided fairly.

The time and place for an adjourned hearing shall either be announced before the adjournment or the appeal body shall without delay and in any event not later than the end of the period of three working days beginning with the date of the adjournment send notice to the appellant and the appropriate body informing them of the time and place of the adjourned hearing.