Article 7 Statements of relevant matters and pre-inquiry meetings

An inspector may, not later than 12 weeks after the relevant date, cause to be served on the appellant, the local planning authority and any section 29(3) party a written statement of the matters which appear to him to be likely to be relevant to his consideration of the appeal.

An inspector may hold a pre-inquiry meeting where he considers it desirable and shall arrange for not less than 14 days written notice of it to be given to the appellant, the local planning authority, any section 29(3) party, any other person known to be entitled to appear at the inquiry and any other person whose presence at the meeting appears to him to be desirable.

The inspector shall preside at the pre-inquiry meeting and shall determine the matters to be discussed and the procedure to be followed, and he may require any person present at the meeting who, in his opinion, is behaving in a disruptive manner to leave and may refuse to permit that person to return or to attend any further meeting, or may permit him to return or attend only on such conditions as he may specify.