The last Department of Planning and Environmental Appeals Division Stakeholders’ Meeting was held on 4 September 2019 and was attended by two SAS members. As concerns had been expressed to us regarding the issue of lack of confidence in the operating procedures and accountability of DPEA, we raised this at the meeting.
We put forward that Circular 6/1990 should be updated to deal with the behaviour of parties at hearings and inquiries. This included what we saw as personal and vicious attacks on some members of the public taking part (a number of examples were given). We thought that reporters should exercise greater control over parties and the proceedings. We also added that issues relating to late submissions should be included and cited a 721 page closing submission that was 15 weeks late. We put forward that the “test” should be unreasonable behaviour and not just such behaviour that leads to additional expense.
Minutes have not yet been published but are due before the next meeting on 17 June 2020.
If you have any issues you would like us to raise at this meeting, please get in touch.
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