Section 7 — Engagement by examiners with qualifying bodies etc

In Schedule 4B to the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (process for making neighbourhood development orders), in paragraph 11 (regulations about independent examinations) after sub-paragraph (2) insert— (3) The regulations may in particular impose duties on an examiner which are to be complied with by the examiner in considering the draft order under paragraph 8 and which require the examiner— (a) to provide prescribed information to each person within sub-paragraph (4); (b) to publish a draft report containing the recommendations which the examiner is minded to make in the examiner's report under paragraph 10; (c) to invite each person within sub-paragraph (4) or representatives of such a person to one or more meetings at a prescribed stage or prescribed stages of the examination process; (d) to hold a meeting following the issuing of such invitations if such a person requests the examiner to do so. (4) Those persons are— (a) the qualifying body, (b) the local planning authority, and (c) such other persons as may be prescribed. (5) Where the regulations make provision by virtue of sub-paragraph (3)(c) or (d), they may make further provision about— (a) the procedure for a meeting; (b) the matters to be discussed at a meeting.