A council’s perspective on inquiries

Jennifer Wallis

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Background

• Windfarm – 9 turbines, 8 125 metre high 1 108 metre

• Application – 10/00951/FUL, received 21st December 2010

• Committee – 26th July 2012

• Decision – Refused

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Notification of appeal

• Call from agent – November 2012

• Received – 18th January 2013

• Meeting with STOP

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Tight Timetable

22/01/13 Letter from Inspectorate 05/02/13 Agreed programme submitted 11/02/13 Start date 25/02/13 Submission of Questionnaire 11/03/13 Statement of case and Statement

of Common Ground 26/03/13 Pre-Inquiry Meeting 08/04/13 Deadline for Proof of Evidence 08/05/13 Inquiry Starts – estimated 12 days sitting

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Initial task – assemble the team!

•Resource?

• Counsel

• Witnesses

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Submission of Statement of Case and Statement of Common Ground

• Drafts

• Statement of Case

• Statement of Common Ground

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PIM and Conference

• Site visit

• Pre Inquiry Meeting

• Conference

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Proofs

• Witnesses and my role

• Submission

• Final Conference – 25th April

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Before the Inquiry begins!

• Venue

• Staff

• Library

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The Inquiry

• Timetable – 11days

• Opening day

• Core documents and document list

• Site visit

• Staff resources

•Team

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Issues during Inquiry

• Network Rail – adjourned

• Recovered – 5th June

• Adjournment – 19th July

• Adjournment – 11th November

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Issues

• Resourcing

• Dates/availability

• Officers role

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Lessons learnt

• Partnership Working - STOP

• Site visit

• Underestimate role

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Personal Perspective

• part time

• day job!

• childcare

• conflict?

• time

•Not a witness!

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Finished?

• Not all over yet!

• Supplementary ES

• Consultation

• Further submissions

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Any Questions?