a little bit on hearings

1 files changed, 14 insertions, 40 deletions

diff --git a/assignment3/background.tex b/assignment3/background.tex
index dbed529..76b3561 100644
--- a/assignment3/background.tex
+++ b/assignment3/background.tex
@@ -201,46 +201,20 @@ will have impacts on the environment that are more than minor and that
 have been publicly notified, members of the public can make
 submissions to challenge---or express support for---the application.
 
-% On hearings \parencite{ME959}:
-\begin{quote}
-% A hearing allows you and anyone who has made a submission to explain
-% their views about the application. The council usually holds a formal
-% hearing about a notified application and can sometimes hold a hearing
-% for a non-notified application.
-% 
-% A pre-hearing meeting can be a useful way to try and sort out issues
-% before a hearing in a relatively informal setting. It can also help
-% save time at the hearing itself, or even avoid the need for a hearing
-% altogether. You can suggest to the council that a pre-hearing meeting
-% may be useful.
-% 
-% The council can require or invite people to attend the pre-hearing
-% meeting, including people who have made submissions on your
-% application. The council officer will also be likely to attend. If you
-% are required to attend a pre-hearing meeting, and don’t, the council
-% may refuse to process your application. If submitters are required to
-% attend a pre-hearing meeting, and don’t, the council can refuse to
-% consider their submission.
-% 
-% Everyone at the hearing will get a copy of a report about what went on
-% at the pre-hearing meeting, including the issues that were agreed on
-% and those that are outstanding. The council must consider this report
-% in determining the application.
-% 
-% As well as arranging a pre-hearing meeting, the council can also refer
-% you and some or all of the submitters to mediation. Mediation can help
-% you clarify issues, resolve conflicts and reach agreement without
-% needing to go to a hearing. You can request the council to refer you
-% to mediation.
-\end{quote}
-
-% TODO: Officer's report and decision-making.
-% TODO: I don't like this paragraph at all.
-After an evaluation of the application and public submissions, council
-prepares a report based on the AEE and additional evidence provided by
-the applicant during the hearings in response to the submissions from
-the public. The report is hence strongly influenced by the applicant's
-input.
+Following the submission period a pre-hearing meeting can be arranged,
+which is a rather informal setting in which submitters, applicant and
+council representatives try to clarify issues before the official
+hearing.  Additional mediation sessions may be arranged to resolve
+conflicts and reach an agreement without the need for a formal
+hearing \parencite{ME959}. For publicly notified applications, the
+council usually organises a formal hearing in which submitters may
+present their submissions and where the applicant is to present
+whatever additional information has been requested. After an
+evaluation of the application and public submissions, council prepares
+a report based on the AEE and additional evidence provided by the
+applicant during the hearings in response to the submissions from the
+public. The decision whether to grant the resource consent or not is
+made on the basis of the officer's report.
 
 
 \subsection{Access to information and representation}