Commentary on Sections Timetable Section 59 – Timetable for deciding application for infrastructure consent
154.Section 59 makes provision about the timetable for deciding applications for infrastructure consent. Subsection (1) states that the examining authority or the Welsh Ministers must decide an application before the end of the period of 52 weeks beginning with the day on which the application is accepted as a valid application or such other period agreed between the applicant and the Welsh Ministers.
155.Section 59(2) gives the Welsh Ministers the power to extend, by direction, the periods for deciding an application mentioned in subsection (1). The Welsh Ministers may give more than one direction in relation to an application (allowing them to extend the decision period multiple times) and may give a direction after the end of the periods mentioned in subsection (1).
156.Subsection (4) requires the Welsh Ministers to notify the applicant and other persons specified in regulations of the direction, to publish the direction and to lay a statement about the direction before Senedd Cymru explaining its effect and why it was given.
157.Subsection (5) requires the Welsh Ministers to provide the Senedd with annual reports on the compliance with the duty imposed by subsection (1) and the exercise of the functions conferred by subsection (2).
158.Subsection (6) allows the period of 52 weeks mentioned in subsection (1)(a) to be amended by regulations.