Surcharges Section 10: Objections to surcharges
Section 10 sets out how objections can be made to the imposition or amount of a surcharge and the procedure for considering those objections.
	An interested party (defined in subsection (5)) may make an objection to the imposition of a surcharge by a harbour authority or its amount. An objection to the amount of a surcharge may be made only on the grounds that it is not in accordance with the tariff of surcharges specified in regulations under section 9(1). Objections must be made to the Secretary of State in writing within the period specified in regulations made under subsection (4).
	Where an objection is made the Secretary of State must send a copy of the objection to the harbour authority and publish a notice online with details of the objection and how to make any representations in relation to the objection. If any representations are made the Secretary of State must send copies to the harbour authority and the objector and allow them a reasonable time to comment.
	Once the time for any representations and further comments has expired, the Secretary of State must proceed to consider the objection and any representations made. Following that consideration, the Secretary of State may decide:
to approve the imposition of the surcharge and its amount,
to direct the harbour authority to revoke the imposition of the surcharge, or
to direct the harbour authority to increase or decrease the amount of the surcharge so that it is in accordance with the tariff of surcharges specified in regulations under section 9(1).
	The Secretary of State may also direct a harbour authority to repay any surcharges that appear to be appropriate to be repaid by that result of a decision, for example, if the Secretary of State decides to direct the authority to revoke the imposition of the surcharge, they may also direct that authority to refund any surcharges that have already been paid.
	The Secretary of State must communicate the decision to the harbour authority and the objector, and publish the decision online.
	Where the Secretary of State considers that the substance of an objection has already been, or is being, considered in connection with another objection, they are not required to consider the later objection.