Mr. Paul Hogan:

What we are basically saying is that when that choice is there, it should be in the context of an overall consultation programme, and the guidelines will mandate planning authorities to set out what their consultation programme is at the beginning of the process. We have never characterised this as being about officials' or planners' time.

There is a reality where it can be far more efficient to allow online meetings as well as in-person ones. It takes the pressure off having to exclusively have meetings in person. It is very difficult at times when there is an event on. Often, people have asked me if I did not know there was a match on the night of a meeting, which might seem like a very small thing but can happen regularly on a Tuesday or Wednesday night when one is trying to hold consultation meetings. It can be very disheartening for people who turn up and find there are very few people there to discuss the issues. We think the "either or" option is a good idea. It does not limit it to one or the other. It does not make that leap from the current system to e-planning without considering the ability to do both. We will encourage that in the guidance we prepare.