(1) The Minister may hold or cause to be held such local inquiries as are required by this Act and such other local inquiries in connection with any other matter arising out of this Act as he deems fit and may direct that all or any of the costs of any such local inquiry shall be borne by the local planning authority concerned.
(2) For the purpose of a local inquiry to be held in terms of this Act, the Minister shall appoint an investigator and such assistants and advisers as he may consider necessary. (3) Section 311 of the Urban Councils Act [Chapter 29:15], other than subsections (1), (2), (7) and (9) thereof, shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to a local inquiry in terms of this Act, subject to such directions as the Minister may, in any particular case, direct.