The test in relation to apparent bias depended on the view which would be taken by a fairminded and informed observer.

That carried an appearance of a lack of independence and impartiality in relation to the process, viewed as a whole, which would impact on an objective informed observer.

On the facts the professional association had involved only a few meetings of no consequence and a fair-minded and informed observer would not have inferred apparent bias.

The question was whether 'the fair-minded and informed observer, having considered the facts, would conclude that there was a real possibility' that the planning committee was biased.

Those did all that could be done to exclude the possibility of actual bias and to dispel the appearance of it to the fair-minded and informed observer.