Section 48 Deadline for completion of reviewsI1

The 2013 Act is amended as follows.

After section 36A (proposals for names of electoral wards: review reports) (inserted by section 44) insert—

“Deadline for completion of reviews

36B

(1)

Before conducting a review under this Part, the Commission or, as the case may be, a principal council must publish a statement specifying the day on which the review begins.

(2)

The Commission must, in relation to a review it conducts under section 23, 27 or 29, use its best endeavours to publish its further report on the review in accordance with section 36(5)(b) before the end of a period of 12 months beginning with the day specified under subsection (1).

(3)

The Commission must, in relation to a review it conducts under section 28, use its best endeavours to publish its further report on the review in accordance with section 36(5)(b) before the end of a period of 18 months beginning with the day specified under subsection (1).

(4)

The Commission must, in relation to a review it conducts under section 2‍6 or 32, use its best endeavours to publish its further report on the review in accordance with section 36(5)(b) before the end of a period of 24 months beginning with the day specified under subsection (1).

(5)

A principal council must, in relation to a review it conducts under section 25 or 31, use its best endeavours to publish its further report on the review in accordance with section 36(5)(b) before the end of a period of 24 months beginning with the day specified under subsection (1).

(6)

If a reviewing body fails to comply with a duty imposed by this section in relation to a review, the body’s failure to comply does not affect the validity of the review for the purposes of this Act.”