Explanatory note

These Regulations amend regulation 4 of the Local Authorities (Referendums) (Petitions and Directions) (England) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000/2852) (“the 2000 Regulations”) so that—

• the proper officer of a local authority is not obliged to comply with the requirement to compute and publish the figure of 5 per cent. of the electors shown on any register or registers published during the year 2001, other than in relation to the first occasion on which such a register is or registers are published in that year, and

• where a verification figure in relation to any later register or registers in that year has already been published pursuant to regulation 4 of the 2000 Regulations, it shall be disregarded for the purposes of those Regulations unless the exception specified in regulation 4(10) of the 2000 Regulations applies (regulation 4(10) is inserted by these Regulations).

The exception in the new regulation 4(10) provides that, where a verification number has been published before 12th December 2001 in relation to a later register or registers, if following the publication of that later number and before that date a petition has been presented pursuant to the 2000 Regulations the later verification number for the year 2001 will apply for all purposes in relation to that petition.